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Top 5 Tips To Maintain Your RV Generator

Tips To Maintain Your RV Generator

Buying the right Recreational Vehicle (RV) generator does not end all your struggles. If you overlook its maintenance, it can leave you helpless at the most difficult of times. The good news is it is fairly easy to keep your RV generator healthy. Following are 5 important tips to help you take better care of your RV generator:

Tips To Maintain Your RV Generator

Start and Run Your Generator Regularly

When not needed, people tend to overlook putting the generator to work. If you do not use the generator on regular basis, it might inflict some issues. The fuel inside an idle generator does not burn and gets spoiled resulting in carbon accumulation. So, working the generator regularly prevents carbon buildup and it re-lubricates the engine. Exercising your generator also removes the moisture, as it heats up the generator windings, and also extends engine’s life.

You should run the generator, for at least two hours in a month. It is also very crucial that you run it on at least half of its maximum load.

Clean Your Generator’s Air Cleaner

Check and clean your generator’s air cleaner regularly. The air cleaner / air filter ensures that only clean air enters the motor. With time and usage, a layer of dust settles over the air filter.

Clean or replace the air filter regularly to prevent obstruction in air inflow. Bad airflow reduces fuel efficiency. This can also cause wear and tear of internal components. You can take care of your generator’s air cleaner by blowing compressed air, washing it with soapy water or simply replacing it.

Make sure to remove the dirt buildup covering the entire generator as well, as it reduces its cooling ability and can add to overheating problems.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

Purchase and install a carbon monoxide gas detector designed for RVs. CO is a deadly gas – invisible and odorless. The CO detector will help you inspect the generator’s exhaust system. You should never run the RV generator with a damaged or leaky exhaust system. Also, take note that to avoid CO entering the generator, you should always close the windows, when the generator is running. Park your RV in an open space, far from obstacles such as walls and other RVs. Be careful of other RV owners running their generators near to yours. Do not forget to turn the generator off before sleeping.

Storing Your RV Generator

There are a few ways to store your RV generator for six months or more, if you do not want to use it. Fill the fuel tank with gas and add a fuel stabilizer. Start the engine and run the generator on the minimum load. This way the stabilizer spreads all through the fuel system.

Normally, generators are intended to run around 100 hours between oil changes. If you plan to store the generator, replace the oil filter and oil. Moreover, ensure the batteries are fully charged and disconnect the battery cables. Check the owner manual for further instructions on generator storage.

Follow Owner Manual Guidelines

The best RV generators come in different fuel types namely gasoline, diesel and LP-gas. Different generators have different recommended maintenance intervals and operational and storage procedures. Hence, it is vital to follow all cautions and warnings mentioned in your particular generator’s owner manual.

Written by

Eric J. Leech is a born and bred auto enthusiast who has been a gear-head ever since he crawled out of his crib and got his Kool-aide stained mitts on a 67 Camaro SS (red, black bucket seats, no air-conditioning). He's since become an automotive journalist for a variety of sources, including DUB Magazine, American Auto Press, Import Tuner, Turbo & High Performance, and has also worked as a content provider for the Discovery Channel's, Mean Green Machines. Follow Eric J. Leech at Google+

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