Hi everyone, I'm inquiring about the uses for diesel while camping, so far I see cooking, heating and hot water. So far I have only seen a heater and wondered if anyone has modified one to produce hot water as well? and where to get information about cookers. Thanks in advance.
oldbloke said
03:04 PM Aug 13, 2021
Lubrication
Fire starters
Mike Harding said
03:07 PM Aug 13, 2021
oldbloke wrote:
Fire starters
Yep, makes a good camp fire starter :)
I can't imagine using diesel for general cooking - Coleman stoves use petrol/Shellite but I really don't think diesel would burn hot or clean enough.
I believe there are diesel water heaters but they are not common in Oz. Most of my water is heated in a bucket over the camp fire.
aussiebottlo said
03:51 PM Aug 13, 2021
Yes a friend has a caravan that has diesel heater, stove and hot water he had it put in at manufacture as he didnt want any gas in the van. Very expensive for the stoves which includes an oven.
-- Edited by aussiebottlo on Friday 13th of August 2021 03:52:25 PM
-- Edited by Mamil on Friday 13th of August 2021 09:26:19 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:24 PM Aug 13, 2021
Our HWS and central heating is via a Webasto diesel heater.
Cheers,
Peter
dabbler said
11:58 PM Aug 13, 2021
We've been looking into Mercedes Sprinter conversions and quite a few have diesel stovetops, hws and heaters all plumbed to the vehicle fuel tank. Right now, the TD has gas stovetop and HWS. The Hilux runs diesel and the jerry can we carry is only for emergencies. While in the past I used diesel to help start fires, a few years back I opened a 30yr old pack of paraffin firestarters hiding in my camping tuckerbox and now I'm a convert. Much easier and cleaner than splashing liquids around.
yobarr said
02:53 AM Aug 14, 2021
Mamil wrote:
peatop wrote:
So far I have only seen a heater and wondered if anyone has modified one to produce hot water as well?
Truma do a combination heater and hot water system called the Combi D6.
My van is equipped with the Truma Combi D6,and it is an excellent bit of gear! Can set any temp with the press of a button,and uses very little fuel.Cheers
oldbloke said
06:50 AM Aug 14, 2021
dabbler wrote:
We've been looking into Mercedes Sprinter conversions and quite a few have diesel stovetops, hws and heaters all plumbed to the vehicle fuel tank. Right now, the TD has gas stovetop and HWS. The Hilux runs diesel and the jerry can we carry is only for emergencies. While in the past I used diesel to help start fires, a few years back I opened a 30yr old pack of paraffin firestarters hiding in my camping tuckerbox and now I'm a convert. Much easier and cleaner than splashing liquids around.
Yes can get messy. Try just soaking some small pieces of wood or dried tea bags with a little diesel in a jar. Works great.
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:03 AM Aug 14, 2021
Most people that have used the diesel cook tops don't like them much.
They are slow to initially heat and to respond to changes.
Cheers,
Peter
Tony LEE said
09:18 AM Aug 14, 2021
My OKA had diesel hot water and hydronic heating which included engine interconnection as well. Also had Webasto diesel cooktop.
Can now get Chinese diesel water heaters at hugely lower prices than webasto
Mike Harding said
09:34 AM Aug 14, 2021
If this Truma spare PCB (at A$590) is anything to go by I'd hate to see what their water heaters cost:
I estimate that PCB, components and manufacture would cost no more than A$30 at the outside
Peter_n_Margaret said
05:24 PM Aug 14, 2021
How did you/Betty like the diesel cook top Tony?
Cheers,
Peter
peatop said
01:51 PM Aug 15, 2021
oldbloke wrote:
Lubrication Fire starters
You forgot weed killer, I had mixed thoughts when I read you post, we used to use fire starters with a mix of petrol/diesel when I was in the CFA, I often brought one home to do burn offs around the farm and my spouse thought I was using just petrol and did some very crazy things using petrol (I'm glad I had my own fire truck) eventually she learnt that petrol doesn't make a good fire starter, I used to make a mix that she would soak the chip heater wood in to use as fire starters.
Thanks for the replies, I was trying to figure out if it was worth me investing in some sort of diesel unit for cooking and maybe heating water, I have a design for a solar water heater I found on a site some time ago, made from pvc sewer pipe that you can pressurize for showers and so on. at the moment its just a simple canvas shower bag or sponge bath or a dip in the river/creek if its hot.
yobarr said
02:13 PM Aug 15, 2021
Mike Harding wrote:
If this Truma spare PCB (at A$590) is anything to go by I'd hate to see what their water heaters cost:
I estimate that PCB, components and manufacture would cost no more than A$30 at the outside
Truma Combi D6 is a space heater that also heats water.Costs around $3000,but like everything in life,you get what you pay for.Heats hot water to 60 degrees in 20 minutes, and can heat my van up to 30 degrees if required.At night,I leave it running on about 18 degrees to keep comfortable.Cheers
yobarr said
02:21 PM Aug 15, 2021
dabbler wrote:
We've been looking into Mercedes Sprinter conversions and quite a few have diesel stovetops, hws and heaters all plumbed to the vehicle fuel tank. Right now, the TD has gas stovetop and HWS. The Hilux runs diesel and the jerry can we carry is only for emergencies. While in the past I used diesel to help start fires, a few years back I opened a 30yr old pack of paraffin firestarters hiding in my camping tuckerbox and now I'm a convert. Much easier and cleaner than splashing liquids around.
