I finally managed to get mine working via t good old upside down for a night trick. Tried it properly on a camping trip last weekend and smelt quite strongly of fumes in the camper. tried again at home last night - left on for a couple of hours, went down, opened up and pretty strong again. doesnt smell like pure gas.
i didnt think the flue was blocked because i noticed the smell rising from the flue exit on the outside of the van. I did cover a few rust patches on the back with a hammerite rust treater - could this have anything to do with it? Also, the flue chimney has an open section facing into the van - presuming this is to aid airflow but am concerned fumes could be just coming back into the van this way.
any thoughts suggestions very welcome as always!
83 2ltr Air-Cooled Autohomes Kamper. Kamper roof died. Fitted an original Westy Pop-top.
There should be no gaps in the exhaust from the fridge to the outside or you will get fumes inside. Is there a connecting pipe between the fridge and the fitting in the side of the camper?
hi campervanman - there is a pipe connecting to the outside of the van. the top of it is double ended and angled upwards - the upwards angled end fits into the section taking fumes outside of camper - the other side that points down has an open end into camper.
stupidly i forgot to take a photo f this! will get one done and post it tomorrow
83 2ltr Air-Cooled Autohomes Kamper. Kamper roof died. Fitted an original Westy Pop-top.
Yes the flue should have an opening at the top it helps draw the gases up and stops blow back down the flue. Where did you treat the rust, any part of the flue?
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow
Apparantly many domestic heating devices have flus with a hole on the interior to aid in air flow. I was surprised to find a 5 pence-sized hole in the the flu on my mother's brand new heating system. I checked with the engineer and he confirmed that this was part of the design to aid in the flow and sample testing of exhaust gasses. I put a CO2 sensor next to the hole and it has never rose about 0 parts per million. I put a bit of tissue paper against the hole and there was some considerable negative preasure drawing fresh air into the hole and up the flu.
So maybe a hole is not such a bad thing.
But you don't want fumes in your camper though. I have a battery-powered Co2 sensor to monitor any inerior fumes from me Ebberspacher heater. We enjoy winter camping with my 9 month old son, so we thought it would be a wise investment.
It shows some of the flue and vent parts (from RM212 fridge I think, not RM122) but the opening on the shortest leg of the of the angled pipe, which connects fridge chimney to the flue vent on the van is clearly visisble. Ours is the same. It's unlikely to be the cause of your fridge smell.
Make sure that all the parts of your chimney and flue are properly fitted together and that the van is level when fridge is running on gas. As bigherb suggests, it might be your rust treatment being warmed and giving off the smell.
Get a carbon monoxide alarm and a butane / propane alarm and see if they detect anything.
Tony
Looking for: window apertures for side windows, at the back of the van
T25; 1985; RHD; 1.9DG petrol / LPG; white Autosleeper high-top; Looking rusty again!
possably the amonia in the coolent leaking that smells when the stuff leaks can make your eyes water too we had it happen and you would smell it in the fridge if it is that the cooling systym wants looking at or another unit
if my vans a rocking dont worry fixing it again lol
thanks all - Tony, my flue part looks exactly the same as the one in the picture. so i suppose the smell has to be a leak from somewhere or the fumes for the rust treatment. I guess it could also need some settling down though - i don't think it's been running for a while - might just try and keep it on for a half a day or so and see if t improves!
I am planning on buying a carbon monoxide alarm too - a wise investment for anyone in a camper!
83 2ltr Air-Cooled Autohomes Kamper. Kamper roof died. Fitted an original Westy Pop-top.
Mind you, I've never looked for one - I will now though as the fridge is coming out in a couple of weeks.
