Continuous use of Onan 4000 K generator

[Jaytalk]

I have a Greyhawk 29MVP. What's the longest anyone has run their Onan 4000 generator continuously without stopping? I've heard that you could run it continuously for days. Is that true? What number of hours have you continuously used your generator?

[Grumpy]

Ran one for 3 days when we had a power outage. Just remember that it will stop when you hit a 1/4 tank of fuel +/-. So have extra gas available if needed.

[jd99336]

The only thing I would do is maybe open the door for extra ventilation if it is not vented (mine isn't). They are pretty durable, so as long as they have gas and oil, they should run. Keeping them cool would be the only major issue and they should have that pretty well under control.

[Jaytalk]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Ran one for 3 days when we had a power outage. Just remember that it will stop when you hit a 1/4 tank of fuel +/-. So have extra gas available if needed.

Wow, 3 days straight , non-stop? Did you stop to change oil?

jd: mine is vented already. Tks.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Jaytalk

Wow, 3 days straight , non-stop? Did you stop to change oil?

No change interval is every 100 hrs or 1 once a yr. 3 days is only 72 hrs so why would I need to change it?

[Jaytalk]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

No change interval is every 100 hrs or 1 once a yr. 3 days is only 72 hrs so why would I need to change it?

Yep, I guess you're right.

[Camper_bob]

I ran mine for 3-days straight as well on a boondocking trip to the beach. Changed the oil when I got home.

That was during the summer too, so it was running both AC units almost continuously for that whole trip. Nary a hiccup the whole weekend, it ran like a champ.

The only concern I had was the fuel gauge on the chassis. I checked it a couple times, and it never moved off "full" (I topped off right before we drove onto the beach). I wasn't too worried about it because I knew we had plenty of fuel for what we were doing. Turns out I used a little more than half a tank. But I didn't know that until I moved the rig at the end of the weekend. For some reason, the sender did not update the gauge. I even tried running the motor for a few minutes to get it to update, and it never did. I have not since had a need to run that long while sitting still, so I haven't tried to trouble-shoot or figure that out; the gauge works fine while in transit.

ETA: I also run it almost all the time when we're on the road too. Earlier this year we had a trip that took 2-days drive. The genny ran the whole trip with no problems.

[Jaytalk]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

I ran mine for 3-days straight as well on a boondocking trip to the beach. Changed the oil when I got home.

That was during the summer too, so it was running both AC units almost continuously for that whole trip. Nary a hiccup the whole weekend, it ran like a champ.

The only concern I had was the fuel gauge on the chassis. I checked it a couple times, and it never moved off "full" (I topped off right before we drove onto the beach). I wasn't too worried about it because I knew we had plenty of fuel for what we were doing. Turns out I used a little more than half a tank. But I didn't know that until I moved the rig at the end of the weekend. For some reason, the sender did not update the gauge. I even tried running the motor for a few minutes to get it to update, and it never did. I have not since had a need to run that long while sitting still, so I haven't tried to trouble-shoot or figure that out; the gauge works fine while in transit.

ETA: I also run it almost all the time when we're on the road too. Earlier this year we had a trip that took 2-days drive. The genny ran the whole trip with no problems.

Camper bob,

Thanks for the info. I guess I can rest assure that, if I need to run the genny for a prolonged period of time, it will be ok.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Jaytalk

Camper bob,

Thanks for the info. I guess I can rest assure that, if I need to run the genny for a prolonged period of time, it will be ok.

Just don't run out of fuel. And you may want to stop now and then to change the oil if you're running for many days constantly. Air filter and spark arrestor as well.