Generator started in 4 degree weather

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Generator started in 4 degree weather

February 18, 2021, 10:43:10 pm

This week we had close to a foot of snow in Ohio with temperatures down to zero. Thinking that we may loose power during what could have been a bad storm I turned on the block heater in the coach so I could at least start the engine assuming the generator would not start.
We never lost power and I decided to run the generator anyway. Glowed twice and then attempted to start, it nearly made it, knocking and shaking doing its best on one cylinder, glowed again and it came to life. I have never had a glow plug diesel start that well and in unbelievably cold weather. It's a power tech, 22 years old with about 600 hours on it!
While it was running I sat I. The coach heat strips on and enjoyed a refreshing beer.
PS: I have a propane 20kvw Kohler for the house and it will NOT start under 40 degrees despite Kohlers best efforts and it has 90 hours on it!

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #1 – February 18, 2021, 10:51:22 pm

Quote from: Irish – February 18, 2021, 10:43:10 pm

I have a propane 20Kw Kohler for the house and it will NOT start under 40 degrees despite Kohlers best efforts and it has 90 hours on it!

I'd get my money back. What good is a emergency backup generator that won't start in a emergency?

Propane is a great fuel for long term storage without deterioration, but I have heard people say that the pressure regulators and fuel systems on propane engines can be temperamental in cold conditions. Kind of a "Good News - Bad News" thing.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #2 – February 18, 2021, 11:02:24 pm

Had a similar experience about a week ago. The ice storm prior to the 20 inches of snow came through about 3 in the morning, knocked the power out, so I went over to the coach about 7. Unplugged the shore power and started the generator. It glow plugged for about 15 seconds and fired right up. Temperature was about 10 degrees with a 20 mph wind, cold as a fish. Only had one other diesel that would do that and it was a Duetz diesel tractor. None of the other tractors on the farm will do that in that kind of temperature. Power came back on about 8:30...... I was impressed it started.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #3 – February 18, 2021, 11:41:39 pm

I had one day this winter where I should have cycled the glow plugs 3 times as it was rough starting on 2 cycles. I have started
Cats (D

at 30 below F. Two minutes on the glow plugs and I used a watch as I would only get one shot at starting the engine.
It started right up. If the engine has glow plugs, they are left on long enough and the engine can be turned over fast enough
they will start.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #4 – February 19, 2021, 06:06:17 am

I used to start my generator when traveling in the winter and boondocking. I would spend the night on the road and it would be cold. I used to keep the engine running and cycle the glow plugs a couple times. It would always fire up. Then I would use the generator and Aquahot and block heater to start the ism the next morning. I love my onan here at the house too. It is a 50kw and it started right up last week,in the cold and ran for 4.5 days.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #5 – February 19, 2021, 11:34:05 am

mine started with the "double" glow plug activation last week in -15 F weather here in Canada ......
It works!

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #6 – February 19, 2021, 11:46:59 am

When I had the Monaco the Onan generator had a temperature reader so the glow plugs would be timed to the temperature.
Just more convenient. In the summer when it was really warm out the glow plugs didn't come on and that is when it was
the hardest starting.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #7 – February 19, 2021, 12:03:12 pm

Our generator has a very sophisticated glow plug timer: ME...holding the switch down and counting "thousand one, thousand two......."

BUT, it started right up in 2 degree (above zero) temps with only two 30 second pre-heat cycles, so no complaints here.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #8 – February 19, 2021, 12:10:46 pm

Is that how you heat the glow plugs on Generator...hold the momentary switch down for awhile...then let up??

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #9 – February 19, 2021, 12:22:42 pm

Quote from: Mike Minegar – February 19, 2021, 12:10:46 pm

Is that how you heat the glow plugs on Generator...hold the momentary switch down for awhile...then let up??

Yes, on my '93 U280. I have a momentary "PREHEAT" switch, and a "GEN" start/stop switch. Your newer model coach may be different.

We also have the same functions available on the generator itself, and on the bedroom wall. The bedroom switches are adjacent to the bedroom light switches. Right after we assumed ownership of our coach, I lost count of how many times my wife and I hit the generator start switch when we meant to turn on the lights.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #10 – February 19, 2021, 12:48:03 pm

In Yellowstone at 7900 feet and 17 degrees, it took several glow cycles and ether before it would start. Same switch on dash and generator compartment as Chuck's post above.

I noticed that Yellowstone has a 60db @50 feet noise limit on generators. No PowerTech would be legal now.

Our old 300SD 5 cylinder springs to life on all cylinders regardless of altitude or temperature. I just wait another 10 seconds after the glow light goes out in sub freezing weather.

