How much fuel does Onan 5500 use?

[McGarrett50]

Anyone been able to get a good estimate on this? Knowing that load impacts the consumption, I'm trying to gauge how long I can run the generator PARKED with 1 AC & refrigerator running 24x7 and some lights and TV for a few hours per day in my Precept 31UL?

Also, can you get an accurate fuel tank reading by turning key to "accessory" so as not to start engine and disengage leveling jacks?

Trying to stretch fuel for 5 days.

Thank you!

[clubhouse]

Having never owned one I can't say from personal experience, but a quick Google search turned up .6 gal per hour at 1/2 load and .9 GPH at full load.

Therefore a 1/2 load, 5 days ~75 gallons.

[hoppers4]

At .6 gph you'd only get 3.5 to 4 days out of it. The generator fuel pickup should be set so as to leave 1/4 tank of fuel to get down the road with. Good for about 93 hours.

[Bassdogs]

You can stretch the fuel by setting the AC tstat higher during the hours you are not occupying the coach. When / Where are you planning on being that you need to run the ac 24/7?

[mowdoc]

Here are the specs Onan advertises https://powersuite.cummins.com/PS5/P...ets/a-1425.pdf


All who have this genny should read as it has loads of great info. Notice the output decreases with temp and altitude increase. Onan says the unit it tested to 120 degrees f but I find mine starts vapor locking around 113.


Don't worry which model number you have, all the gas engines on this page have same specs. Just read for gas engines - not LP.

[mowdoc]

Oh, and I have found that figuring .7 gph consumption will hit nail right on head.

[McGarrett50]

Through the first 48 hours it looks like we used just over 1/4 of tank, which is similar pace to Stoneman. I expect the generator would cut off at 1/4 to empty.

Most of the info I've received or found online indicates burning about .6 gallons per hour while camped. Of course "your usage will vary" based on load, weather and altitude.

Wouldn't it be nice if it would burn at a nice 1/2 gallon per hour. That would make it easy to project.

Since we are camping in an urban area and have a tow, I bought a 5-gallon plastic gas tank, filled it, and added to Precepts tank. I expect I will be close to a 1/4 of a tank left Mon AM.

[edatlanta]

My 5500 will burn about .6 gal/hr. Slightly more if using a/c "some", but pretty consistent 18 hr burn time on 10 gallons. My built in tank is 10 gallons so it is pretty easy to know what the exact fuel burn is as long as it is completely full in the beginning.

Total hours on the 5500 so far - 329.

[McGarrett50]

72 hours in the gas guage in the accessory key position shows I've used about 40
gallons. I'm at approximately 1/2 a tank left. So somewhere between .55 and .6 gallons per hour.

[Bassdogs]

In the summer we park the TT and use our houseboat. Houseboaters [including the new bigger fancy ones] are using a Honda 2000 to power their boats most of the time. Will fire up the onboard genny if additional power is required, but we can run all day for a couple gallons of gas.

Don't get commited to the onboard gen for all your needs. In most cases it way too much power for the demand. Want to drastically reduce fuel consumption, bring along a Honda or small genny.