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Onan 4KW Generator Maintenance - Easy DIY Project
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One of the most overlooked parts of an RV is the generator.
According to the manufacturer, these should be run at least once a
month, for a full hour, under load. This simple act will prevent a
clogged carburetor, one of the most expensive failures. Onan does
not sell rebuild kits, and the knock-off replacement carburetors are hit
and miss according to reviews. The Onan carbs are about $400 each,
and while they work great, they likely won't be needed if you
periodically run the generator as recommended. My last RV was
used, and neglected, and I had to replace the carb. Something I
hope to never do on our new 2023 RV. So other than running the generator periodically, there's only a few other maintenance items. I've included the maintenance schedule from Onan below. The first oil change should be at 20 hours, then every 150 hours after that, unless in dusty or hot conditions. Since we're in FL, and travel in southern states during the summer, I won't go beyond about 100 hours. It only holds 1.6 quarts of oil, so not an expensive or difficult task. Definitely something most RV owners can do themselves if they can turn a screw. I've put links below to the tools and materials I used for this project. |
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 Because of the room slide, there's no latch to hold the generator door open. When the room is extended, the generator is actually under the room by a couple of feet, and difficult to reach. I used an aluminum yard stick to prop it open. I might come up with a more elegant solution later. |
 You will need a Torx 30 bit to remove the drain plug cover plate. |
 Loosen one, remove the other. |
 Swing the plate to the side. |
 This will expose the drain plug. |
 You'll need a 12mm socket to remove the drainplug. |
 I'm lucky with my setup. There's nothing in the way of the draining oil. |
 I use a dedicated oil drain pan to collect the used oil. It has a reservoir and cap, allowing it to be used to transport the oil to a recycle station. Be sure to install the drain plug once the oil has drained. Leave the drain plug cover plate off for now. |
 I highly recommend this funnel. It's a measuring cup, with a shut off valve, and a hose. I filled it once for the full quart, put it into the generator, then refilled it 6/10 full for the 1.6 quart total it requires. Turning the blue valve on the bottom of the funnel will flow or stop the oil. The built in hose makes putting oil in hard to reach places very simple. Once the oil has been replaced, and the cap has been installed, run the generator for a few minutes and verify no leaks. Once satisfied, re-install the drain plug cover plate. |
 Since I had the acess plate open, I decided to replace the air filter. I thumb screw holds the cover in place, and another thumb screw holds the filter against the inlet of the carburetor. |
 First oil change completed at 20 hours. I logged it on my phone. I'll do the next oil change around 120 hours (100 hours from now). |
 Most auto parts stores will gladly take used oil for free. I go to my local Advance Auto Parts. Just ask the person at the counter. This one has a large tank behind the counter. They ask people to fill out the log sheet, which records your name, and quantity of oil. Maybe to prevent a business from using this service illegally. They don't ask for phone numbers. |
 All done. Ready for our upcoming adventures. |
Recommended ProductsCRAFTSMAN Torx
Bit Socket Set, 13-Piece
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Last updated 03/16/24 All rights reserved. |
