generator shut down at 1/4 tank

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generator shut down at 1/4 tank

July 29, 2019, 08:55:25 pm

good evening everyone,
how accurate is the 1/4 tank shut off for the generator.
have any of you actually ran the generator at levels below 1/3 tank to see what your fuel gauge reads when the generator does quit due to a low fuel level?

Frank

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #1 – July 29, 2019, 08:59:09 pm

Depends on how accurate the gauge is? I would think. 1/4 tank and its off on mine

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #2 – July 29, 2019, 09:00:22 pm

Hi David,
What does your gauge read when your gen shuts down?

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #3 – July 29, 2019, 09:03:31 pm

I never let mine get low enough to shut down at a 1/4 level. I usually filled at 1/2.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #4 – July 29, 2019, 09:10:39 pm

I used to run every generator until it stopped, Foretravel occasionally reversed the tank hookups long ago and had the gen run the tank empty versus leave 1/4 for the engine

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #5 – July 29, 2019, 09:12:06 pm

Quote from: Lt403 – July 29, 2019, 09:00:22 pm

Hi David,
What does your gauge read when your gen shuts down?

I replaced the fuel sender unit and when it hits 1/4 tank.. generator will shut down.. not so fun when in the hot weather and the closest station is a few miles down the road

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #6 – July 29, 2019, 10:14:17 pm

Quote from: red tractor – July 29, 2019, 09:03:31 pm

I never let mine get low enough to shut down at a 1/4 level. I usually filled at 1/2.

I agree, me too. 1/2. Even when I return home, just in case of an emergency.
I do go to 1/4 and past driving, but we rarely run the gen when driving,

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #7 – July 29, 2019, 10:28:58 pm

Quote from: gracerace – July 29, 2019, 10:14:17 pm

I agree, me too. 1/2. Even when I return home, just in case of an emergency.
I do go to 1/4 and past driving, but we rarely run the gen when driving,

Only reason I was that low was I left it at the repair facility... they had my generator on auto.. came back 2 weeks later... 1/2 tank of diesel was gone... Typically I am under 1/2 tank and then I fill up or if I am going on a long trip (for me) .. 1200 miles and I fill up.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #8 – July 29, 2019, 11:53:46 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – July 29, 2019, 09:10:39 pm

I used to run every generator until it stopped, Foretravel occasionally reversed the tank hookups long ago and had the gen run the tank empty versus leave 1/4 for the engine

Ours is plumbed in this manner, presumably from FT; no evidence of anyone ever being in there prior to me. I can read a gauge, and like it that way.

Greg

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #9 – July 30, 2019, 07:46:17 am

Quote from: red tractor – July 29, 2019, 09:03:31 pm

I never let mine get low enough to shut down at a 1/4 level. I usually filled at 1/2.

Me too.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #10 – July 30, 2019, 08:54:35 am

The generator pickup is much lower than 1/4 tank. The pickup is located 2-1/2 from the bottom of the tank or at about the 10% level. I can confirm this because we once stayed in our RV much longer than anticipated and the generator shut down at 1am. I immediately started the coach and drove to the nearest fuel station and it needed 158 gallons to fill a 180 gallon tank, meaning ti had about 12% left. Here is a pdf file of the 149g tank showing pickup heights.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #11 – July 30, 2019, 09:31:08 am

Thanks,
My gen shut down the other day while driving.
Had above 1/3 tank. Thought it might be the fuel level but after driving another 1.5 hrs it only took 107 gallons when I filled up.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #12 – July 30, 2019, 09:43:05 am

I do play around with some of the built in limits on our coach , but----fuel is not one of them . When the fuel gauge gets to the half way mark , I am pricing fuel and when a decent number shows up ---I fill up . On the 2006 Phenix we had , I didn't pay attention to such a trivial thing and boy did I pay the price . We were in North Carolina , mid August , near 100 degrees , near 100 % humidity . Fuel was not available for umpteen miles and of course the dash air didn't quite get it done . Results , grumpy wife , grumpy dog and me feeling the same , but to proud to say it out loud . Hmmm

Brad Metzger

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #13 – July 30, 2019, 09:59:22 am

Quote from: sedelange – July 30, 2019, 08:54:35 am

The generator pickup is much lower than 1/4 tank. The pickup is located 2-1/2 from the bottom of the tank or at about the 10% level.

