Air cooled vs watercooled

[HizzleCamper]

I am in the process of buying my first camper and have been Reading as much as possible so I know exactly what I want when vans are advertised, my question is about the difference air cooled or watercooled makes? My dad has advised on a water cooled, but from everything I have read it's mixed as to the benefits this gives? Any advice most welcome! My main criterias are fuel economy and reliability (as much as you can expect from a 25yr+ van!) as we plan trips to Europe as well on right down south and t'up north to Scotland.

Many thanks in advance.

Hazel

[fullsunian]

Well if you want fuel economy and reliability maybe its a T4 you need But joking apart I have an early air cooled and love it, but it uses loads of fuel and its slow. But it is well looked after so is fairly reliable (that's the kiss of death then ). It is also easy to look after and maintain, no water problems to worry about...coolant leaks, rotten headbolts...etc.
IAN

[eatcustard]

If you are concerned about fuel economy and reliability then....


...run away, go look at a T4

[AngeloEvs]

the merits of each have been discussed many times. Firstly, Aircooled and water cooled can be converted to run on LPG but the cost has to be clawed back over several thousand miles and lpg isn't widely available in some european countries. Some critical water cooled spares are harder to source new and and an increasing number are obsolete, these models seem to be in the rang of 22 to 27 mpg depending on how yoy drive, weather conditions etc.. The Aircooled is generally better provided for but the 2 ltr isn't as economical and Aircooled can be unpleasant to drive in the winter with the lack of a water cooled heating system. You can use alternatiove engines in the water cooled such as the Subaru 2.2 and this will provide you with more power and better economy. There are deisels to consider and a whole range of alternative engines can be fitted which are more economical than the Water cooled petrol. The easist engine to maintain is the 1.6 Aircooled but in its normal guise will be somewhat underpowered and probably thirsty, but a few on here have them in modified form and spares are cheap and readily available ( I would love to drive one of these) and have often thought about downgrading to a 1.6 modified a/c running on lpg or alternatively upgrade to a Subaru and get araound 30mpg with enough power to haul a fully laden van. Like you say, they are getting on a bit and no easy answers, not as economical or owner friemdly as a T4 but they have the charisma.......

[A KIRK]

Fuel economy ha yeah ok, I run a 1641 Aircooled CT lump, and after a recent 650 mile round trip I averaged 20.5 mpg, ok this was through Wales lots of hills etc, but I think the best you could expect from a Ct lump would be 22mpg.

I can't comment on the 2.0 or watercooled versions, as I;ve never driven one, but the CT is sluggish, but hey why rush when your camping

[meggles]

As a former air cooled owner, and now a diesel owner I think I can compare fairly. (Apart from the fact it's a diesel of course). My air cooled was great, reliable as the T25 can be. Only problem is that I was stuck with an air cooled 2.0 engine. No radiator up front you see. Wish I'd kept the air cooled and modded it to water cooled somehow! It was ultra solid! The diesel I have is a 1.6, sluggish but reliable! (Starter is playing up at the moment but that's just a blip. New one will sort that out, or a proper repair - see Tech Questions Diesel starter). (But I'm happy with that 'cos for now I'm doing all local runs, within about 60 miles). I know I can swap engines about 'cos the cooling system is already there! I can't swap body about though! Just make sure it's a solid van with no real corrosion issues. The ideal is an earlier van with proper rust prevention and a more powerful diesel, or a petrol with LPG. How much have you to spend? That's the real question!
Hope this helps and good luck with your search!

[Damien]

I have a 2.0 Aircooled and got about 22mpg over 500 miles, about half of it was motorway and half was through most of wales with anything upto a 16% incline. As for performance its surprised me at how well it did on hills, don't expect to fly down the motorway, i cruise at 50-55, hills are no trouble really you just get used to it, no point putting your foot down as it wont do much other than drop your MPG.

[davidvincent]

Hi,

In my opinion, just test drive as many as possible, really look under the mats and inside wheel arches, seams, sills etc for rust or dodge repairs.... find one with an interior that works for you, that you would be comfortable living in. If you can find a van that ticks these boxes and it makes you smile when you drive it, buy it.

All vans will play up now and then, if you don't have an opinion on the Aircooled/watercooled debate at this point perhaps just pretend there isn't an option and go for what you are comfortable with, and what feels solid on the road.

Let us know how you get on!
Dave

[HizzleCamper]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies, they have helped a lot! My budget is around £5k maybe more for the right bus! My dad is my main advisor, he is a mechanic but not 100% up on campers so asked his friend who reccomended a T25 high top watercooled. I originally wanted a bay but he just laughed when I said we planned trips to Europe! We see the van as an investment for a nice way to see the UK in comfort! My partner doesn't like how the T4 looks, it was hard enough to argue for a T25! I think it depends on what comes up and getting a solid maintained bus to start with! Thanks again for advice, and if any vans come up you know of please let me know, I'm in Manchester, dad is in Northampton and partners dad Somerset so hopefully the area is large enough to find the right van for us!

[sandwedge]

If you really want to tour Europe, I would avoid a bay screen, just got rid of mine after a 2500mile trip round France, and got a syncro.
Aircooled bays are fine if you just want to potter around the UK. If you really want to cover miles then get a T3 they are much nicer to drive over long distances, as far a fuel ecconomy goes theres not much in it my bay westy 1.6 single port was doing about 26 mpg, the syncros 2.1 DJ is doing about 24/5mpg but it cruses at 70 not 55 like the bay and its nice to drive.

The only down side I can see of going to a water cooled is there are harder to work on, more electronic bits etc, having said that I dont think I will be going back.

[Gunslinger]

I get 18 miles to the gallon out of my 2.4 air cooled so not much different to the original 2.0.
Hoping to improve on that with the addition of twin dell orto carbs next week

[LUBO]

gunslinger what engine u got? a 2.4 Aircooled. was it fitted as standard?

[Flibbertigibbet]

Well if you want fuel economy and reliability maybe its a T4 you need But joking apart I have an early air cooled and love it, but it uses loads of fuel and its slow. But it is well looked after so is fairly reliable (that's the kiss of death then ). It is also easy to look after and maintain, no water problems to worry about...coolant leaks, rotten headbolts...etc.
IAN

slow I used to run that van on gas and petrol (not often) and it was only slow on hills .......what you done to it ?

[fullsunian]

70 ...is that slow

[HizzleCamper]

Does it make a big difference if it is petrol or diesel in a camper in the same way it does in a car? From what you have all said it doesn't make too much of a difference if you get Aircooled or watercooled in a petrol? Am I right in thinking this?