semiretiredDIY
WA state
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Joined: 12/15/2008
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You don't say what brand of generator you have. Onan's are "4 pole" they run at 1,800 RPM as opposed to 99% of the other brands, they are "2 pole" and run at 3,600 RPM. The Onan is a flat head opposed twin air cooled. (gas) They are fairly low compression as compared to the OHV air cooled engines. Lower compression = less heat, the Onan's where designed to run 24/7 and with lower RPM, they run quieter.
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Jarlaxle
New England
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Joined: 11/18/2006
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My elderly 8.5kW (backup for my house, way too noisy to use camping) has run 24+ hours many times...longest I recall was after a near-blizzard. I had no power for almost ten days...it ran the entire time except for half an hour or so every day to check the oil and maybe an hour for an oil change around day six.
The old air-cooled Tecumsah still runs prefectly.
John and Elizabeth (Liz), with 3 nutty cats
My beloved St. Bernard, Marm, lost him 1/2/12
Current rig:
1992 International Genesis school bus conversion
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Jay58
Melbourne (central east coast) Florida
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Joined: 12/25/2008
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In late 04 after the hurricanes we ran a diesel 7.5 4 weeks straight and checked the oil each day. did that for two hurricaqnes and still using the same generator today
1996 HR Endeavor 37.5
230 Cumins, 6 spd. Allison
2009 Saturn Vue
Towmaster dolly
Central Florida (East Coast)
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dwollenh
Lake Wylie SC
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Joined: 12/12/2007
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We run our 8k onan generator almost every weekend from Friday till Sunday non stop. The places we go (motocross tracks) do not generally have any shore power whatsoever. When we go to larger races, we are there for a week and it runs the entire time. Next Tuesday, we will be attending the national motocross amateur championships at Loretta Lynn's and will run the genny for two weeks straight as temps will be around 100 the entire time. Just keep on top of changing the oil, filters, and occasional belt, and it'll be fine. We've ben doing this for 10 years without issue. I got rid of one of the motorhomes before the generator 
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SpursMVP
San Antonio, TX
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Joined: 07/25/2009
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Doug and Cassi Glass wrote:As said by others. You might want to invest in a Genturi to get the exhaust up in the air and away from doors, windows, neighbors, etc.
Ditto...these work like a charm.
2001 HR Endeavor
330 HP Cummins ISC
2006 Jeep Wrangler
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SRT
Head of the Lakes, MN
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Joined: 02/18/2001
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Doug and Cassi Glass wrote:As said by others. You might want to invest in a Genturi to get the exhaust up in the air and away from doors, windows, neighbors, etc.
Yup..... those Gen-Turi's work just great.
SRT
2000 32' HR Vacationer with Banks
1998 Subaru Outback Ltd. 5 spd
Brake Buddy & Blue Ox Aventa II tow bar
FMCA #266040 HRRVC #84109
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Gary_W
York, PA
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Joined: 02/22/2004
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In this era of instant on engines (a la Prius etc.) I wonder how long till someone creates and instant on Generator. Even of fairly hot days I get 10 minutes on 10 minutes off with the A/C wonder how this might work with the generators
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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Joined: 10/07/2008
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semiretiredDIY wrote:You don't say what brand of generator you have. Onan's are "4 pole" they run at 1,800 RPM as opposed to 99% of the other brands, they are "2 pole" and run at 3,600 RPM. The Onan is a flat head opposed twin air cooled. (gas) They are fairly low compression as compared to the OHV air cooled engines. Lower compression = less heat, the Onan's where designed to run 24/7 and with lower RPM, they run quieter.
Ummm, all of the current Onan gas/LP RV generators run at 2400, 2880, or 3600 RPM, depending on the model.
RV Gasoline Generators
Dutch
1995 Coachmen Catalina 322QBXL
F53 chassis, 460 V8, TST TPMS
Quadra Bigfoot EZ Levelers
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
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semiretiredDIY
WA state
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Joined: 12/15/2008
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Dutch_12078 wrote:semiretiredDIY wrote:You don't say what brand of generator you have. Onan's are "4 pole" they run at 1,800 RPM as opposed to 99% of the other brands, they are "2 pole" and run at 3,600 RPM. The Onan is a flat head opposed twin air cooled. (gas) They are fairly low compression as compared to the OHV air cooled engines. Lower compression = less heat, the Onan's where designed to run 24/7 and with lower RPM, they run quieter.
Ummm, all of the current Onan gas/LP RV generators run at 2400, 2880, or 3600 RPM, depending on the model.
RV Gasoline Generators Look very close for made in China on the newer ones. I have 2 old ones, 15 plus years old, they run @ 1,800 RPM.
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jcthorne
Houston, TX
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Joined: 06/13/2005
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semiretiredDIY wrote:You don't say what brand of generator you have. Onan's are "4 pole" they run at 1,800 RPM as opposed to 99% of the other brands, they are "2 pole" and run at 3,600 RPM. The Onan is a flat head opposed twin air cooled. (gas) They are fairly low compression as compared to the OHV air cooled engines. Lower compression = less heat, the Onan's where designed to run 24/7 and with lower RPM, they run quieter.
All of that is true for the older Onan Emerald gen sets. The newer Marquis gen sets are none of those things. Generator is 2 pole, 3600rpm, belt driven to a 2400rpm v-twin engine on a vertical shaft. OHV pressure lubricated engine. Still intended for many hours of continuous use, but the design had evolved considerably.
2008 Damon 3575 (38ft, forward kitchen)on Ford 22k chassis
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