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Old 07-31-2012, 07:51 PM   #1
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Generac Generator overheating

My wife and I just returned from a trip to Montana from PA during the recent hot spell in the midwest. Our 2011 Georgetown 350TS is equipped with a Generac Q65 generator that would quit running when the outside temperature would reach 100 degrees. When looking at the control board, it indicated "high oil temperature." After three days at the dealer, it still isn't known what is the problem. We are now considering changing out the generator to an Onan 5500, even at a substantial cost. Has anyone else had this problem with a Generac?

John Sirkoch
Renfrew PA
2011 Georgetown 350TS
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Old 07-31-2012, 10:00 PM   #2
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My wife and I just returned from a trip to Montana from PA during the recent hot spell in the midwest. Our 2011 Georgetown 350TS is equipped with a Generac Q65 generator that would quit running when the outside temperature would reach 100 degrees. When looking at the control board, it indicated "high oil temperature." After three days at the dealer, it still isn't known what is the problem. We are now considering changing out the generator to an Onan 5500, even at a substantial cost. Has anyone else had this problem with a Generac?

John Sirkoch
Renfrew PA
2011 Georgetown 350TS
I first have a few questions and if you feel your answers fit you can try the solution.

1. Do you have many hours of run time on the generator?
2. When you run it do you load up the generator or just have it run just lights and battery charger, etc?
3. Has the oil. filter been changed recently?
4. Open up the air filter and check filter if it is clogged or not. Clean

If you don't run generator often under full load the gas may have formed varnish in the carb. This may make it run lean which might make it run hotter than normal

Anyway I suggest to buy a spay can of carb cleaner
Open up the air filter and while the unit is running spray directly into the intake of the carb. You want to spray a lot and it may even stall out. That's OK. I would continue to spray for a few more seconds and then let the unit sit not running. If you have any varnish in the ventura or around the needle valve opening it will help to remove that old gas varnish buildup.
You can try this a few times and see what happens. It is a cheap idea to save you a lot more money in a new unit.

After awhile start and run it and turn everything you have on that you can that is 120 volts inside. I mean load that baby up and see if it overheats again and shuts down.

Let us know if you will try it an see.

Good Luck
John
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Old 07-31-2012, 10:11 PM   #3
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We had this issue a few years back on Class C's. At least for ours (and those were 4.0 models) the "oil cooler?" is installed woefully close to the exhaust. Grass or gravel lots everything seemed to be OK, but on asphalt it would just radiate too much heat and trip. They said the "thermostat" that triggers this was too low, so they put in a higher temp. At least that's what I recall from 4-5 years ago.
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Old 07-31-2012, 10:29 PM   #4
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We had this issue a few years back on Class C's. At least for ours (and those were 4.0 models) the "oil cooler?" is installed woefully close to the exhaust. Grass or gravel lots everything seemed to be OK, but on asphalt it would just radiate too much heat and trip. They said the "thermostat" that triggers this was too low, so they put in a higher temp. At least that's what I recall from 4-5 years ago.

That sounds like it is worth a try too.
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Old 08-01-2012, 09:44 AM   #5
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I had this problem. The oil temperature sensor needed to be replaced. Its mounted on top of the oil filter housing. They do go bad and its easy to replace. Also, make sure you are running straight SAE30 oil as is recommended for temps over 40F I use a synthetic SAE 30 from Royal Purple. It's possible they used lower weight oil last time it was changed. You could also plumb in an oil cooler since there is not one on this model, but first try replacing the sensor, oil, and give it a good hose down.

Here is the stock 270F oil temp switch:

And here is one slightly higher at 284F
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Old 08-01-2012, 11:21 AM   #6
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I witnessed several gensets shutting down last week-end in 105 degree heat. To solve the problem most people were opening doors to the genset and running fans on them or finding shade of some sort to remedy the problem. I have a Honda 3000 and had to open the door to fix my problem after the heat reached 109. Air circulation is important.
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Old 08-01-2012, 11:32 AM   #7
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I had this problem. The oil temperature sensor needed to be replaced. Its mounted on top of the oil filter housing. They do go bad and its easy to replace. Also, make sure you are running straight SAE30 oil as is recommended for temps over 40F I use a synthetic SAE 30 from Royal Purple. It's possible they used lower weight oil last time it was changed. You could also plumb in an oil cooler since there is not one on this model, but first try replacing the sensor, oil, and give it a good hose down.

