Cyclone generator fuel tank-approximate run time

OEFVET

Well-known member
Can anyone advise approximately how many hours an Onan 5500 will run on 18 gallons?
 

danemayer

Well-known member
Hi Chris,

The Onan Spec sheet shows for the gas generator, fuel usage is between .3 and .9 gallons per hour depending on load. Under 1/2 load, 18/.6 = 30 hours.
 

jam20ster

Well-known member
My experience has been 10 gallons per about 18 hours of usage. I have done this twice as I work shift work and have started to use my camper as a graveyard room also. The only things on where the 2 ac's and bedroom tv to watch a movie. Hope this helps.
 

porthole

Retired
Can anyone advise approximately how many hours an Onan 5500 will run on 18 gallons?

Chris, this year for the first time I somewhat kept track of fuel usage at Dover
My Onan use was mixed with a Honda 3000IS.

My numbers; Onan 72 hours, fuel burned 50.9 gallons. I figure at a minimum, 12 of those gallons went into the Honda. That leaves 38.9 gallons for 72 hours for .54 gallons per hour, which is exactly what I always approximated my use to be.

1-2 AC's, converter and hot water were always on (obviously not always drawing a full load). Temp this year was the same it has been the last 4 - hot.


So your 18 gallon tank run down to 80% (15 gallons) at .6 per hour, gives you probably 25 hours of run time.

Have you seen my portable fuel station yet?
 
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scottyb

Well-known member
My numbers were pretty much inline with Duane's. I ran mine on a few 84 - 96 hour stretches at the boat races. I didn't run the HW heater, and only ran both AC's about 25% of the time, only running 1 the rest of the time. My average was 0.5 GPH.
 

recumbent615

Founding MA Chapter Leader-retired
I was getting fairly poor run times then I changed the spark plug for the first time ( it's a 2010 ) and last year I was getting around .45-.5 gal / hour but I only have one AC unit too

Kevin
 
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