Splash of diesel on wood,sprinkle of Zippo lighter fluid on top,ignite with match. Instant campfire! Cheers
kgarnett said
02:45 PM Aug 15, 2021
ANFO - Even more instant
oldbloke said
04:27 PM Aug 15, 2021
kgarnett wrote:
ANFO - Even more instant
Lol. Love it.
Mike Harding said
04:58 PM Aug 15, 2021
yobarr wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
If this Truma spare PCB (at A$590) is anything to go by I'd hate to see what their water heaters cost:
I estimate that PCB, components and manufacture would cost no more than A$30 at the outside
Truma Combi D6 is a space heater that also heats water.Costs around $3000,but like everything in life,you get what you pay for.Heats hot water to 60 degrees in 20 minutes, and can heat my van up to 30 degrees if required.At night,I leave it running on about 18 degrees to keep comfortable.Cheers
Not with that PCB you don't!
It's a total rip off priced at around 2000% above cost simply because buyers have no other option if their's fails, close to extortion. Still if someone is foolish to buy such a product....
yobarr said
05:56 PM Aug 15, 2021
Mike Harding wrote:
yobarr wrote:
Mike Harding wrote:
If this Truma spare PCB (at A$590) is anything to go by I'd hate to see what their water heaters cost:
I estimate that PCB, components and manufacture would cost no more than A$30 at the outside
Truma Combi D6 is a space heater that also heats water.Costs around $3000,but like everything in life,you get what you pay for.Heats hot water to 60 degrees in 20 minutes, and can heat my van up to 30 degrees if required.At night,I leave it running on about 18 degrees to keep comfortable.Cheers
Not with that PCB you don't!
It's a total rip off priced at around 2000% above cost simply because buyers have no other option if their's fails, close to extortion. Still if someone is foolish to buy such a product....
Thanks for your considered opinion,Mike,but I wonder would you feel the same way when it is minus 5 degrees outside,and your Chinese piece of spit won't warm the van,or it simply cries "enough" when it is needed most.You seem to have an admirable ability to tolerate cold,as I can recall you saying once that you showered outside when the temperature was only 8 degrees,but some of us are not that hardy. Again I will say,in this world,you get what you pay for.Your choice of a Trailblazer seems to have been a wise one,but I wonder why you did not settle for a Triton? After all,it is cheaper,I believe? Cheers
Do not use diesel to restart the chip heater if it has gone out but still embers, bloody hell , sh.t everywhere, blew the top off, chimney off, ashes in the bathwater and over me, sh.t scared at 8 years old.
Aus-Kiwi said
10:09 PM Aug 15, 2021
Diesel wouldnt explode ! My guess other fuel was in there ?
oldbloke said
10:57 PM Aug 15, 2021
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Diesel wouldnt explode ! My guess other fuel was in there ?
Correct. Diesel is just light oil
Whenarewethere said
06:21 AM Aug 16, 2021
With ammonia nitrate makes it useful. In primary school one of the students was really into chemistry. I have to say they were the most informative chemistry lessons I ever had. Chlorine for pools made for some very informative lessons.
yobarr said
07:39 AM Aug 16, 2021
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Diesel wouldnt explode ! My guess other fuel was in there ?
As you and Neil have said,there is no way known that diesel will explode.The dangers of petrol are recognised,but a friend regularly extinguishes his lit cigarette in a bowl of petrol,just to illustrate that it can be done. Cheers
Its the fumes that explode yes thats why old engines flood and hard to start ! Same condition of putting cigarette out with petrol! No oxygen. Your playing with fire doing that though !
Craig1 said
08:29 AM Aug 16, 2021
It was only diesel, into a confined space and probably too much onto too hot embers.
Mike Harding said
08:36 AM Aug 16, 2021
yobarr wrote:
Thanks for your considered opinion,Mike,but I wonder would you feel the same way when it is minus 5 degrees outside,and your Chinese piece of spit won't warm the van,or it simply cries "enough" when it is needed most.
