Onan Propane generator NOISE

sunriver05 · 03-03-2024, 10:22 PM

I have a 2014 Adventurous CS, just love it, got a super deal on it. Only 50,000 miles. The local MB dealership in Spokane has been great to deal with, updating a few maintenance items that were over due.

Could never get the gen to start so took it to another RV place and paid $900 to fix and service it. yeah, ouch, bend over. It is so LOUD. Has anyone modified the exhaust to get it to be quieter?

Just returned from am 1800 mile trip to Sedona, and up in the Grand Canyon. besides only 17MPG, it is a heck or a rig.

The infloor ALDE heating system kept it comfy.

Thanks for your help.

jjrbus · 03-04-2024, 12:21 PM

The only reasonable option for an Onan generator is to add a resonator to the exhaust. Does not lower the volume but changes the tone. The other option is to spend $5000 on a new fuel injected Onan. The option I have choose is a suitcase generator such as the Honda 2200. They are a royal pain. Need to keep seperate fuel, in and out to start and stop, targeted by theives so need to be secured, power management. I am sure they are a pain as I have been using Honda's for over 20 years and would not take an Onan for free! Not once has a Honda ruined a trip for me or cost me an arm and leg for repair. My new to me Roadtrek had a good runing Onan in it the first thing I did was take it out and sell it!https://www.facebook.com/groups/2017515525167306

N147JK · 03-04-2024, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjrbus

They are a royal pain.

Yes sir they are. A pain for both owner and campground neighbor. Best to uninstall it, simplify, and camp without one.

dmb496 · 03-04-2024, 02:53 PM

We didn't have a generator as I sold it, an Onan, when I built the large lithium battery system for our van. But, extended use of the air conditioner will drop the battery bank's SOC fairly low, so I decided to purchase a Champion dual fuel 2500 watt generator as a back-up for those occasional times when the battery level gets quite low. I've never put gas in the generator as we only connect it to the Galleria's propane tank, so there is no gas odor. We're able to carry it in the interior storage of the Galleria.

jjrbus · 03-04-2024, 06:48 PM

My Honda 2200 in a sound box with extended run gas tank, whisper quiet. [IMG]

[/IMG]

sunriver05 · 03-04-2024, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjrbus

The only reasonable option for an Onan generator is to add a resonator to the exhaust. Does not lower the volume but changes the tone. The other option is to spend $5000 on a new fuel injected Onan. The option I have choose is a suitcase generator such as the Honda 2200. They are a royal pain. Need to keep seperate fuel, in and out to start and stop, targeted by theives so need to be secured, power management. I am sure they are a pain as I have been using Honda's for over 20 years and would not take an Onan for free! Not once has a Honda ruined a trip for me or cost me an arm and leg for repair. My new to me Roadtrek had a good runing Onan in it the first thing I did was take it out and sell it!https://www.facebook.com/groups/2017515525167306

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me. I had an Onan in my Lance, never had a problem, and it was quiet. Maybe I will try some kind of resonator. Personally, I tent camped for years, hated RV's with generators. People watching TV. (Agreed, those Hondas are whisper quiet.) 90 % of the time my solar system/ inverter/2 6v batteries, power everything just fine. But occasionally may need to run microwave convection/oven and the AC. Already have $900 into the Onan, not likely to start trucking around a Honda and a gas can inside the Sprinter . No thank you

jjrbus · 03-04-2024, 09:12 PM

I am in SW Florida and travel mostly in the south so AC is a must 24/7. $900 into a Onan not much. They are getting 2 hours labor minimum to take one out and reinstall one for a Roadtrek for repair.

SteveJ · 03-06-2024, 12:33 PM

It is possible that the muffler is defective. I had to replace our$$$.

Along with the resonator it made quite a difference.

sunriver05 · 03-06-2024, 09:39 PM

Thanks for your reply, I will take a closer look. Almost seems I could hacksaw the pipe off, then ad in another pipe with a resonator. I like the way Roadtrek incorporates the use of a gen, connected to propane, start with a button inside the unit. More just for occasional use, and or when out boondocking away from other campers you might offend.

