My Generator Needs A New Fuel Pump

Not me, oil and filters are cheap, change mine every year and oil every spring regardless if I used it 20 hours or 50. New carb is $50 and the original isn’t rebuildable. I used to fight it running intermittently and many times erratically spending frustrating hours trying to clean it etc. No more.  Cost for a fuel pump is cheap, relocate it if it’s a pia to get to and be done with it.

Put a tank of fresh gas in it and see if it will run.   Every spring, the first time I used the generator, it'd quit running after an hour or so.  Let it sit for half an hour, it'd run again... For about an hour.  I use Stabil in a FULL tank for over winter.  Which also means it's winter blend gas in the tank.   After I drive off about 1/2 a tank and put in fresh gas, the generator runs fine... For hours on end.

Don

Wondering if everyone runs the generator under load for at least an hour every month as recommended by Onan and still have these problems, and use Stabil like Donc says?

Wondering if everyone runs the generator under load for at least an hour every month as recommended by Onan and still have these problems, and use Stabil like Donc says?

I used to do that and it didn't make any difference.  The main purpose according to Onan is to dry out moisture in the generator windings and to try to keep gum from forming in the fuel lines or carburetor.

As you well know, moisture isn't much of a problem here.

 

Wondering if everyone runs the generator under load for at least an hour every month as recommended by Onan and still have these problems, and use Stabil like Donc says?

Parked my rig with full fresh tank of fuel (but no Stabil) at the end of 2019, and tried to follow the monthly generator exercise while laid up during 2020.  Succeeded for several months, but got lazy early summer, missed 3 or 4 months, and when I tried to start the gen in October--crank, crank, crank, but no start.  I knew what the problem would be--pulled the carb bowl--and sure enough, green pasty gunk in the bottom.  Ran the fuel pump to flush the line and the E-10 gas still looked and smelled good (Ford V-10 running fine on it).  I thought the problem would be with the solenoid shut off valve in the bottom of the carb bowl gunked up, but that still worked freely; the restriction was in the main jet needle that has the altitude adjustment.  Pulled that apart, cleaned up the bowl and all pieces with brake cleaner, reassembled everything--fired right off and ran like a top.

I went ahead and ran all the (almost) year-old gas out of the rig, filled fresh, and added Stabil this time.  Been a little more conscientious about the 4 to 6 week generator starts since then--no more problems.  I did buy an extra carb to add to my on-board spares; at thirty-something bucks I chalked it up it as insurance since I've confirmed what everyone else has told me---that the problem absolutely can occur.

Quote from: 2 Lucky on March 18, 2021, 05:58:35 pm

Wondering if everyone runs the generator under load for at least an hour every month as recommended by Onan and still have these problems, and use Stabil like Donc says?

The main purpose according to Onan is to dry out moisture in the generator windings and to try to keep gum from forming in the fuel lines or carburetor.

I understood that too.  Given our indoor storage, I never run the generator until testing it prior to a trip.

Last August, I started the generator for the first time in two years.  I don't know if my fuel pump issue was related to that or not.  But the generator started right up and ran for 20 minutes before the fuel pump over-heated.  It was very hot outside during the test run.

Wow!  I guess we do have the range of maintenance schedules from 'Replace filters every year' to 'not start in two years'  and it seems everyone has fuel related performance issues. Thanks to all for contributing.

We dont have a large sample group, but it is widespread across the country. I almost wonder if the fuel is more the variable than generator maintenance.


From   https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/  -

""In addition to the different grades of motor gasoline, the formulation of gasoline may differ depending on the location where it is sold or the season of the year. Federal and state air pollution control programs that aim to reduce carbon monoxide, smog, and air toxins require oxygenated, reformulated, and low-volatility gasoline. Some areas of the country are required to use specially formulated gasoline to reduce certain emissions, and the formulation may change during winter and summer months. These area-specific requirements mean that gasoline is not a homogenous product nationwide. Gasoline produced for sale in one area of the United States might not be authorized for sale in another area.""

Not very readable, but does show the variety - ( source - https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15339380/the-vapor-rub-summer-versus-winter-gasoline-explained/)



And hey!  Evidently here in  Florida they dont even switch from Summer to winter blend anymore. Since 2014. ( source - https://askthetrucker.com/no-more-summer-gas-blend-for-florida-north-carolina/  and similar found here - https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/032814-us-epa-approves-florida-north-carolina-requests-to-change-summer-gasoline-rvp)

2014 was the first year that Florida remained with the 9.0 blend through the Summer season, eliminating the usage of the formerly required 7.8 blend. Florida, as well as North Carolina, will no longer be mandated to use the 7.8 RVP blend during the Summer season.

Looks like there was only 6 counties that did switch between blends, and they no longer have to. (I am not in those counties)


Lessons I take away from all this is:
 For less than $100 we can have a spare pump, carb and filter on hand, might be good 'generator insurance' for the time we start putting in fuel formulated for other places when we travel.   

Make it a policy to let the tank run low before a final fill up when back home in Florida. ESPECIALLY when the summer 7.8 blend is used in surrounding areas. Just like the food we eat, the fuel the vehicle gets is directly responsible for its 'health'.

Since I changed out to the generic carb made for a variety of engines including John Deere etc I have never had a fuel issue. No matter how long it sits.   Knock on wood!


Filters. And oil changes . I’m just a believer in them and lab tests! You can’t tell by sight or a book when your oil is done.

Got a link I can use to get the carb?   

Volk---

There's a bunch of them on Amazon at a variety of prices, but except for the OEM's (which are prohibitive), I couldn't really see any significant difference.  I went with the least expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085G6LJXH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Haven't tried it obviously, but looks just fine.  (Can't match Joseph's guarantee about no issues---no matter how long it sits, though )

Mike

I mean to go run mine once a month but if it gets started once during the off season that’s about it. My original carb the last year I had it if I didn’t run it every few weeks it was a fight and I often lost.

Ron Dittmer,

At the beginning of this thread you said "I was making a video how my PC V10 engine and generator started after sitting idle for two years."
Do you have a YouTube channel related to your owning a Phoenix Cruiser?  If so I would love to subscribe.  Link?

Thanks!!

Ron Dittmer,

At the beginning of this thread you said "I was making a video how my PC V10 engine and generator started after sitting idle for two years."
Do you have a YouTube channel related to your owning a Phoenix Cruiser?  If so I would love to subscribe.  Link?

Thanks!!

I have two youtube accounts, not sure how that happened.  I guess they are called "channels".  I have some videos posted but they are totally unrelated to what we talk about here and on other RV forums.  I decided some time ago to avoid videos.  I was going to make one exception with that generator video, but it's just too much work creating, editing and managing videos.  So I limit myself to pictures and typing.

👍

👍

Awe heck, you can check out our ballroom dance competition at a PADS (Public Action To Deliver Shelter) charity fund-raising event HERE, ha, ha, and our younger son back in 2004 in middle school in a talent show with two friends HERE who called themselves "The Bucket Boys".