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Old 09-14-2015, 04:23 PM   #1
rwmurphy15
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Winterizing a onan 5500 generator

I'd like to hear from others what they do to winterized there onan 5500 gas generator for the winter. I know what the manual says about using there additives. I have checked with a couple rv dealers to get the cumming additives and no one stocks them. So just checking what others do with there generators to get them ready for the winter. Do you run it dry do you just put additives in the gas and run it for awhile then leave it go till spring. Any suggestion will help.Thanks
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Old 09-14-2015, 06:30 PM   #2
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I don't have an Onan, but with my generator I just add Sta-bil per the instructions on the bottle. I actually had mine sit for two years with the same gas in it, I just added a second dose of sta-bil for the second year. Didn't need to run it until half way through the 3rd year, but figured I better not press my luck and just ran the fuel out of it that spring and put new gas in. Did the same thing with my ATV. Sta-bil does work, no carb varnishing/gumming problems with either one.
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Old 09-15-2015, 08:59 AM   #3
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Sea foam is what I use in the tank I think its the best ,I also start my generator once a month and let it run with aload on it for at least an hour,We dont really winterize the generator or the camper ( just open all drains and hot water heater blow air thru lines ,leave faucet )We use our camper year round been doing it that way for years with no issues ,Thats just us though.
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Old 09-15-2015, 09:38 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by rwmurphy15 View Post
I'd like to hear from others what they do to winterized there onan 5500 gas generator for the winter. I know what the manual says about using there additives. I have checked with a couple rv dealers to get the cumming additives and no one stocks them. So just checking what others do with there generators to get them ready for the winter. Do you run it dry do you just put additives in the gas and run it for awhile then leave it go till spring. Any suggestion will help.Thanks
The Honda generator, the Mercury boat motor, the John Deer tractor, the MDT snowblower, and the Honda lawn mower get fueled up year round out of the same cans. I treat everything with SeaFoam year round. When putting them away for winter, I mix up a couple of gallons with extra SeaFoam, fill all the tanks, and run them each for a bit. The generator gets started monthly or more often.

I had some clogging problems a few years back with both the boat and the generator. This was before I started using additives. After repairs to both, the shops advised me to use an additive religiously year round in all of my small engines. SeaFoam, StaBil, and a couple of others are all acceptable and do pretty much the same job. No problems since then. The real test is boat. It generally starts on the first try each year and purrs all summer long.
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Old 09-15-2015, 02:17 PM   #5
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I'm pretty nuts about storage on my motors. The onans have relatively small jets, so letting (ethanol) fuel sit in the bowl isn't good. The best winterization is to drain the carb before storing it.

Second best, disconnect the fuel pump and run it dry - make sure you do this with breakers off.

Seafoam and other fuel stabilizers are 3rd in my book... Ethanol fuel really stores poorly. Storing for months, I put Marine sta-bil in the tank and drain the carb.
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Old 09-15-2015, 03:30 PM   #6
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I won't buy ethanol blended fuel for my small engines. All my boats, ATV's, generators, lawn mowers, snow blowers, snowmobiles, blowers, trimmers, chain saws, and anything I might have forgotten are all fueled with what is called "recreational fuel" in this part of Michigan. It's actually ethanol free unleaded premium. To that I add Marine Stabil for summer use and Seafoam for winter use.

If I'm going to store any equipment at the end of the season, I drain the fuel tank, run the carb dry, change the oil (and filter if there is one) and then spray seafoam fogging mist into the cylinder and replace the spark plug. Since doing that, I've never had a problem with carburetor failure or with hard starting.
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Old 09-15-2015, 04:52 PM   #7
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Thanks, everyone for you reply's. I never heard of sea foam before I'm going to get some. I will get some non ethanol also.
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Old 09-16-2015, 04:50 AM   #8
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Here in sunny/dusty California, the trick would be to FIND non-ethanol blended fuel. It's available at Lowe's $3 or $4 a QUART. I haven't tried buying fuel at the local airport - but that would be 110+ octane av gas. Don't know what that might do to a small engine? I've been getting by using Stabil and running the carb dry.
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Old 09-16-2015, 05:28 AM   #9
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Here in sunny/dusty California, the trick would be to FIND non-ethanol blended fuel. It's available at Lowe's $3 or $4 a QUART. I haven't tried buying fuel at the local airport - but that would be 110+ octane av gas. Don't know what that might do to a small engine? I've been getting by using Stabil and running the carb dry.

Marinas usually carry it. It may be called "marine gas" there. Boat dealers and even small engine shops might well know where to find it.

The very large convenience store in our village carries it, but we're in boating/logging/snow country. That does suggest that it might be found in similar places near areas where boating is popular.
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Old 09-16-2015, 06:22 AM   #10
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Here in sunny/dusty California, the trick would be to FIND non-ethanol blended fuel. It's available at Lowe's $3 or $4 a QUART. I haven't tried buying fuel at the local airport - but that would be 110+ octane av gas. Don't know what that might do to a small engine? I've been getting by using Stabil and running the carb dry.
110 AV fuel wouldn't hurt a small engine, but it probably wouldn't run on it either. The small engines designed for 85 octane just don't have enough compression to ignite that high octane fuel.

As for Sea Foam, I used to use that from time to time (every 10th tank of gas or so) as a carb cleaner, haven't used it in years, but it's good stuff.
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Old 09-16-2015, 07:03 AM   #11
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Here is a link to a website that has a list of stations that sell non-ethanol gas.
Just click on your State or Provence. Be sure to call the number listed and check to see if they still sell pure gas or have closed down. The station where I used to get gas has closed and is still listed on the site. Hope this helps.

http://pure-gas.org/
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Old 09-17-2015, 05:31 AM   #12
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Marinas usually carry it. It may be called "marine gas" there. Boat dealers and even small engine shops might well know where to find it.

The very large convenience store in our village carries it, but we're in boating/logging/snow country. That does suggest that it might be found in similar places near areas where boating is popular.
Thanks for the reply/info. The nearest marina is up at Kaweah Lake, but we do have an outfit called ETCO Marine about 20 miles away. Worth a phone call.
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Old 09-17-2015, 05:34 AM   #13
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110 AV fuel wouldn't hurt a small engine, but it probably wouldn't run on it either. The small engines designed for 85 octane just don't have enough compression to ignite that high octane fuel.

As for Sea Foam, I used to use that from time to time (every 10th tank of gas or so) as a carb cleaner, haven't used it in years, but it's good stuff.
Thanks for the info - never tried Seafoam, but it seems to be recommended a lot on here - will have to give a try
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Old 09-17-2015, 06:21 PM   #14
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I live in the epicenter of the refining world. No ethanol free gas within 60 miles. Go figure.
I use Startron. So far, no issues.
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