onan gen oil drain

[100amp]

Is anyone changing their own oil on their generator using a fumoto oil valve ?

[code2e]

Originally Posted by 100amp

Is anyone changing their own oil on their generator using a fumoto oil valve ?

I would caution you on using a Fumoto valve on your generator. Seeing you have a class C Jayco, the generator is fairly low to the ground. Assuming it is an Onan Microquiet or similar, the oil drain is in the bottom center.

Fumoto uses a lever to open the valve, draining the oil. Very possible that road debris or a stray branch in a park could catch that lever and drain your oil out without you knowing. Could have catastrophic consequences when you run the generator with out oil.

[ga traveler]

Originally Posted by code2e

I would caution you on using a Fumoto valve on your generator. Seeing you have a class C Jayco, the generator is fairly low to the ground. Assuming it is an Onan Microquiet or similar, the oil drain is in the bottom center.

Fumoto uses a lever to open the valve, draining the oil. Very possible that road debris or a stray branch in a park could catch that lever and drain your oil out without you knowing. Could have catastrophic consequences when you run the generator with out oil.

Don’t all Onan generators have a low oil shutoff?

[weighit]

Looks to me someone has never actually put that valve in their hands and operated it. It takes two distinctive moves to get that valve to open and drain. I just now am about to drain the Onan I have and once the drain is out will go pick up the new Fumoto valve. There are two possible sizes and until i remove the drain Onan installed don't know which I have. It will make the job a lot easier.

[code2e]

Originally Posted by ga traveler

Don’t all Onan generators have a low oil shutoff?

Generator may have a low oil shutoff. Does it work? Will it keep the generator from starting and how long will it run before shutdown?

Only pointing out a caution to be aware of. OP will decide the risk vs. benefit.

[code2e]

Originally Posted by weighit

Looks to me someone has never actually put that valve in their hands and operated it. It takes two distinctive moves to get that valve to open and drain. I just now am about to drain the Onan I have and once the drain is out will go pick up the new Fumoto valve. There are two possible sizes and until i remove the drain Onan installed don't know which I have. It will make the job a lot easier.

Sorry, 50+ years professional mechanic. Have seen and held a number of Fumoto valves. They work fine for many applications. OP has a low ground clearance where the lowest point would be the valve. Nothing to protect it.

Merely pointing out a caution. OP will decide risk vs. benefit.

[LETMGROW]

I see absolutely no benefit to installing anything other than the simple little drain plug the generator came with. Take the plug out, drain the oil, install the plug and add the new oil.

[sibe]

I can see a use for thise valves, on my Rv onan, not really unless I adapt it and I am fine with the OEM drain..

Like I said my other motor in a piece of equipment will have one.

[CharlesinGA]

I'm not seeing using the Fumoto on something that only holds a couple of quarts and only gets changed every year or two. In addition, it will be hanging out and something can catch it and shear it off.

A second issue with the Onan is that the drain protrudes inside the engine to some extent, and thus not all oil is drained out. Given you are only dealing with a small quantity of oil, this is a fair percentage of oil left in the engine. The plug allows you to remove more oil I suspect.

Now, on my Winnebago View (Sprinter chassis) I did install a Fumoto drain on it. The drain exits the side of the pan, so not hanging down, and given the large quantity of oil, I would want to stop mid way and empty the drain pan. I eventually took a 5 gal metal can and cut the top off just below the level of the drain and it would hold the full dump of oil)

The reason I don't install a quick drain in my 5.9L Cummins is that it is on the bottom and (2wd) would be one of the lowest things on the truck.

Charles

[Isaac-1]

Originally Posted by ga traveler

Don’t all Onan generators have a low oil shutoff?

No, many Onan models don't have a low oil level switch, as they were often problematic, so Onan removed them from later revisions of many of their generators.

[Ron Dittmer]

I once tried to improve the easability in performing an oil change on a snow blower by adding a small extension. That was a bad idea. The vibration of the machine, broke it off. That cured me of such modifications.

But on the flip side.......

I recently bought a new Husqvarna MZ48 zero turn lawn mower with a Kawasaki engine. It has a rubber hose attached for ease of access to drain the engine oil.

So there you go.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

I see absolutely no benefit to installing anything other than the simple little drain plug the generator came with. Take the plug out, drain the oil, install the plug and add the new oil.

Same here, see very little benefit. It's certainly not worth the extra cost for the valve. The oil will drain faster, and maybe more complete, without the fumoto valve slowing the flow down.

[ArtJoyce]

My 6500 has a drain valve with a 90 elble at the end. It's about 6" above a crossmember frame.

[DamonCamper]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

I see absolutely no benefit to installing anything other than the simple little drain plug the generator came with. Take the plug out, drain the oil, install the plug and add the new oil.

Agreed! Can't get any more simple than that.

Some people like to over think things and possible problems later on.
Seems like that runs amuck in the RV world.