Here is the stock 270F oil temp switch:

And here is one slightly higher at 284F
Sounds like Ron has a great solution and probably the easiest place to begin solving the problem. Opening the door and placing a fan to blow at the generator might help to displace some of the heat as well but a more permanent fix would be my choice.
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Old 08-01-2012, 02:47 PM   #8
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Not directly related to this thread but an interesting note: The Onan generators use positive ventilation from a fan mounted in a fan shroud under the engine. So they pull air in from the bottom on one side, blow it through the alternator, across the heads and then out over the mufflers.

So it's important that you don't run your Onan with much of a load or for a long time with the door (maintenance access cover) off it. With the door off most of the air comes out the front and doesn't go over the heads.

Does the generac do something like this or is it like the older Onan's where it relies on a more passive cooling? If it's passive I wonder if some permanently installed ventilation fans would help. Might be a fun and useful mod. Maybe an electric radiator fan could be installed with a thermostatic switch? Or some 110v muffin fans in the right places?

I've included a couple pictures below to show how the Onan works. Since it's much easier to see with pictures than with words.
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Old 08-01-2012, 07:45 PM   #9
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During same hot spell, I went off the grid due to low voltage, and went on the generac genset 6.5KW. I noticed the voltage was high, I plugged in my RMS meter and was shocked to see 132Volts. I turned on the 15000BTU A/C and it came down to 128 and then I turned on the 13500BTU it then dripped to 124.
My question is; What should the zero load voltage be?
How can I adjust it to something lower if need be?

I appreciate all of the information that is made available on this forum, I find it to be a great resource.

Thanks in advance
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Old 08-01-2012, 09:16 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by jsutherl View Post
Not directly related to this thread but an interesting note: The Onan generators use positive ventilation from a fan mounted in a fan shroud under the engine. So they pull air in from the bottom on one side, blow it through the alternator, across the heads and then out over the mufflers.

So it's important that you don't run your Onan with much of a load or for a long time with the door (maintenance access cover) off it. With the door off most of the air comes out the front and doesn't go over the heads.

Does the generac do something like this or is it like the older Onan's where it relies on a more passive cooling? If it's passive I wonder if some permanently installed ventilation fans would help. Might be a fun and useful mod. Maybe an electric radiator fan could be installed with a thermostatic switch? Or some 110v muffin fans in the right places?

I've included a couple pictures below to show how the Onan works. Since it's much easier to see with pictures than with words.
Generac is the same thing. It's a positive ventalation system. My only overheats happened while on the road so you can't really have the door open The heat coming off the pavemet and the exhaust from the v10 exiting in front of it doesnt help.
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Old 08-01-2012, 09:47 PM   #11
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I've included a couple pictures below to show how the Onan works. Since it's much easier to see with pictures than with words.
Thanks for your post showing the Onan Gen. I knew they had twin shafts with a speed reduction, good idea. I had no idea it was a single belt drive. I couldn't find a detailed breakdown of the unit, I was hoping for a gear reduction instead. Its impossible to work on where is and way too heavy to handle diassembly with out a machine shop of tools and engine jacks to get it out. Forget the old 10 minute belt change!
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Old 08-08-2012, 06:49 PM   #12
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Thanks for your post showing the Onan Gen. I knew they had twin shafts with a speed reduction, good idea. I had no idea it was a single belt drive. I couldn't find a detailed breakdown of the unit, I was hoping for a gear reduction instead. Its impossible to work on where is and way too heavy to handle diassembly with out a machine shop of tools and engine jacks to get it out. Forget the old 10 minute belt change!
13 and 14 mm wrenches, a $69 Harbor Fright transmission Jack, a pile of 1' long 2X and 4X4's and a friend (not necessarily strong), and you can R&R the Onan 5500 generator pretty quickly and painlessly.

I'm a fairly healthy 68-y/o, and I did it last month.

Start with whatever boards you need on the jack to touch the genny, and lower it, removing boards using a pry bar, until you get it down to where you can raise the rear of the MoHo to pull it out. I used a Harbor Fright movers' dolly as my lowest set of boards, so I could roll it off the jack. The wheels on the Jack are too small to run across uneven surfaces, so I threw the dolly in at the last minute.

