Gas v diesel heating

[Allybob]

We're contemplating changing our van and are mulling over the pros and cons of gas v diesel heating. Also underslung tank v bottles as we've just had considerable difficulty sourcing 3.9 propane refill. Any thoughts would be welcome.

 

[Lenny HB]

Diesel often noisy especially if not very well fitted. Been parked next to some that were really loud and they were manufacturer fitted ones.

Gas is easy if you fit refillables or an underslung tank.

 

[dunnah01]

Gas and diesel work out about the same cost / kWh but if plumbed in to main diesel tank it will last way longer than LPG.
As a full timer but static I end up using diesel heater rather than than gas or electric just for convenience

 

[martin2603]

DEISEL heaters will use more power

 

[Two on Tour]

Diesel often noisy especially if not very well fitted. Been parked next to some that were really loud and they were manufacturer fitted ones.

Like many other areas down to converters Lenny, a lack of detail and to save a couple of quid.

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[Nirvanauk]

LPG getting more difficult to find at the pumps.

 

[Soycd]

Diesel for me. Have had gas bottles in the past as well. If you stick to Eberspacher and Webasto you'll get a quality product. Diesel does make a bit of noise on startup but once running is fine. You can also have it running whilst on the move, with bottles you'll need a cut off valve of some sort. You won't need to change gas bottles and thats a big point for me. Diesel is always available, well most of the time!

 

[1ten]

We had a Webasto diesel heater on our T5, very noisy when it started up and gave off more fumes than our current gas heater. The good bit was not ever worrying about running out or getting gas.

 

[James-Alex]

We have diesel. As said by others it is a tad noisy. Concerns me a bit for the trip away in October to northern France, don’t want to pi$$ everyone off.

 

[Lenny HB]

LPG getting more difficult to find at the pumps.

Never found any problems.

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[Soycd]

We have diesel. As said by others it is a tad noisy. Concerns me a bit for the trip away in October to northern France, don’t want to pi$$ everyone off.

We find if we leave it on and set at 20/21 C then after the initial noise its fine. Just turn down a bit a night but not off.

 

[Two on Tour]

Gas heating can be very noisy, we were parked up next to a Rapido a couple of nights ago, and it would have been quieter parked up at the end of a Heathrow runway.

 

[Soycd]

Gas heating can be very noisy, we were parked up next to a Rapido a couple of nights ago, and it would have been quieter parked up at the end of a Heathrow runway.

Did you mean diesel? Sounds like a dodgy heating system if diesel?

 

[Lenny HB]

can also have it running whilst on the move, with bottles you'll need a cut off valve of some sort. You won't need to change gas bottles

No problem with gas all moden vans have crash sensor regulators & anti rupture hoses or bottles.
No need to change bottle with re-fillables, just as easy as putting diesel in & less smelly.

 

[Lenny HB]

Gas heating can be very noisy, we were parked up next to a Rapido a couple of nights ago, and it would have been quieter parked up at the end of a Heathrow runway.

That no sound right , they do have a bit of a noise running fuull blast but nothing like some of the badly installed diesels.

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[Soycd]

No problem with gas all moden vans have crash sensor regulators & anti rupture hoses or bottles.
No need to change bottle with re-fillables, just as easy as putting diesel in & less smelly.

I've never had re-fillables. Can you fit them to a PVC easily? It's a bug*er changing a bottle on a PVC as you have to open both rear doors, not great when pis*sing down. I've just found I've had two vans with diesel heating and three with gas and diesel has worked best for me. Horses for courses as they say.

 

[rod_vw]

Diesel every time in the past 20 years, did have a Propex before that.
As Soycd says with an Eberspacher set the overnight temperature and apart for an evening boost perhaps then leave it alone. Once the very first run up to temperature has happened they run much quieter.

 

[Otter Spotter]

DEISEL heaters will use more power

Says who ?
my Wallas uses less than a quarter a ltr per night in winter and that includes cooking

 

[Soycd]

Says who ?
my Wallas uses less than a quarter a ltr per night in winter and that includes cooking

How does the cooking work? I only use it for heating, I know you can use it for hot water as well.

 

[Otter Spotter]

I am surprised that this question and conversation is going on , bearing in mind the ongoing reduction in Gas suppliers, both Bottled and LPG, and the fact that Deisel does not produce moisture/condensation in a van whereas Gas can. There are more ways to skin a cat.

