Onan Diesel Generator Cold Start Problems

No video

Onan Diesel Generator Cold Start Problems

Рет қаралды 1,710

6 ай бұрын

If you are new to Diesel engines/Diesel Generators, they function differently than standard gasoline or propane type of engines. The diesel generators typically have glow plugs in each cylinder that "glow hot" in the combustion chamber at cold weather start up. If the glow plugs aren't functioning, the generator will have a hard time starting in cold weather or not start at all. My generator is brand new, so I had doubts that all 3 glow plugs were bad from the get go. Luckily, my issue was a simple blown fuse that sends power to the glow plugs. If your generator is maintained and exercised regularly, they should start on the first try regardless of weather. If you are having problems getting your generator started, there are issues that are causing them.
This video is for Onan Diesel generators only. If you have a gas model, and have hard start conditions, it's typically old gas in the carb, and you are not exercising your generator enough.

Пікірлер: 14

@robertlounsbury5054 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the post! I was ready to replace the glow plugs for over $400 until I saw this video. It cost under a dollar and a couple minutes to replace the blown fuse. Fires right off now.

@rvlifediy 5 ай бұрын

Awesome. I'm glad it actually helped someone lol.

@felixarriechejr9344 Ай бұрын

I think Dynamax should sale their units with you in them!

@rvlifediy Ай бұрын

I'd be happy to do a full factory detailed inspection of their completed RV before they go to the dealer for sale lol.

@felixarriechejr9344 Ай бұрын

@@rvlifediy really appreciate the time and know how you invest into this issues, I do own the same unit as you do even though I do not encounter as many of those issues I know they are there and eventually(hopefully not)will show up, in the meantime time I hope that you are enjoying your unit as it was intended. I tell my wife that you are Dynamax worts nightmare! Best to you!

@jasoncruz3506 6 ай бұрын

It’s 15 degrees hear in Jersey going to try cold start to see if mine has that problem

@rvlifediy 6 ай бұрын

If your glow plugs are working and fuel primed it should start pretty easy. Unless you haven't started it for over a month

@suprvideo 6 ай бұрын

Today I learned: diesel engines ignite the fuel simply by compressing the air.* The glow plugs are only necessary as a "starting aid" below around 40 degrees. That's why the generator functioned normally despite the blown fuse. "When the temperature of the air surrounding the engine drops below a certain value, depending upon cylinder head design, (40 °C for precombustion chamber injected, 20 °C for swirl chamber injected, and 0 °C for direct injected engines), the engine loses too much compression heat to reliably initiate combustion, and the engine fails to start. Glow plugs are used to help overcome this issue by introducing additional heat energy into the combustion chambers." Wiki "glow plugs" *This is also why diesel engines are so noisy - they need much higher compression to develop in the cylinder to ignite the fuel.

@rvlifediy 6 ай бұрын

Yes diesels are interesting old technology. Very simple and reliable engine if the modern emissions system wasn't so complicated and unreliable.

@MSMaifield 6 ай бұрын

Did you have similar issues with your Winnebago 3200 gen?

@rvlifediy 6 ай бұрын

@@MSMaifield When I originally got it, yes I did. Winnebago had an undersized fuse in the stairwell. It wasn't a standard fuse. It was a slow blow fuse (which didn't blow at all). It just cut off power slowly to the generator starter. I did have to upgrade the size of the fuse to a 300amp slow blow fuse. Winnebago fixed that in later models. The 3200 also seemed to get air in the system a lot because I drove with the fuel tank under a 1/4 of a tank frequently. So hitting the start/stop button (prime) only once would prevent it from starting, and I would have to hit it several times before attempting to hit the start button. I'm not familiar with all the fuses on the 3200 itself. I believe they are on the far right side of the front, with a removable cover. It does have a glow plug, but I'm not sure how it is wired to check for operation.

@wqqwate 6 ай бұрын

very common with older diesels, just get some starter fluid.

@rvlifediy 6 ай бұрын

Oh yea I remember the days of the old 7.3 Powerstrokes. This generator is brand new, and shouldn't have these issues. I had the exact same generator on an older motorhome and never had issues in freezing weather, so I figured something was wrong. WD40 in the intake works too.

@felixarriechejr9344 Ай бұрын

@@wqqwate as you probably know it is not advisable to use starting fluids if you have glow plugs!