The mounting frame for the genny is flexible enough to allow for a bit of slop.

Once it's out, it's easy to operate with a battery and a can of gas.

I melted the carpet on the dolly, since it exhausts straight down, but oh, well!
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Old 08-08-2012, 07:10 PM   #13
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13 and 14 mm wrenches, a $69 Harbor Fright transmission Jack, a pile of 1' long 2X and 4X4's and a friend (not necessarily strong), and you can R&R the Onan 5500 generator pretty quickly and painlessly.

I'm a fairly healthy 68-y/o, and I did it last month.

Start with whatever boards you need on the jack to touch the genny, and lower it, removing boards using a pry bar, until you get it down to where you can raise the rear of the MoHo to pull it out. I used a Harbor Fright movers' dolly as my lowest set of boards, so I could roll it off the jack. The wheels on the Jack are too small to run across uneven surfaces, so I threw the dolly in at the last minute.

The mounting frame for the genny is flexible enough to allow for a bit of slop.

Once it's out, it's easy to operate with a battery and a can of gas.

I melted the carpet on the dolly, since it exhausts straight down, but oh, well!
Cool story, how's it working out? I remember the slip ring recon, ever figure what cause the damage? Another fellow a few day ago was asking how to wire one of the 6 connector plugs, all the wires from the gen were white and the harness was colorcoded. I guess it got away when he lowered it and forgot to disconnect the harness. I hope yours is good again!
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Old 08-08-2012, 08:02 PM   #14
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Cool story, how's it working out? I remember the slip ring recon, ever figure what cause the damage? Another fellow a few day ago was asking how to wire one of the 6 connector plugs, all the wires from the gen were white and the harness was colorcoded. I guess it got away when he lowered it and forgot to disconnect the harness. I hope yours is good again!
I neglected to post that the slip rings had sustained too much damage to "buff out", and that the slip rings are no longer offered as a separate part. I had to replace the rotor, $400, as opposed to $75 for the rings. Hmmmm!

Since the gen had lots of hours on it, I did the valve adjustment and replaced the plugs.

Zoooom!

Still p/o'ed about the lack of individual parts, though. They said that the spacing was too critical to sell the parts separately. I think not! There's 1/4" or better there to mess with.

They used to sell the brushes for $7 each, but now you have to buy the whole brush block for ~$30, but that's the way lots of this stuff is going.

I used to repair microwave circuit boards and radio equipment; now it's replace the boards. Sometimes you can't even get schematics as a factory authorized operation.

I ran a Comm and Telemetry organization for a major aerospace company, and couldn't even get component-level schematics for the Motorola equipment that we used millions of dollars of equipment from!

It's all "replace the big parts" technology now!
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Old 08-08-2012, 08:41 PM   #15
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I know what ya mean, $500 for a small fix, It could have been worse I suppose, If a ring came apart, it would take the gen stator out. Then they tell you its best to buy the machine for 7500 cause the crank in bent too! Good to hear it worked out, If you still have the rotor, wonder if a machine shop can put inserts on the rings and reclaim if you need a spare, hope not.
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Old 08-09-2012, 01:17 PM   #16
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I just bought a 2-hour old 5500 that was pulled out of a toy hauler just before the manuf. went under in 2010. Got it for $1800 off Craig's List, and picked it up last week. It runs perfectly, but had a fuel leak at the carb.

I replaced the adapter on the carb (hairline crack), fogged the engine, and put her in my shop for later use. After doing this, I found out that it still has a year left on warranty!

I couldn't pass it up! Now I have one to show and one to go!
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Old 08-09-2012, 01:35 PM   #17
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When do you plan on opening Fred's Generator Shop?
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Old 08-09-2012, 04:28 PM   #18
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My situation is such that I have to have a good generator all the time. My wife suffers from a neuro-muscular disease and is temperature intolerant.

I just got back from the store, and the outside air temp in my Jeepsaid it's 107!

If the power goes down or the house air quits, we can go to the MoHo and she'll be comfortable. I keep both AC's in the MoHo set at 90, so it cools down pretty quickly when we have to use it.
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1989 Wrangler Sahara Toad
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