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[Otter Spotter]

How does the cooking work? I only use it for heating, I know you can use it for hot water as well.

Wallas XC duo is a combined heater and 2 pan hob, originally designed for boats and is found in many narrow boats. Expensive but saves you a gas cupboard and feeds directly from vans diesel tank so no underslung tanks with their extra weight reducing payload, what’s not to like.

Wallas XC Duo - Combined Hob & Heater - 1 Amazing Kit - Kuranda UK Ltd

The WALLAS XC Duo is a simple cooking and heating solution, designed for campervan use. This single appliance provides a ceramic cooking hob & efficient heater

www.kuranda.co.uk

 

[Lenny HB]

I've never had re-fillables. Can you fit them to a PVC easily?

Yep easy and a lot of PVC's have an underslung tank as standard.

fact that Deisel does not produce moisture/condensation in a van whereas Gas can.

If it does there is something seriously wrong with the installation heaters should be room sealed.

 

[jollyrodger]

Have fitted the cheapy diesel heaters to this van and last couple, also have gas as std
Gas blown heat not as efficient to get up to warmth through the van and using gas, but + also heating water.

The Diesel pump I have covered in bubble wrap and a different rubber mount than that supplied. So not as noisy on start up.
With a 2m run of exhaust plus silencer not noisy at all when settled down.
Start up takes about 10/11a but settles Down to about .9-1A
10L tank will last the weekend if left on low.
In reality I've not filled it for ages.
The main thing for me is it has the van warmed through in a fraction of the time and much cheaper than the gas one and diesel not as thin on the ground for my lpg refillable.
I also use one at home on heating oil or cherry with success.
Horses for courses indeed.

 

[Minxy]

We've had both diesel and gas heating@

Gas - Can check what is being consumed and with refillable bottles can last a long time and not cost a lot; it's quiet with a lower electric requirement; it's often a combi unit too so minimal space taken up for it.

Diesel - very noisier both inside and outside at start up and often 'ticks' in use which can be quite irritating; takes a lot of power on start up so you need to have a good battery level to even get it working; it can have either it's own tank or use the main diesel tank but it then depletes your 'travelling' distance. It is usually installed separately to the boiler and depending on where this is it could take up more space.

 

[Minxy]

Gas heating can be very noisy, we were parked up next to a Rapido a couple of nights ago, and it would have been quieter parked up at the end of a Heathrow runway.

Never had any issues with gas heating being noisy, sometimes a bit louder at first whilst it's getting up to temperature but not noisy, diesel on the other hand can sound like the Red Arrows are taking off all at once!

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[Otter Spotter]

Yep easy and a lot of PVC's have an underslung tank as standard.

If it does there is something seriously wrong with the installation heaters should be room sealed.

Sorry Lenny, I was thinking about Gas hobs not the heaters !

 

[Minxy]

I am surprised that this question and conversation is going on , bearing in mind the ongoing reduction in Gas suppliers, both Bottled and LPG,

Are there really reductions though? We've not lost any LPG places that I can think of and even managed to get it in the Republic of Ireland which has always been a hard place to find it.

and the fact that Deisel does not produce moisture/condensation in a van whereas Gas can. There are more ways to skin a cat.

The ONLY gas appliance that should be able to produce condensation in a van is a hob, nothing from any other gas appliance should be able to enter the interior.

 

[poppycamper]

LPG getting more difficult to find at the pumps.

Oh dear another LPG doom & gloom merchant.
Are you going to say Diesel will be getting scarce next.
I have underslung LPG tank and have NEVER struggled to get my tank topped up.
Yes I know you say it is only "getting more difficult to find" but folk read that and think, Oh well not for me.. thankyou.
LPG is here to stay !!

 

[Minxy]

DEISEL heaters will use more power

Says who ?
my Wallas uses less than a quarter a ltr per night in winter and that includes cooking

I assume martin was talking about the power needed to run it, ie electric, diesel heaters need a lot of power to get them going so if you have a low battery level you won't have any heating either!

 

[Raul]

That no sound right , they do have a bit of a noise running fuull blast but nothing like some of the badly installed diesels.

My propex gas heater it’s noisier than a Chinese heater. After the initial start up, the diesel heater it’s quieter.

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