Happy Camping

Bud · 03-06-2024, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunriver05

Thanks for your reply, I will take a closer look. Almost seems I could hacksaw the pipe off, then ad in another pipe with a resonator. I like the way Roadtrek incorporates the use of a gen, connected to propane, start with a button inside the unit. More just for occasional use, and or when out boondocking away from other campers you might offend.

Happy Camping

If for occasional use, I just slip the resonator onto the existing exhaust. Mostly, hardly worth the trouble.

W9TR · 03-07-2024, 05:06 PM

Most of the noise from our Onan genset is from the genset itself and not the exhaust. A resonator will help but it won’t make a dramatic difference. We seldomly use our genset for this reason. When it’s 100 out and I’m inside in the van with the A/C on the noise doesn’t seem to matter.

Rlum · 03-08-2024, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunriver05

I have a 2014 Adventurous CS, just love it, got a super deal on it. Only 50,000 miles. The local MB dealership in Spokane has been great to deal with, updating a few maintenance items that were over due.

Could never get the gen to start so took it to another RV place and paid $900 to fix and service it. yeah, ouch, bend over. It is so LOUD. Has anyone modified the exhaust to get it to be quieter?

Just returned from am 1800 mile trip to Sedona, and up in the Grand Canyon. besides only 17MPG, it is a heck or a rig.

The infloor ALDE heating system kept it comfy.

Thanks for your help.

I have a 2016 PW Lexor. About 2 plus years ago, had the Onan 2800 removed and replaced with the new Onan 2800i. Both gas but you can get propane. The new 2800i is fuel injected and vibration is greatly reduced. When I have it on low to charge up battery bank, I sometimes go outside to check if it is still running. It is much quieter and makes living inside with genny on very comfortable. It was expensive but my wife really do not like the noise. Also changed out the Dometic AC for the Houghton AC. Again much quieter.

sunriver05 · 03-08-2024, 05:40 PM

Thanks to all the above for their comments and insight. Now am thinking , its just a loud generator, and not necessarily the exaust. Not in my budget to replace it, will have to live with it and hopefully not use it any more then necessary. Have yet to turn the roof top AC on, but my guess is that that is a noisy bugger as well.

jjrbus · 03-09-2024, 02:19 AM

Generators need to be exercised on a regular basis. If not can turn into money pits/

BarbK · 03-11-2024, 08:28 PM

If it’s any encouragement to you I bought a 2013 Sprinter in 2018 that had very low mileage and the Onan didn’t work. I took it to an Onan shop and they said my problem was caused by not being used. It was expensive but I’ve never had another problem. They told me to run it 30 minutes every month when I’m not using it and I do.

KurtFranz · 03-20-2024, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjrbus

Generators need to be exercised on a regular basis. If not can turn into money pits/

For sure. If you do not run it once a month under load for at least an hour, Oman states two hours which is what I do, it will eventually fail to start.

I learned this the hard way on my 3400 watt inverter generator that I bought for home emergencies. Never got it running after the carb gummed up.

sunriver05 · 03-20-2024, 04:51 PM

ugh, two hours, thats a long time to keep it running. Direct connect to Propane so not too bad I guess.

Under load? what's the best device to turn on. I ran my microwave just for a few minutes and heard the gen tone down.

KurtFranz · 03-21-2024, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunriver05

ugh, two hours, thats a long time to keep it running. Direct connect to Propane so not too bad I guess.

Under load? what's the best device to turn on. I ran my microwave just for a few minutes and heard the gen tone down.

I set my ac to 80 degrees on the thermostat, start the generator, let the ac run for a few mins then lower the thermostat to 55 degrees. The low temp keeps the ac running continually and the generator under load. Also it gives the ac some exercise, however whether this is good or not I cannot say for sure. Do not see how it hurts anything though.

I imagine you could run a space heater or something if you do not want to run the ac for that long period.

My $.02

You may also like: