Club 80-90 Forums

The old flue vent on my van was fairly shot. The pipe had come away from the vent and I didn't have anything to prevent the wind going down the flue pipe and blowing out the gas.

So I got a new flue kit and fitted it. This one has a plastic perforated cap on the vent pipe to 'supposedly' prevent the wind getting down the flue. However this weekend in a gusty Yorkshire dales the same thing happened where the wind was blowing out the gas on the fridge.

There seems to be no other way the wind is getting to the gas burner other than down the flue. Even though the flue outlet, plus perforated cap, is very close to the plastic vent cover which should prevent the wind getting in. How the wind is whistling down there strong enough to blow out the burner is beyond me.

We solved it by parking with the vent side away from the wind but this isn't a solution as wind directions change.

I even put the cover on the large oblong freshair vent to eliminate that as a possible source.

Anyone got any ideas other than me fabricating another cover to stop the wind getting into the vent but still allowing the hot air to escape?

Pic 1

Pic 2

Seems odd indeed, I've got the same style air vents and the same stye flue cover the only thing is the flue cover and the air vent are the other way round plus the flue cover is positioned horizontally not vertically and I also have a lower air vent fitted as well (pic of said van garage.php?mode=view_image&image_id=3246 ) be honest I've never had a problem with the wind blowing it out even without the air vents covers on.

Only things I can think of ...

1. there's a metal box affair around the burner perhaps thats not a tight a fit as it should be and thats where the winds geting in?
2. Indside the flue pipe is twisted piece of metal which can be withdrawn ... not 100% sure what it supposed to do but perhaps it stops any drafts going back down the flue pipe?
3. It's not the wind? Stands to reason there's some sort of a gas cutout to stop the flow of gas if the flame goes out (well I hope there is!) Perhaps it's that thats giving you the trouble?

PS ... where did you get the black flue pipe cover from? Only ones I've seen are white!

T-3PO wrote:PS ... where did you get the black flue pipe cover from? Only ones I've seen are white!

Sprayed black

As for mine being vertical I fit it that way because it had a notch in it that I assumed was to allow condensation from the warm flue air to trickle out and down the side of the van. You can just make it out in this picture

http://www.caravantech-shop.co.uk/image ... s/2010.jpg

Cruz wrote:As for mine being vertical I fit it that way because it had a notch in it that I assumed was to allow condensation from the warm flue air to trickle out and down the side of the van.

Yes, that's the way up I've seen them fitted and shared your assumption

T-3PO wrote:2. Indside the flue pipe is twisted piece of metal which can be withdrawn ... not 100% sure what it supposed to do but perhaps it stops any drafts going back down the flue pipe?

A friend of mine bought a second-hand fridge and we couldn't get it to cool down for love nor money. Turned out this piece was missing and is an essential part for maximum heat transfer which in turn means maximum cooling. The fridge won't work without it.....

Having said all that, I'm afraid I have no idea why your fridge is blowing out You're sure it's 'blowing out' as opposed to just 'going out'? And yes, there is a thermocouple which will close the gas valve if the flame goes out (for whatever reason).

The flame is blowing out because when I look into the flame window I can see the flame tilting as a gust of strong wind comes along

I'd be checking the integrity of the metal shielding around the burner then. There's bound to be a fair bit of moving air behind the fridge in windy conditions due to the two cooling vents - your problem may not be wind blowing back down the flue. Try taping up the two cooling vents completely (it won't hurt anything) and try running the fridge with a full on wind into the flue side.

The only time my fridge has blown out was when I had it on the lowest setting and slammed the slider shut - but that was only once....

My leisuredrive only has one upper fresh air vent to the outside. There's a big gap underneath and a small vent in the side of the cupboard unit behind the drivers seat.

My fresh air vent to the outside has a cover I can fit and even with that on the wind was blowing out the flame. granted it was a very strong wind.......which isn't here now

I think you're just going to have to 'experiment' a bit then. I find it hard to believe it's the flue since it's brand new. If it were me, I'd be covering up the vent behind the driver's seat next - a veritable gale can fly through these camper doors. Is the vent close to the actual door vent and is/was the vent open? Also, when you saw the wind blowing the flame was it random or pretty much one direction which might at least point you towards the right area. Has the fridge always done this or is it a recent phenomenon?


These vans are great aren't they

I've had the door vent closed and the vent in the cupboard side is quite a bit higher.

Only thing for it is to take out the fridge and then check for draughts.

Going to cornwall next week so I'll have to make do but when I get back it's fridge out then a quick drive up on to the moors in high winds for a check

There is something odd happening there - my gas stays lit at 60 mph whilst travelling (when I go downhill!) Never had it go out at any speed or with any amount of side wind. Maybe as 1664 says the wind is moving the flame away from the thermocouple - try repositioning it.

Oldiebut goodie wrote:T Maybe as 1664 says the wind is moving the flame away from the thermocouple - try repositioning it.

Can you expand on that please?

Try cleaning the injector. A bit fiddly as you'll have to strip it right down to get to it but you'll get a stronger flame which should stay lit.
Don't poke it out with a needle, just a good lung full of air to blow it through.

Cruz wrote:

Oldiebut goodie wrote:T Maybe as 1664 says the wind is moving the flame away from the thermocouple - try repositioning it.

Can you expand on that please?

Well I didn't actually say that but it's a good point. When you first light the fridge you have to keep the gas knob pressed in for several seconds before you release it or the flame will go out. These few seconds are to allow the thermocouple to heat up and hold the gas valve open rather than you holding it open by keeping the knob pressed. The end of it looks like a metal coat hanger sized prong of metal that's positioned above the burner so that the flame heats it continuously. I'd have thought the flame would have to be blown a fair bit off kilter and for a few seconds in order for it to cool down sufficiently to shut the gas valve though.
An essential bit of kit - you don't want the flame to go out and the gas to continue flowing for more than a few seconds.

T/couple could be on it's way out. A brand new working t/couple would keep gas flowing when the pilot is moved by the wind. If you've got a dodgy one it will be on the limit of shutting down with the flame on it, a slight movement of the flame will cause it to shut down. You might as well replace it if your gonna remove the fridge, it'll only be £5ish. Then at least thats one likely cause removed. It's unlikely to be the vents as these have always been there. A build up of fumes in that area can cause the flame to 'lift', but this is unlikely as it sounds as if it's well ventilated back there. No harm in checking down the flue thats atached to the back of the fridge, just incase something is blocking it