Fridge not reaching temp on gas (but does outside of van!!)

[CharlottesVan]

Hi, I’ve recently bought a VW T25 which has a 3 way Electrolux fridge inside. The 12v and 22OV work well, and the pilot light ingnited easily and cooled a little but would go below 15degrees (freezer part went much colder). I removed the unit, cleaned the flu, the jets, turned the unit (it gurgled) and did everything I could read about fixing the problem. Bought a spare gas bottle inside my house and relit it …. Bingo, it was 5 degrees within 4 hours I was pretty chuffed to say the least. Just put it back inside the van …. And the bloody thing wasn’t cooling down again!!! So, I’ve just removed the little plastic holed flu cover on the outside of the van as I felt it was possibly restricting the heat loss (it was siting pretty flush to the external grate) and it’s dropped to 10 degree over night). This is better but still not great. What else could I try ??? The only other variable that I can think of is that I used a different gas bottle and gas pipe whilst inside the house when it dropped to 5 degrees quickly. Surely that wouldn’t make a difference Any suggestions greatly appreciated…. Thank you x

 

[Richard n Ann]

Have you checked the heat transfer compound on the back of the fins?

Our 3 way fridge saga

My story just might help someone with 3 way fridge trouble so here goes; We've had our motorhome 3 years now and the fridge was always ok even in Spain's high ambient temperatures, until suddenly about a year ago we were in Spain, temperatures were the usual high twenties and I noticed the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Cush]

If you think it’s an airflow problem, would a little fan help? Many posts about them on here.

 

[CharlottesVan]

Have you checked the heat transfer compound on the back of the fins?

Our 3 way fridge saga

My story just might help someone with 3 way fridge trouble so here goes; We've had our motorhome 3 years now and the fridge was always ok even in Spain's high ambient temperatures, until suddenly about a year ago we were in Spain, temperatures were the usual high twenties and I noticed the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

No,thank you, I’ll give that a go

 

[poppycamper]

Have you checked the heat transfer compound on the back of the fins?

Our 3 way fridge saga

My story just might help someone with 3 way fridge trouble so here goes; We've had our motorhome 3 years now and the fridge was always ok even in Spain's high ambient temperatures, until suddenly about a year ago we were in Spain, temperatures were the usual high twenties and I noticed the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

If that's what is wrong... how did it work outside van.... No I also think airflow, or lack of it.

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[MisterB]

Another plus for fridge fans, however if the fridge is defective it won't solve the problem.
What you've described sounds more like an issue with the fridge not able to 'lose' heat, via air circulation, so a fan might be a solution?

Also running it inside your house might not have been a wise idea.....

 

[Richard n Ann]

If that's what is wrong... how did it work outside van.... No I also think airflow, or lack of it.

If it's old I would certainly check it anyway, lots of people have had the same trouble

 

[CharlottesVan]

Another plus for fridge fans, however if the fridge is defective it won't solve the problem.
What you've described sounds more like an issue with the fridge not able to 'lose' heat, via air circulation, so a fan might be a solution?

Also running it inside your house might not have been a wise idea.....

Thanks, I’m thinking the air circulation is possibly the issue, although it was perfectly safe inside my house, ran it for 4 hours only (I was present) windows all open, and a Carbon Monoxide detector in the room.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Is the same gas regulator being used each time ?

 

[CharlottesVan]

Is the same gas regulator being used each time ?

No I used a different one

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[Richard n Ann]

Check if the pipe exiting the fins on the left hand side (it was left on ours) is not too hot. It's usually warm but if it's still hot same as the other end there can't be enough air flow. It should work fine in UK temperatures.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Hi Charlotte. Try using an ordinary domestic fan on the back of the fridge( away from the burner) and see if that improves the situation.
If it does then you can try the large computer cooling vans off e bay .it should be easy to fit a couple top and bottom of your fridge housing to improve the air flow . They don't use much power.
Good luck.

 

[GeoffnDee]

It could be a faulty regulator fitted to the van restricting the gas supply/pressure

 

[CharlottesVan]

No I used a different o

Check if the pipe exiting the fins on the left hand side (it was left on ours) is not too hot. It's usually warm but if it's still hot same as the other end there can't be enough air flow. It should work fine in UK temperatures.

Thank you

 

[CharlottesVan]

It could be a faulty regulator fitted to the van restricting the gas supply/pressure

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[MisterB]

And you only get 5 free posts .... So it WILL be worthwhile you joining for all sorts of reasons ...

 

[Sleeveless]

Assuming the gas being used is the same type, sounds like a flame size issue due to poor gas pressure/ restriction when in the van . Poor airflow when installed in the van would affect the EHU operation as well.

 

[Landy Andy]

A fridge should work in UK temperatures in my opinion. So I would want to sort the main issue out before fitting fans etc, then only for it not to be able to work properly when you get somewhere warm, or if the sun ever comes out in the UK.

If it worked ok in the house, but not the van, there must be a difference. Where the gas regulators the same pressure? More gas pressure = bigger flame = more heat = better fridge.

 

[1967bowesj]

A fridge should work in UK temperatures in my opinion. So I would want to sort the main issue out before fitting fans etc, then only for it not to be able to work properly when you get somewhere warm, or if the sun ever comes out in the UK.

If it worked ok in the house, but not the van, there must be a difference. Where the gas regulators the same pressure? More gas pressure = bigger flame = more heat = better fridge.

That would be my logic.
Is van reg gummed up?
Its a vw t so usually small gas compartment or the camping gaz type. Is bottle low? Is reg low down and possibly full or restricted with gas pipe residue. If it works on 240 and 12v and now works on gas outside van then finger points to van