# RV Generator Maintenance in Chino > OCRV Center performs scheduled preventive maintenance on RV and specialty-vehicle generators in our Yorba Linda shop, including oil and filter changes, spark plug and air filter service, valve lash checks, and load testing. Most maintenance intervals run by engine hours, not calendar months. A generator is a small engine that only runs when you ask it to, which is exactly why it gets neglected and then fails on the road. Onan and Cummins both publish hour-based service intervals, and skipping them is the most common reason a unit surges, fouls plugs, or quits under load. We run the full scheduled service in shop and document the hour reading so your next interval is easy to track. All work is in-shop only at our Yorba Linda facility. ## What a scheduled service covers Generator maintenance is interval-driven. Onan gas sets typically call for oil and filter at 150 hours, an air filter and spark plug at 450 hours, and a valve lash inspection further out, while Cummins diesel sets run their own engine-hour schedule. We pull the actual hour reading off the control panel first, then perform the service the unit is actually due for rather than guessing from the calendar. - Engine oil and oil filter change to spec - Air filter and spark plug or glow plug service - Fuel filter replacement on diesel sets - Valve lash inspection and adjustment at interval - Slip ring and brush inspection on the generator end - Cooling fin and exhaust cleaning to prevent overheating ## Load testing and exercise A generator that idles in the driveway carbons up and weakens the windings. Part of preventive service is running the set under a real electrical load to confirm it holds rated voltage and frequency, then checking that it transfers cleanly and shuts down without surging. We also verify the unit will start and carry the A/C compressor, the single hardest load most RV generators ever see. - Verify rated voltage and frequency under load - Confirm clean A/C compressor start and run - Check carbon buildup on the muffler and spark arrestor - Inspect mounts and exhaust for vibration cracks ## Why interval matters more than calendar Two identical coaches can be miles apart on generator wear because one boondocks and runs the set every night while the other plugs into shore power and almost never starts it. Maintenance is tracked by engine hours for that reason. We log the hour reading at service so you and any future buyer have a clean record, and we flag the next interval before it sneaks up on you. ## Frequently asked questions ### How often does my RV generator actually need service? By engine hours, not months. Onan gas sets commonly want oil and filter around 150 hours and plugs and air filter around 450 hours, while Cummins diesel sets follow their own hour schedule. We read your hour meter and service what the unit is due for. ### My generator has barely been used, does it still need maintenance? Yes, and sometimes more. A generator that sits develops fuel varnish, fouled plugs, and weakened windings from never running under load. We exercise and load test the set, change fluids, and clean carbon so it starts and carries an A/C load when you need it. ### Is generator maintenance done in shop or on-site? In-shop only. Bring your rig to our Yorba Linda facility at 23281 La Palma Ave and we will perform the scheduled service, load test, and log the hour reading there. --- Source: https://oc-rv.com/services/generator-maintenance/ OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Phone (949) 799-3387. In shop only; insurance billed direct.