Onan does have an oil they recommend for their gensets called Onamax.
Supposedly formulated to fight heat oxidation common in air cooled engines
and SL rated. It is regular oil, not a synthetic.
The big thing I have read about generator oil is that people let the level
drop to low and burn up the engine. You want to check it regularly and keep
the level where it should be. That means checking it each morning of a trip
if you are using the generator a lot.
Onan is a subsidiary of Cummings so you can buy your supplies and parts from
a Cummings dealer if you have one near you. I have found them to be cheaper
than places like Camping World.
Rich Ball
'76 Midget
'82 23' Jamboree RV
Everett, Wa
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Rowe" <mdrowe@optonline.net>
To: "Spridget Chat Group" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 7:16 AM
Subject: [Spridgets] On modern engine oils
> On oils for the flat-tappet Onan generator used in my RV:
>
> I have had 2 oil related failures in Dodge smallblock engines. ......
> These were all on the engine in my 70 Challenger, which is turbo, so it
> has a very mild, low spring pressure camshaft, that is actually less hard
> on the parts than a stock cam. The engine has pushrods and non-roller
> rockers.
>
> Failure one-Brand new engine-new rockers (stock) and shafts. Broke in
> engine on Castrol 30 weight dino oil (SJ rated) for 500 miles. All was
> good. Switched to Amsoil 10-40 oil (SM rated) and had lifter noise in less
> than 200 miles. The pushrods and rockers were burned up.
>
> Failure two-put in new rockers, shafts and pushrods. Disassmbled the
> engine to clean it out and check the camshaft, which survived. Put it back
> together and broke it in on the 30 weight again for 500 miles without
> issue. Amsoil recommended going to 15-50 diesel oil, which I did. Lifter
> noise again in 250 miles, with another set of burned up rockers, shafts
> and pushrods.
>
> Gave up on Amsoil-rebuilt everything again-broke in on the 30 weight and
> switched to Mobil1 20-50 oil (SJ rated). No issues in 7 years to this
> point.
>
> The previous engine to this had run over 60,000 miles, over 15 years,
> with the same style parts, on SJ or older oil, without issue. All of the
> failures happened with the newer oils. The diesel oil was said to be
> higher zinc, but it turned out to be just SM oil with the soot additives,
> when it was tested. The other oil than failed was SM.
>
> The Onan is the exact same style of engine as the older car engines,
> overhead valve/flat tappet/non roller rockers/pushrods, ....
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