Can you start motorhome to warm engine while gas is turned on?

[thekindnesscoach]

Can you start motorhome to warm engine while gas is turned on?

 

[Kirsten]

By no means an expert in H and S but I am assuming gas on but not lit ( tho maybe yes ) I would say no problem .. as we have inadvertently started engine and driven off before realising gas bottles were not turned off and had no issue . Can’t see why there would be a problem …but I bet someone else will have a different answer

 

[L' Hobo]

I can, or at least I hope I can as the only time I turn it off is when I've returned from a trip, going through the tunnel or filling up with gas. Not sure if the last is necessary but I've been doing it for the past 50yrs.

 

[Figaro]

I think you could but starting a modern diesel and leaving it to idle is the quickest way to clog your dpf and egr resulting in a 'limp home' expensive visit to your dealer.
BTW.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

The question shouldn’t be about the gas, it should be why would you want to warm the engine. As Figaro said, it’s not good for your engine.

I should add, I leave the gas on until the putting the motorhome away or crossing the channel.

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[kevenh]

Yes but post #5

 

[PP Bear]

Yes, but remember to turn off the gas to the fridge pilot light if you visit a garage.

 

[Pausim]

Hi

It is only safe to drive a motorhome with the gas turned on if you have a crash sensitive regulator and rupture protection on the high pressure hose from the cylinder to the regulator. You need both devices because they protect separate parts of the gas system.

You probably won’t crash when stationary so running the engine is unlikely to be dangerous. However I agree with the previous comments about damaging the engine. Diesel engines should not be warmed up but put under load as soon as possible. Even without dpf and egr lots of cold idling can cause engine damage by glazing the cylinders.

 

[kevenh]

Oh! Is the OP stationary or moving?
I assumed the former yy

 

[Lenny HB]

Fan flued heaters like the Truma Combi & Alde system can be driven with the gas on providing the gas system has the appropriate safety features, crash sensor & anti-rupture bottles/hoses. Other gas appliances should not be used when driving.

But modern diesel engines should be started and driven straight off and never left to idle from cold unless you want to risk thousands of pounds of damage.

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[thekindnesscoach]

By no means an expert in H and S but I am assuming gas on but not lit ( tho maybe yes ) I would say no problem .. as we have inadvertently started engine and driven off before realising gas bottles were not turned off and had no issue . Can’t see why there would be a problem …but I bet someone else will have a different answer

Thanks, Kirsten.
The reason I ask, is I am full time vanlife and it’s my first winter in my Motor Home, and I noticed a guy doen south who was parked next to me start his engine & not get out of his van to turn of his gas???
I just want to turn in the engine to warm up the van & recharge my leisure/van battery instead of getting out & turning of the gas every morning

 

[thekindnesscoach]

Fan flued heaters like the Truma Combi & Alde system can be driven with the gas on providing the gas system has the appropriate safety features, crash sensor & anti-rupture bottles/hoses. Other gas appliances should not be used when driving.

But modern diesel engines should be started and driven straight off and never left to idle from cold unless you want to risk thousands of pounds of damage.

If I am not driving, and turn of fridge in van would it be okay? It’s just to recharge battery & get condensation of front window.

 

[Boringfrog]

No need to turn gas off or fridge off if stationary in my opinion.

 

[Lenny HB]

If I am not driving, and turn of fridge in van would it be okay? It’s just to recharge battery & get condensation of front window.

OK but why risk wrecking the engine also to charge the battery unless you have a high power B2B it will take many hours to get a decent charge into the battery.
For condensation most of us use a window vac.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Yes, but remember to turn off the gas to the fridge pilot light if you visit a garage.

Surely this depends on how old the motorhome is. I thought that all modern motorhomes have the 15 delay after ignition switch off, that allows enough time in the garage. Our 2014 model does and our previous 2011 model did.

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[PP Bear]

Surely this depends on how old the motorhome is. I thought that all modern motorhomes have the 15 delay after ignition switch off, that allows enough time in the garage. Our 2014 model does and ours previous 2011 model did.

yes of course, but it’s worth mentioning so that there’s no risk of an incident.

 

[Sapper520]

If I am not driving, and turn of fridge in van would it be okay? It’s just to recharge battery & get condensation of front window.

