Generator oil leak

Topic: Generator oil leak (Read 1368 times) previous topic - next topic

Generator oil leak

July 07, 2013, 02:42:44 pm

We have a Powertech generator with about 350 hours on it. We don't use it much.... mainly for lunch stops. We've been in Anacortes since 6/20 and yesterday I noticed a oily spot developing on the gravel under the front of the generator. Opened it up this morning and there is a fair amount of oil in the pan under the power unit of the generator (left side facing the generator). I pulled out the generator tray and I could not see any obvious source of the oil. And we have not run the generator since arriving we arrived in Anacortes.

The strange thing about the leak is that the oil feels very light and clean... seems different from the dipstick oil. The dipstick reads full. See the attached pics. Any ideas?

George

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #1 – July 07, 2013, 02:45:39 pm

George,

Very interesting, as it appears that the oil is coming from the generator (not engine) end???

If the crankcase breather is connected to the air filter, see if that is the source of the oil.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #2 – July 07, 2013, 02:58:15 pm

Check for a leak from the steering gear. That location of the drip is far from the steering gear, but the clean oil is consistent with a leak from the hydraulic system.

Could it be diesel fuel rather than engine oil? It appears that you have fuel lines in the area.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #3 – July 07, 2013, 04:12:56 pm

Thanks for the suggestions.

1. I checked the steering box and there is nothing leaking in that area. Looked all around the front end near the generator and can't see any leaking hydraulic fluid. I check the reservoir and it is full at the sight glass. Also the top of the generator is oil free. Actually there is a box that surrounds the generator so it would be hard for oil from other locations in front to find its way into the generator.

2. Definitely not diesel fuel.... no smell

3. I did look at the breather tube and there were some drips coming from it. See the photo below. Yes, the generator is at the opposite end of the coach from the engine. There seems to be a lot more oil in the pan under the generator than I would expect from the breather.

George

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #4 – July 07, 2013, 07:32:54 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – July 07, 2013, 02:42:44 pm

We have a Powertech generator with about 350 hours on it.

yesterday I noticed a oily spot developing on the gravel under the front of the generator. Opened it up this morning and there is a fair amount of oil in the pan under the power unit of the generator (left side facing the generator).

The strange thing about the leak is that the oil feels very light and clean... seems different from the dipstick oil. The dipstick reads full.

George,

When did you last have the oil changed and do you have a record of how much oil they put in? When Steve did his own oil change this spring, he discovered (and Barry B. confirmed) that our Kubota took much less than the manual called for. Perhaps it was overfilled at the last change?

Michelle

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #5 – July 07, 2013, 09:01:54 pm

Michelle..... I have checked to oil dipstick several times and it has always been at the full mark. Had it changed about a year ago. But thanks for the idea!

George

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #6 – July 08, 2013, 10:16:01 pm

It is definitely not hydraulic oil. Kept an eye on the reservoir sight glass today. No problem. The dripping has stopped, so I think it is coming from the generator. It has not been used for a couple of weeks. No sign of leakage around the filter. It could have come from the dipstick hole if it was not secure, but there is no oil below the dipstick on the engine. So who knows.

I cleaned the oil from under the generator as best I could and we'll run it some tomorrow to see what happens. We have an appointment on Friday with RNR RV in Spokane (old Foretravel dealer) if the leak continues.

Thanks for all the ideas.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #7 – July 10, 2013, 12:32:00 am

It is a diesel leak. I cleaned up the "oil" on the generator pan last night as best I could and then ran it for an hour at lunch. I found the same thin oily substance under the left side of the generator (engine on right). Tonight I took the left cover off and found a pool of what appears to be diesel fuel in the left front motor mount. See the attached photo. It does not appear to be coming from the fuel filter nor the electric fuel pump on the front of the engine. I checked the lines leading back to the fuel tank, but found no leak. Tomorrow I'll pull out the generator on its slide and check behind it.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #8 – July 10, 2013, 06:35:00 pm

Here are some more pics of the "scene of the crime." I think the leak is at the return line where it runs through the back of the generator case. The pics seems to indicate that and since the generator ran fine, it was probably in the line with positive fuel pressure. The sound deadening foam under the entire generator is saturated with diesel fuel. The foam under the generator itself could easily be removed, but that under the engine is another matter. I'm thinking the generator will have to be removed from its case. This is more than I want to tackle, so we'll be taking it in to RNR on Friday. I see $$$$. On the positive side, we are lucky we did not have a fire.

Also found a poorly secured electrical connection while looking for the leak. See pic.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #9 – July 10, 2013, 06:42:35 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – July 10, 2013, 06:35:00 pm

I'm thinking the generator will have to be removed from its case. This is more than I want to tackle, so we'll be taking it in to RNR on Friday. I see $$$$.

