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Topic: Sea Foam for cleaning generator (Read 14 times) previous topic - next topic
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Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Yahoo Message Number: 141996
Hi All,
 Being a newbie at the RV Game I just read this article about the product Sea Foam in the RV Camping Blog. Just wondering if it is really the cats meow when it comes to cleaning out carb in the generator and injectors in the engine. Anyone have an opinion. I don't want to mess up my 2003 V-10(48,400 miles) or the onan 4000 generator. Thanks to all n advance.

2003 24 LD/LF Red Sky
Re: Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 141999
Works for me-I've used it several times a year in two different rigs (with generators) and my motorcycle. That would be a '93 Ford 460, the 2011 V-10, and a 2003 Honda Ruckus.

Lori Y

2011 24FL

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Re: Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142003
"Being a newbie at the RV Game I just read this article about the product Sea Foam in the RV Camping Blog."
 Sea Foam is a solvent, similar to kerosene, and is similar to many other engine and fuel system cleaners.
Since it must be added to the LD's fuel tank, I would prefer using a cleaner designed for fuel injection systems, such as Chevron's Techron Fuel System Cleaner.
http://www.techron.com/ It works as well or better than Sea Foam.
Today's gasoline contain significant amounts of cleaners, made to keep fuel injections systems clean. Fuel injectors have very small ports that can plug easily and require fuels with specialized cleaners.
Regular usage of the generator will normally not require the use of cleaner, due to the cleansing properties of gasoline.
 The best way of preventing problems with your generator's fuel system is to run it monthly, under a heavy load, for 45 minutes or so.
The idea is get the engine's oil hot, to cook out any moisture that builds up in the generator's wire windings and to run fresh fuel through the carburetor, flushing out any fuel that has been sitting in the carb's fuel bowl since the last time it operated.
Getting and keeping the generator's internals dry is probably the most important reason to run the generator monthly. Moisture slowly attacks the wire winding's insulation and can lead to failure.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142004
Larry wrote: .

Quote
Regular usage of the generator will normally not require the use of cleaner, due to the cleansing properties of gasoline.
 The best way of preventing problems with your generator's fuel system is to run it monthly, under a heavy load, for 45 minutes or so.
Larry
Larry, where did you get the 45 minute figure? An Onan tech who had just attended the Onan training told me to run it 2 hours at very heavy load. I run mine with the heat strip and a 1.5KW heater on. Of course I would rather run it 45 minutes to save some gas it that is really sufficient.
Tom
Re: Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142005
I just read in our LD manual that Onan recommends that the generator be operated for a minimum of two hours per month. Yikes, I have been running it under load for one hour a month.

Marti in Seattle
Re: Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142010
"where did you get the 45 minute figure? An Onan tech who had just attended the Onan training told me to run it 2 hours at very heavy load. I run mine with the heat strip and a 1.5KW heater on."

Tom
 In my previous life, two of my many jobs were being a maintenance mechanic and then the Mechanical Repair Superior at the City of LA's LAX. One of my responsibilities was the maintenance of dozens of emergency and portable generators, including many Onans, Yamahas and Hondas.
 With portable generators, that were not regularly used, we found that monthly runs of 45 minutes, running under a heavy load, brought the generators up to operating temperature and held it there for about 30 minutes, long enough to boil off any moisture in the oil, plus to get the generator's windings good and hot.
We determined that the oil was getting hot enough to stay clean with a series of oil sample tests.
Longer run times are fine, undoubtedly necessary in cold winter climates.
I always use the Manufacturer's recommended maintenance procedures as a starting point and modify them according to experience. Interestingly, the Onan Owner's manual, that came with our 2003 LD, does not have any recommendations on a monthly run nor any time suggestions.
It is my suspicion that a recommended two hour run time is a universal suggestion, designed to fit any climate, including extremely cold ones.
Two hour run times certainly will not harm the generator other than using a small percentage of its life.
Not running it regularly, for an extended time, will most likely do harm, as I have warned on this site for many years.
Generator loved to be run regularly under load. Like humans, exercise is a good thing.

Larry
2001 MB
* Not to be confused with Larry W (3000 of my posts are actually from expert Larry W due to Yahoo transition mis-step)
Re: Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142015
Quote
Since it must be added to the LD's fuel tank...>
If hard to start, would it  be OK for my Honda generators?

Thanks, Barb
1992 22' TK
Re: Sea Foam for cleaning generator
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142017
If not warn out, this could very likely be a gummed carb from stagnant fuel which is a relatively simple removal, clean and replacement procedure. If anyone has successfully de-gummed a carb with Seafoam - it still sounds like overkill to me compared to an R&R.
 Adding a fuel preservative (like Sta-Bil) to the generator and running it will help prevent gumming - it just so happens that Seafoam can also be used as a fuel preservative. But once gummed, I'd pull out the carb and clean it. I'm sure others will have different opinions.

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