Exterior thermal screen cover will prevent most of your front windows from being covered in condensation.…works for us.

 

[thekindnesscoach]

No need to turn gas off or fridge off if stationary in my opinion.

Have you always done this? And if so, how many months/years? Also what can do you have? Is it a motor home? Thank me

 

[L' Hobo]

Can I say, for those that are not mechanically minded, Don't Panic!

While I agree with most of what has been said about engines idling and it is best if you do as I do, use it every week.

It is not essential that the minute your engine fires into life, you have to be off the grid like a racing driver.
It will happily set there idling for a few minutes while you clear the windscreen, check your lights etc as long as you take it for a decent run after.

In the olden days, we used to blank off part of the radiator so that it warmed up quicker!
(not sure if this acceptable with modern engines but if it gets really cold, that's what I'll be doing while keeping an eye on my temp. gauge)

 

[thekindnesscoach]

Can I say, for those that are not mechanically minded, Don't Panic!

While I agree with most of what has been said about engines idling and it is best if you do as I do, use it every week.

It is not essential that the minute your engine fires into life, you have to be off the grid like a racing driver.
It will happily set there idling for a few minutes while you clear the windscreen, check your lights etc as long as you take it for a decent run after.

In the olden days, we used to blank off part of the radiator so that it warmed up quicker!
(not sure if this acceptable with modern engines but if it gets really cold, that's what I'll be doing while keeping an eye on my temp. gauge)

Thank you for your feedback, so are you also saying it is okay to turn in the engine whilst the gas is in? Thanks

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[L' Hobo]

Thank you for your feedback, so are you also saying it is okay to turn in the engine whilst the gas is in? Thanks

See earlier answer #3

 

[Badknee]

Thank you for your feedback, so are you also saying it is okay to turn in the engine whilst the gas is in? Thanks

I’m sorry but are you reading these helpful replies or not?
It is safe to start your engine with the gas on.
It is prudent not to let your engine tick over.
External screens means no condensation.

 

[Steve-N]

Newer vans manufacturers have tended to move away from installing fridges that need gas in favour of 12v compressor ones (run on 12v only)
We have a Dometic compressor fridge and it is superb, easily copes with hotter climates.
So all the issues around gas while on ferries or the van being serviced are removed.

 

[Murrays]

We never turn the gas off and the fridge stays on gas all the time, moving or not. We have crash sensor, etc so I don't see why there would be an issue.

 

[Pausim]

We never turn the gas off and the fridge stays on gas all the time, moving or not. We have crash sensor, etc so I don't see why there would be an issue.

I thought the open flame of a fridge wasn’t allowed in filling stations.

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[L' Hobo]

I thought the open flame of a fridge wasn’t allowed in filling stations.

When I'm pulling into a filling station, my 3way fridge is normally on 12v so not a problem.

 

[Sapper520]

When I'm pulling into a filling station, my 3way fridge is normally on 12v so not a problem.

On our van, the fridge works without the 12v on the panel being switched on. Just switch on the fridge….job done. It’s a compressor fridge, 2020 van.

 

[Lenny HB]

We never turn the gas off and the fridge stays on gas all the time, moving or not. We have crash sensor, etc so I don't see why there would be an issue.

Unless your van is really old it will run on 12v while driving.

I thought the open flame of a fridge wasn’t allowed in filling stations.

It is against the construction & use regulations to run anything with an open flame while driving.

 

[Lenny HB]

Newer vans manufacturers have tended to move away from installing fridges that need gas in favour of 12v compressor ones (run on 12v only)
We have a Dometic compressor fridge and it is superb, easily copes with hotter climates.
So all the issues around gas while on ferries or the van being serviced are removed.

Only on PVC's & very small CB's apart from a few concept type vehicles with the draw fridges. Still very much in the minority may see more when Lithium becomes a standard fit but that's a long way off.

 

[Minxy]

Newer vans manufacturers have tended to move away from installing fridges that need gas in favour of 12v compressor ones (run on 12v only)
We have a Dometic compressor fridge and it is superb, easily copes with hotter climates.
So all the issues around gas while on ferries or the van being serviced are removed.

Not if you have a gas hob, oven, boiler etc.