Pierce

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #11 – February 19, 2021, 01:12:02 pm

Mike on your '01 the momentary switch only sends a signal to start the generator. It has a control board that gives about an 8 second preheat then starts. To do a longer preheat you should press the start switch, count to about 6 and press the stop switch. Then do it again but don't press stop. That will give you a preheat twice as long. If it doesn't start then repeat the cycle about 3 or 4 times then let it start. At least that's how it works on my '99.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #12 – February 19, 2021, 03:55:20 pm

On my generator I count 9 seconds before I press stop to recycle the glow plugs. I think my glow plugs run about 10 seconds before
the starter engages. I will check it one day.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #13 – February 19, 2021, 04:44:42 pm

Tried to start the Onan generator using the switch on the dashboard after I started the engine. All it did was crank, wouldn't start. I went outside to the generator compartment and used the start switch on the generator itself and it started. Not sure if it started because I had cranked it over a few minutes before or if the switch on the Generator was stronger, but I'll definitely remember that from now on during the cold weather.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #14 – February 19, 2021, 05:13:30 pm

Cold weather operation is the main reason I run T-6 synthetic oil in my M11, Kubota 4cyl, and the hydro circuit.
It does not thicken like Dino oil so its easier on the starting and flows oil quicker at cold start up.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #15 – February 20, 2021, 10:56:11 am

Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the information. I honestly didn't believe that diesel generators were a good idea for cold weather starts. Without, you know serious pre-heat.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #16 – February 20, 2021, 11:51:02 am

I never thought PowerTech's choice of engines was the best. It starts OK in mild to fairly mild weather but could be better in the real cold. Plus, it smells terrible when up at altitude plus noisy for an indirect injection engine. No reason to have to glow it several times. Only a bad glow plug should effect the starting.

After MBZ changed starters and went to quick glow plugs back in 1980, they started instantly no matter how cold and the turbo kept the smoke to a minimum. The VW Rabbit/Golf diesels are instant start in cold weather. They all have a sensor for temperature so the glow light won't come on if the engine is warm, comes on for 3 or 4 seconds in normal morning starts and 30 seconds in sub freezing temps.

I'm going to buy a DB meter and check the sound at 50 feet. It must be 3X the legal limit. I can remember SOB gas generators up at over 7K feet that were hard to hear unless close to the coach.

Old Toolmaker, don't blame it on indirect injection diesels for hard starting, blame the choice of engines, glow plug timers, etc.

Pierce

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #17 – February 20, 2021, 12:15:26 pm

I think if Tech had put in temperature timers for the glow plugs it would have made it a lot easier for people to start them in cold weather. If they had that system I wouldn't need to know what the temperature was so I know how many times to cycle the
glow plugs. I have no complaints on how the engine starts. My M11 starts really well in the cold as well.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #18 – February 20, 2021, 03:29:36 pm

My generator starts on the first crank but it wasn't always that way. I checked it out and I had 2 failed glow plugs. Definitely check your glow plugs on a regular basis, especially if you get one or two cylinders firing while the third lags behind and it smokes until it warms up.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #19 – February 20, 2021, 06:08:06 pm

Quote from: Mark D – February 20, 2021, 03:29:36 pm

My generator starts on the first crank but it wasn't always that way. I checked it out and I had 2 failed glow plugs. Definitely check your glow plugs on a regular basis, especially if you get one or two cylinders firing while the third lags behind and it smokes until it warms up.

Mark,

Quote from: Mark D – February 20, 2021, 03:29:36 pm

My generator starts on the first crank but it wasn't always that way. I checked it out and I had 2 failed glow plugs. Definitely check your glow plugs on a regular basis, especially if you get one or two cylinders firing while the third lags behind and it smokes until it warms up.

You are telling us that in 4 degree weather, your generator starts on the first crank? At low elevations with overnights in the 40 degree range, ours also starts immediately. Even at freezing, it's not a problem at home at 2000 feet. With high elevation and the overnight temps that accompany the elevation, it's a different story. It has four good glow plugs and synthetic oil.

Pierce

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #20 – February 20, 2021, 10:49:32 pm

No I've not tested it in 4F weather. But it would smoke and carry on in 30F weather before I addressed the glow plugs.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #21 – February 20, 2021, 11:04:58 pm

If I have had the glow plugs on long enough at over 4360 ft. and -7F the generator starts right away.

Re: Generator started in 4 degree weather

Reply #22 – February 20, 2021, 11:30:07 pm

Test glow plugs without removing them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xghgNB-EDXw

Pierce

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