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02-06-2017, 10:14 PM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas
State: Iowa
Posts: 39
THOR #2078
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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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02-06-2017, 10:19 PM
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#2
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 98
THOR #5584
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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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02-06-2017, 11:39 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Miramar 33.5
State: Washington
Posts: 217
THOR #578
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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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02-07-2017, 12:14 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Alabama
Posts: 333
THOR #3789
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkeye
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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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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07-08-2018, 06:36 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: New York
Posts: 3
THOR #12250
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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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07-08-2018, 01:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 892
THOR #5313
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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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07-08-2018, 01:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 24.1
State: Florida
Posts: 892
THOR #5313
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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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07-08-2018, 02:09 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2016 Siesta Sprinter 24ST
State: Florida
Posts: 604
THOR #2812
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__________________
U.S. Coast Guard retired- 1956-1985
Pensacola, Florida
2016 Siesta 24ST
1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado
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07-08-2018, 08:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hooligan2
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Says to clean the spark arrester every 50 hours. How’d you do that??
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07-08-2018, 08:43 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 25.3
State: California
Posts: 443
THOR #2526
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yearly - don't put that many hours on it.
__________________
2016 Thor Axis 25.3 w/ 2011 2dr Wrangler in tow
Demco tow bar with Patriot braking
Bigfoot Automatic Levelers.
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07-08-2018, 08:45 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 25.3
State: California
Posts: 443
THOR #2526
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mustang94@hot.rr.com
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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Onan are the worst sound level gens. Honda should build an RV unit one, I'd pay extra for it as an option.
__________________
2016 Thor Axis 25.3 w/ 2011 2dr Wrangler in tow
Demco tow bar with Patriot braking
Bigfoot Automatic Levelers.
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07-08-2018, 11:50 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2016 Siesta Sprinter 24ST
State: Florida
Posts: 604
THOR #2812
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete'sMH
Says to clean the spark arrester every 50 hours. How’d you do that??
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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.
__________________
U.S. Coast Guard retired- 1956-1985
Pensacola, Florida
2016 Siesta 24ST
1972 Moto Guzzi Eldorado
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