Generator Hours / life expectancy

[flloyd]

The 20KW Kohler generators seem to be quite popular. Does anyone have an idea as to how many hours one could expect to get from one before replacement became necessary?

I've been under the impression that 2000 hours may be a dividing line. Most aircraft engines require overhaul at 2000 hours. 2000 hours also equates to about 100,000 miles in many vehicles, assuming a 50 MPH average.

Just wondering. How long should a diesel generator be expected to last?

[jack14r]

I have heard that some have gone over 20,000+ hours,I have a Lister Petter Diesel on a 10K generator that was in a trailer and it has 8,000 hours and barley smokes on start up in cold weather.I think that a country music star(maybe Charlie Daniels)has a Liberty XL approaching 1,000,000 miles and the generator has been serviced properly and if my memory is OK it was near 30,000 hours.I also have a Toyota forklift that is propane fueled that has 18,000 hours and runs great.I think that regular service on the generator is imperative.

[phorner]

I sure hope you're wrong about that 2,000 hour number as I'm fast approaching it!

By the way, when we had a plastic coach at the Cummins Coach Care facility in Orlando, they had an article about an Onan generator in a motorhome that was brought in for service with 20,000 hours on it. It had never had a re-build but was regularly serviced.

Gives me hope....

[Kevin Erion]

I have a race transporter trailer with 20,000 hrs and at 10,000 we had the back end gone thru and a new turbo installed. It has the same 20KW generator that is used in all the motorhomes.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I think it's life is determined by the owner. Run if frequently, under load and keep the oil clean and the fuel free of dirt and water and it is probable you are looking at 30,000 hours.

Don't run it often, when you do run it, run it for short intervals under light load never getting it really working and I think its life will be much shorter. But 2000 hours is nothing compared to even a compromised life span. This isn't a plane engine.

I forgot to add that cars of today are usually good for at least a couple hundred thousand miles if reasonably cared for.

[flloyd]

Thanks all! Very good insight. I feel better now :-)

As I continue my search for the perfect coach, I'll not let the Gen hours bother me now!

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I am unaware of any motorhome owner ever reporting they wore out their generator. Entertainer coaches make extensive use of their generators easily racking up 30,000 hours. I have spoke to owners of the same generators in stationary use and they exceed 30,000 hours.