I'd quickly fit the entire second Chinese diesel heater I bought as a spare and *still* be $thousands ahead of you :)
Mike Harding said
08:40 AM Aug 16, 2021
Oddly enough I tried this the other day in order to confirm what I suspected:
An old baked bean can with 25mm of diesel in and I dropped a well alight match in to it, it went out. I repeated the experiment four times with the same result each time.
When I use diesel as a fire starter I put a tissue or two down first, lay the kindling on top of that, pour a little diesel on and light the tissue, that works well.
Hi everyone, I'm inquiring about the uses for diesel while camping, so far I see cooking, heating and hot water. So far I have only seen a heater and wondered if anyone has modified one to produce hot water as well? and where to get information about cookers. Thanks in advance.
Fire starters
Yep, makes a good camp fire starter :)
I can't imagine using diesel for general cooking - Coleman stoves use petrol/Shellite but I really don't think diesel would burn hot or clean enough.
I believe there are diesel water heaters but they are not common in Oz. Most of my water is heated in a bucket over the camp fire.
Yes a friend has a caravan that has diesel heater, stove and hot water he had it put in at manufacture as he didnt want any gas in the van. Very expensive for the stoves which includes an oven.
-- Edited by aussiebottlo on Friday 13th of August 2021 03:52:25 PM
To my surprise:
Diesel cooktop
But at A$2000 for a two burner cooktop it would make for expensive baked beans....
Truma do a combination heater and hot water system called the Combi D6.
https://www.truma.com/au/en/products/truma-caravan-rv-heater/truma-combi-d6
-- Edited by Mamil on Friday 13th of August 2021 09:26:19 PM
Cheers,
Peter
My van is equipped with the Truma Combi D6,and it is an excellent bit of gear! Can set any temp with the press of a button,and uses very little fuel.Cheers
Yes can get messy. Try just soaking some small pieces of wood or dried tea bags with a little diesel in a jar. Works great.
They are slow to initially heat and to respond to changes.
Cheers,
Peter
If this Truma spare PCB (at A$590) is anything to go by I'd hate to see what their water heaters cost:
Truma PCB on Ebay
I estimate that PCB, components and manufacture would cost no more than A$30 at the outside
Cheers,
Peter
You forgot weed killer, I had mixed thoughts when I read you post, we used to use fire starters with a mix of petrol/diesel when I was in the CFA, I often brought one home to do burn offs around the farm and my spouse thought I was using just petrol and did some very crazy things using petrol (I'm glad I had my own fire truck) eventually she learnt that petrol doesn't make a good fire starter, I used to make a mix that she would soak the chip heater wood in to use as fire starters.
Thanks for the replies, I was trying to figure out if it was worth me investing in some sort of diesel unit for cooking and maybe heating water, I have a design for a solar water heater I found on a site some time ago, made from pvc sewer pipe that you can pressurize for showers and so on. at the moment its just a simple canvas shower bag or sponge bath or a dip in the river/creek if its hot.
Truma Combi D6 is a space heater that also heats water.Costs around $3000,but like everything in life,you get what you pay for.Heats hot water to 60 degrees in 20 minutes, and can heat my van up to 30 degrees if required.At night,I leave it running on about 18 degrees to keep comfortable.Cheers
Splash of diesel on wood,sprinkle of Zippo lighter fluid on top,ignite with match. Instant campfire! Cheers
Lol. Love it.
Not with that PCB you don't!
It's a total rip off priced at around 2000% above cost simply because buyers have no other option if their's fails, close to extortion. Still if someone is foolish to buy such a product....
Thanks for your considered opinion,Mike,but I wonder would you feel the same way when it is minus 5 degrees outside,and your Chinese piece of spit won't warm the van,or it simply cries "enough" when it is needed most.You seem to have an admirable ability to tolerate cold,as I can recall you saying once that you showered outside when the temperature was only 8 degrees,but some of us are not that hardy. Again I will say,in this world,you get what you pay for.Your choice of a Trailblazer seems to have been a wise one,but I wonder why you did not settle for a Triton? After all,it is cheaper,I believe? Cheers
Correct. Diesel is just light oil
With ammonia nitrate makes it useful. In primary school one of the students was really into chemistry. I have to say they were the most informative chemistry lessons I ever had. Chlorine for pools made for some very informative lessons.
As you and Neil have said,there is no way known that diesel will explode.The dangers of petrol are recognised,but a friend regularly extinguishes his lit cigarette in a bowl of petrol,just to illustrate that it can be done. Cheers
I'd quickly fit the entire second Chinese diesel heater I bought as a spare and *still* be $thousands ahead of you :)
Oddly enough I tried this the other day in order to confirm what I suspected:
An old baked bean can with 25mm of diesel in and I dropped a well alight match in to it, it went out. I repeated the experiment four times with the same result each time.
When I use diesel as a fire starter I put a tissue or two down first, lay the kindling on top of that, pour a little diesel on and light the tissue, that works well.