When I worked at an RV dealership, every spring our service department was booked with appointments for generators that wouldn’t start, or if they did, they had that all-too-familiar surging sound. This was a result of letting the generator sit for periods of time without turning it on or exercising it. Lack of use is one of the biggest problems with generators. In gasoline generators, the fuel breaks down and sticks together, causing hard starting and overloading problems. This can happen in as short a period of time as a month.

RV generators are extremely reliable and in many cases will outlast the RV if properly maintained and cared for. They do not require your constant attention, just basic maintenance. The first thing to understand about maintaining your generator is that you need to exercise regularly. This applies to gas and diesel generators. Gasoline generators could have fuel related problems in as little as a month of inactivity. This is one of the biggest problems, but it can be easily prevented if you get into the habit of exercising your generator on a monthly basis.

Some people think they could get around this by adding a fuel preservative to the fuel tank and then running the generator long enough for the preservative to run through the generator set. You should definitely use a fuel preservative whenever the unit is in storage, but there are many other reasons to start and run your generator regularly. Moisture buildup can cause damage to your generator. When you exercise your generator, you heat up the generator windings and remove this moisture buildup. This monthly exercise regimen also lubricates all engine seals and components and helps prevent carbon buildup.

So what exactly do I mean when I say exercise your generator? By a gasoline generator I mean you start and run the generator with at least 50 percent load for at least two hours each month. It is extremely important that you run it with this minimum rated load. Generators are designed to run with a load placed on them. Our RV has a 4000 watt generator so I can run the roof air conditioner in the summer which is about 2000 watts or I can use a couple of small portable electric heaters if it’s cold. It is always better to let your generator run for longer periods rather than short periods. Consult your generator owner’s manual for the specific load capacities of your unit.

Other maintenance intervals for generators are based on usage. Your generator set will have an hour meter so you can monitor usage. Consult your owner’s manual for maintenance intervals.

The bottom line is, feel free to use your generator, and when you use it, charge it. A little exercise and preventative maintenance will keep your generator in top operating condition and give you many years of faithful service.

happy camp,

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101