Ugh - you can't just remove the generator from the quiet box - the whole darned thing comes out of the coach first, then the quiet box is removed (assuming RNR can't work on the leak with the generator in place).

-M

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #10 – July 10, 2013, 06:43:59 pm

I think they could get to the leak without removing the generator, but don't you think that diesel soaked foam needs to come out?

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #11 – July 10, 2013, 07:18:15 pm

I would take it out.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #12 – July 10, 2013, 07:25:54 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – July 10, 2013, 06:43:59 pm

I think they could get to the leak without removing the generator, but don't you think that diesel soaked foam needs to come out?

One would think, but I was just giving you the heads up (in case you didn't know) that the whole kit n' kaboodle needs to come out of the coach (typically by forklift, after disconnecting various things) to get the box off the genset.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #13 – July 10, 2013, 08:02:52 pm

Put your cigarette out before you start working on it!

Damn, now I'm headed out to the barn to check on our generator for leaks!

Thanks for he heads up!

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #14 – July 11, 2013, 02:23:03 pm

George,, The quiet box can be taken apart while it is still in the coach . I just did it on a 2000 U 320 a few weeks ago. Once the panels are off, all the bad sound proofing will be easy to get to. If the techs can't figure it out,,, call me and I will tell them how to do it.
Gary O

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #15 – July 11, 2013, 08:18:31 pm

A Foretravel friend had an idea to explain the lack of smell in the dripping diesel. He asked if it could be biodiesel? And sure enough, I filled up at a station at the Swinomish Casino near Anacortes and they offer three choices of diesel with varying amounts of biodiesel. I thought I selected "none" (the cheapest), but who knows what I actually got.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #16 – July 11, 2013, 08:29:26 pm

Even though we are in a sticks and bricks, I follow several RVing forums and from time to time I send people here when they are considering becoming a Foretravel owner. This particular topic is really a Master Class in how ForeForums members help each other solve problems. George: I hope you can get the leak repaired and the sound deadening material replaced without breaking the bank.

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #17 – July 11, 2013, 10:06:00 pm

George H., I would guess that the cheapest fuel probably would have had the greatest percentage of biodiesel. Does your coach exude the fragrance of a small town diner when you run the generator? (I don't know what we'll eat here, but -- sniff, sniff -- I think it's gonna' be fried!

)

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #18 – July 12, 2013, 05:41:08 pm

Well, it is fixed. The tech at RNR RV in Liberty Lake, WA did a great job. He found a small leak in the return line just as I suspected. The break was where the rubber tubing connected to the fitting on the inside of the generator case. The tech, William, thought the break might have been due to vibration of the hose while the generator is running. He was also able to get all of the diesel soaked sound insulation material out from underneath the engine without a lot of trouble. Another thing that I greatly appreciated about William is that he kept me informed of his progress and gave us some tips on using the generator and inverter. Total bill was about $450.

RNR RV is an interesting place. It is an authorized center for Foretravel parts and service. It is a huge facility and they are very busy, at least this time of year. I heard them making appointments for 10 days from now. Overall, it appears to be well run. The tech was very experienced (over 25 years in RV work) and the service writer (Dennis) was very easy to work with. As others on this forum have pointed out, the biggest problem with RNR is communication before arriving. It is almost impossible to talk to someone since the service writers are often on the phone and the person answering can do little other than giving you voice mail. However, Dennis did call me promptly after my initial call to make the appointment. Even while getting the work done the service writers are behind a door manned by a receptionist. You don't go through that door without being invited. Overall though, the service experience was good and they got the work done in a timely manner. We are currently staying in their guest lot (full hookups for 10 units). It is first come/first served and reservations cannot be made.

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Generator oil leak

July 07, 2013, 02:42:44 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #1 – July 07, 2013, 02:45:39 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #2 – July 07, 2013, 02:58:15 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #3 – July 07, 2013, 04:12:56 pm

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Reply #4 – July 07, 2013, 07:32:54 pm

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Reply #5 – July 07, 2013, 09:01:54 pm

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Reply #6 – July 08, 2013, 10:16:01 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #7 – July 10, 2013, 12:32:00 am

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #8 – July 10, 2013, 06:35:00 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #9 – July 10, 2013, 06:42:35 pm

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Reply #10 – July 10, 2013, 06:43:59 pm

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Reply #11 – July 10, 2013, 07:18:15 pm

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Reply #12 – July 10, 2013, 07:25:54 pm

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Reply #13 – July 10, 2013, 08:02:52 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #14 – July 11, 2013, 02:23:03 pm

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Reply #15 – July 11, 2013, 08:18:31 pm

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Reply #16 – July 11, 2013, 08:29:26 pm

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Reply #17 – July 11, 2013, 10:06:00 pm

Re: Generator oil leak

Reply #18 – July 12, 2013, 05:41:08 pm

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