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[GMCnet] How often should the Onan Heads remove and be Decarbonized? [message #189071] Sat, 03 November 2012 12:06 Go to next message
Gary Bovee is currently offline  Gary Bovee   United States
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Does anybody know of any written Onan documentation stating the hourly intervals one should follow in a good maintenance program for removing the heads and then decarbonize?
If not, anyone with Onan experience have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Gary Bovee
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Red Bluff, CA
Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com
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Re: [GMCnet] How often should the Onan Heads remove and be Decarbonized? [message #189072 is a reply to message #189071] Sat, 03 November 2012 12:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Gary Bovee wrote on Sat, 03 November 2012 13:06

Does anybody know of any written Onan documentation stating the hourly intervals one should follow in a good maintenance program for removing the heads and then decarbonize?
If not, anyone with Onan experience have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Gary Bovee

Gary,

As I recall, the manual calls for decarbon at 200 hour services. It is easy enough to do and if you are careful you can reused the gaskets. I haven't even put 200 hours since I've owned mine, but when I have had a head off it was clean enough to not worry about.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] How often should the Onan Heads remove and be Decarbonized? [message #189079 is a reply to message #189071] Sat, 03 November 2012 14:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
John Sharpe is currently offline  John Sharpe   United States
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Location: Texas
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Quote:

....Onan documentation stating the hourly intervals one should follow in a good maintenance program for removing the heads and then decarbonize?....


Quote:

As I recall, the manual calls for decarbon at 200 hour services. It is easy enough to do and if you are careful you can reused the gaskets. I haven't even put 200 hours since I've owned mine, but when I have had a head off it was clean enough to not worry about.

Matt


In the old days of leaded fuel, carbon was a lot more of a problem on the constant speed generators. With the unleaded fuel, I have never found carbon to be a problem. I have taken heads off of several units and found no significant amount of carbon. Your mileage may vary. I'm not taking any more off unless the genset has a problem keeping up with the load. IMHO the chance of Murphy's Law being applied far exceeds any potential benefit.


John Sharpe
Humble,TX
'78 Eleganza TBI
'89 Spectrum 2000 MPI V-10
'40 Ford Panel Delivery TPI
johnasharpe@gmail.com
Re: [GMCnet] How often should the Onan Heads remove and be Decarbonized? [message #189122 is a reply to message #189071] Sat, 03 November 2012 22:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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I believe there is label on the Onan that says every 200 hours. I know it made a big difference when I cleaned mine 8 or 10 years ago.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] How often should the Onan Heads remove and beDecarbonized? [message #189150 is a reply to message #189079] Sun, 04 November 2012 09:16 Go to previous message
Gary Bovee is currently offline  Gary Bovee   United States
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Thanks for the good feedback!

Gary Bovee
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Red Bluff, CA
Free -Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
Headlight & Turn Signal Alarms
http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com

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