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Old 02-06-2017, 10:14 PM   #1
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How often to change generator oil?

Our dealer recommended that the generator oil be changed every 150 hours of use. We do a lot of dry camping and that would have us taking it in every other week....how hard is it to DIY or is this too frequent a change?

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Old 02-06-2017, 10:19 PM   #2
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Sounds about right. It's not really a hard job. Just unscrew a plug, drain and refill. Change the filter if you have one.
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Old 02-06-2017, 11:39 PM   #3
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150 hrs or yearly! The last couple of years, I've changed mine yearly, only putting approx 70-80 hrs per year on Genny. I do my own oil changes, it's pretty simple, I ordered the filter wrench on Amazon. Takes approx 30 min to complete.
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Old 02-07-2017, 12:14 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by Hawkeye View Post
Our dealer recommended that the generator oil be changed every 150 hours of use. We do a lot of dry camping and that would have us taking it in every other week....how hard is it to DIY or is this too frequent a change?
WOW.... That sounds about right to me. But with dry camping that often I would look for other sources such as a portable DC generator. They run about 5 hours on one gallon of fuel, supper quiet and oil changes would be much easier. Check these out.

or you might want to think about going with 4 batteries instead of 2 if you haven't all ready and then a nice little solar set up just to help out some and prolong the use of you Gen. This is the one I got and so far I went 3 days once with the generator only on once... ( the fridge I have has a auto defrost and really sucks up some power at times.) But I love it and very easy to do and we might even add 2 more panels later. ECO-WORTHY BOAT SERIES:400w(4*100W) Solar Panel with PWM 45A Charge Controller |Eco-worthy
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Old 07-08-2018, 06:36 AM   #5
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Smile

Our engineer said that if the generator is new. Then oil change after your machine runs 60 hours. After that, oil change when your generator runs 200 or 300 hours.
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Old 07-08-2018, 01:26 PM   #6
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I have a 2016 Vegas, likely same generator as OP. I change it every 150 - 200 hours. Is easy job, I do it warm. Takes approximately 1-1/2 quarts of oil, there is no filter.

We have put 300 hours on unit in 2 years because we usually run off Champion portable on race car trailer. Unit is 3500 run watts at 120v, same as plugging into pedestal or house. It cost $325 new at time, likely has 5 times the hours of Onan and runs for 12 to 16 hours on 3.5 gallons of gas. I use same 15W-40 in both and change oil in trailer generator every 3 months.
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Old 07-08-2018, 01:28 PM   #7
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PS - There is also you tube video of how to do oil change on Onan 4000. Is real simple. I know a guy who paid $150 for generator oil change. I showed hhim how to doat track.
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Old 07-08-2018, 02:09 PM   #8
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Onan KY Generator Operators Manual here: https://www.lancecamper.com/docs/man...al-QG-4000.pdf
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Old 07-08-2018, 08:27 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Hooligan2 View Post
Onan KY Generator Operators Manual here: https://www.lancecamper.com/docs/man...al-QG-4000.pdf


Says to clean the spark arrester every 50 hours. How’d you do that??
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Old 07-08-2018, 08:43 PM   #10
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yearly - don't put that many hours on it.
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Old 07-08-2018, 08:45 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by mustang94@hot.rr.com View Post
WOW.... That sounds about right to me. But with dry camping that often I would look for other sources such as a portable DC generator. They run about 5 hours on one gallon of fuel, supper quiet and oil changes would be much easier. Check these out.

or you might want to think about going with 4 batteries instead of 2 if you haven't all ready and then a nice little solar set up just to help out some and prolong the use of you Gen. This is the one I got and so far I went 3 days once with the generator only on once... ( the fridge I have has a auto defrost and really sucks up some power at times.) But I love it and very easy to do and we might even add 2 more panels later. ECO-WORTHY BOAT SERIES:400w(4*100W) Solar Panel with PWM 45A Charge Controller |Eco-worthy
Onan are the worst sound level gens. Honda should build an RV unit one, I'd pay extra for it as an option.
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Old 07-08-2018, 11:50 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Pete'sMH View Post
Says to clean the spark arrester every 50 hours. How’d you do that??
Download the manual, see page 3-6 /Onan-Generator Manual

Remove the clean out plugs on the bottom of the spark arrestor and run the genny at full power to clean out the soot. I put anti-seize on the plug when I put it back in.
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