Seeing the .pdf Steve posted reminded me I had a similar drawing saved on my computer. My drawing shows the single filler version of the 148g tank, which I assume is what is installed in our '93 GV. This .pdf also shows the "higher" of the two fuel pickups at 2.5" off the bottom. (I believe the 2.5" high pickup tube is incorrectly labeled a "return" tube in the drawing)

So, based on these two drawings, I wonder where the oft-repeated "generator quits at 1/4 tank" idea came from? If we take into consideration those members who have actually tested this theory and found it to be valid, how can we account for the discrepancy between their results and the engineering diagrams? I, personally, have not tried to run our genny dry, and do not intend to do so.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #14 – July 30, 2019, 10:24:42 am

We have run our 02 below 1/4 tank according to the gauge and the generator never stopped. I know our gauge is off since I can fill up the coach with fuel dripping from the filler neck and the gauge only reading 5/8 to 3/4 full.

I would think the shutoff is related to the actual fuel level in regards to the fuel pickup and not the sending unit.

I will be looking at replacing our sending unit in the near future.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #15 – July 30, 2019, 10:56:14 am

Quote from: Eric & Alena + 3 – July 30, 2019, 10:24:42 am

I would think the shutoff is related to the actual fuel level in regards to the fuel pickup and not the sending unit.

Based on everything I have read on this Forum, I would say you are correct. When the generator quits due to low fuel level, it is because the fuel pickup tube is sucking air. Has nothing to do with the fuel gauge reading.

The fuel level senders, especially on the older coaches, are notoriously erratic. Some members seem to have pretty good ones - others not so much. I use our fuel gauge as a "suggestion" as to quantity remaining, and when traveling base our planned fill-up stops on "miles driven at an average of 8 mpg". Seems to work out pretty close on our coach.

If I really want to know what's left in our tank, I use a flexible tank gauging tape with a weight on the end to get a precise reading.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #16 – July 30, 2019, 11:12:37 am

Here is another drawing of the 148 gallon tank that I found somewhere (probably Barry's site). Also, in the process of installing a new fuel sender I made this fuel dipstick which works pretty well. I have a lead weight on the bottom. The cord is to ensure it does not fall into the tank.

George

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #17 – July 30, 2019, 11:29:36 am

I watch fuel prices. Knowing that usually just 1 mile from main roads fuel can be .20 less. Fuel gauge is just handy. Why risk, air in lines, trash in fuel, etc. As my internal fluid system is often at 2 hr spacing. Emergency space diapers at ready. Fueling can be just stop, drop, go!

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #18 – July 30, 2019, 11:56:01 am

One big difference in the level of fuel when the generator sucks air is whether you are moving or not. Mine stopped when I was stationary and leveled. If you are driving, it will stop much sooner due to sloshing of the fuel. I also sucked air into the engine going over the Beltway 8/ Houston Ship Channel bridge. I was lightly below 1/4 tank and sucked enough air to reduce power and cause the engine to blow white smoke. I pulled over, bled the filters and restarted. I generally never run below 1/4 but did in this instance. Shows that sloshing greatly reduced overall capacity.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #19 – August 01, 2019, 11:24:52 am

Running as low as 1/4 tank and having to make a turn can cause sloshing in the fuel tank, air pocket, and stalling. Had it happen several times when we first got our coach, went through a lot of communication with Foretravel (and confusion on their part as to which of 5 baffle different configurations our tank had).

Best to fuel before 1/4 tank.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #20 – August 23, 2019, 08:57:10 pm

UPDATE
it happened again today with 3/4 of a tank.
I was driving through a small town and made a right hand turn onto a pitched ( inclined) street.
The gen turned off at that moment. I drove 2 blocks and pulled over, opened the gen and the same low oil light was flashing.
Switched the main off , waited 5 seconds, turned it back on. The preheat (yellow) light came on and 5 seconds later the gen started on its own.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #21 – August 23, 2019, 09:02:39 pm

We will never find out if the generator shuts off because we never let our fuel tank go below 1/2 tank.
John M.

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #22 – August 23, 2019, 09:13:24 pm

Quote from: Lt403 – August 23, 2019, 08:57:10 pm

UPDATE
it happened again today with 3/4 of a tank.
I was driving through a small town and made a right hand turn onto a pitched ( inclined) street.
The gen turned off at that moment. I drove 2 blocks and pulled over, opened the gen and the same low oil light was flashing.
Switched the main off , waited 5 seconds, turned it back on. The preheat (yellow) light came on and 5 seconds later the gen started on its own.

What was the oil level?

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #23 – August 23, 2019, 09:34:47 pm

Oil was full.
Flashing low oil light does not mean low oil level.
It means auxiliary input failure as per the manual.

John I was at 3/4 tank

Re: generator shut down at 1/4 tank

Reply #24 – August 23, 2019, 09:46:07 pm

It might be a loose connection or a wire being pinched

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