"Cleaning the Generator"

[Pat & Pete]

After searching +++ , I've found answers to every question about cleaning almost every part of a generator , except 'how to best clean the generator as a complete unit' .

Our Onan generator is built in . The bottom of that bay is open , which seems to invite dust/dirt . 

I'd like to have it clean , but , I'm not sure if giving it a hose bath and scrub type cleaning is advisable or if that might cause problems . 

That bay having an open bottom would suggest that the generator can take moisture/water from the outside without harming anything . 

So , safe or no ??? 

[Orvil Hazelton]

     You didn't state which model Onan you have, but on our Onan 10 k diesel,  although the bottom is open, as is yours, all electronic connections are internal. There is an external umbilical cord with a plug-in connector which I have wrapped tightly with tape. I haven't cleaned the body of the generator in our seven plus years of ownership, although I do clean the heat exchanger on the radiator as needed when I do routine maintenance. Unless caked with dirt, I see no need to wash the body of the generator.  If oil over-spray is noted, find the problem and then clean.

[Devilishjim]

2" fire hose might no be good but you could make up a mixture of cleaner in a gal jug and use air nozzle with the liquid sucker on it.. I guess you could call that a wetair wash. That way you could direct it sorta where it needs to go

 

[Ray,IN]

Deliberately spraying water into a genset is problematic IMO. Unless you are experiencing problems I would not spray water into the genset. Water spray from driving in rain is quite different than pressurized water. This is somewhat like the warning on vehicle engines stating never use a power washer on electronics, even though they are sealed from water spray while driving.

[Pat & Pete]

11 hours ago, Ray,IN said:

Deliberately spraying water into a genset is problematic IMO. Unless you are experiencing problems I would not spray water into the genset. Water spray from driving in rain is quite different than pressurized water. This is somewhat like the warning on vehicle engines stating never use a power washer on electronics, even though they are sealed from water spray while driving.

I can see why we wouldn't want the generator and control parts of the genset to be wet , but the motor portion should not be a problem . Trying to keep what we want dry is the problem . 

More searching produced : 

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145915

Note the referenced thread in that thread .

[noteven]

I use some of my motorcycle cleaner (S100)  which does not require high pressure water. 

[Pat & Pete]

43 minutes ago, noteven said:

I use some of my motorcycle cleaner (S100)  which does not require high pressure water. 

Thanks for the suggestion/reminder . I hadn't really thought of that ( yet  ) . I'm familiar with S100 as I'm a moderator on a motorcycle forum and many members wouldn't use anything else . My bikes are riders/outdoor as opposed to trailer queens , so I don't keep them spotless , like some folks . 

I've just yesterday heard that S100 works very good on black streaks , so now I have a double or triple reason to buy some .