Community Forums

donandmax · 03-31-2011, 04:37 PM

Subject: Koehler 5000 watt gen.
I have been told that most generators use only about 1/2 gal. per hr. when on the road.(to run your ac) In fact you use more gas to run your dash ac then your Gen. Any truth in this ??

Thanks
Don

thelastplace · 03-31-2011, 04:46 PM

Don't only is this true (to some extent) but you are cooling you whole coach, not just the front end. And in my case, it barely cools the front. On a hot day, it's almost unnoticeable.

But the true travelers are they who leave for leaving’s sake
Saying continuously, without knowing why: ‘Let us go on’.
Paraphrased from Baudelaire’s ‘The Journey’

GaryKD · 03-31-2011, 05:07 PM

Don,
My fuel mileage does not vary with the dash air on or off. I run the appliances that keep all my passengers (usually 4 to 7) happy.

For me (the driver) I need the dash air, with the vents blowing plenty of cold air on me. The windshield has a lot of heat transferring glass.

Tha_Rooster · 03-31-2011, 05:35 PM

Same here dash air for me and coach air for everyone else.

Cat320 · 03-31-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donandmax

Subject: Koehler 5000 watt gen.
I have been told that most generators use only about 1/2 gal. per hr. when on the road.(to run your ac) In fact you use more gas to run your dash ac then your Gen. Any truth in this ??

Thanks
Don

You don't say what engine you have, but in my 8.9L Cummins, I doubt it would even know if the dash air was on or not.

MegaRoadie · 03-31-2011, 06:03 PM

Why arrive at your destination with anyone, driver or passengers uncomfortable. Today's engines seem to be decades ahead of past fuel guzzlers and running the heat or A/C's should be second nature.

Have not seen any noticable loss in mileage from running either the dash A/C or the generator and house heat pump. My 5500 Onan says it will run at 50% load (3000 watts) on 1/3 gal/hr, heat pump only runs at a 30-40 % on/off cycle when goin down the hot Florida or Texas roads so that is like negligable fuel consumed and the benefits of a cool wife far outweigh any fuel costs. lol

One thing you DO NOT want to do is run with the windows open... that is unless you appreciate DW in a rage and dust everywhere !!! Besides the mess it can actually worsen and already non-aerodynamic profile pushing air outta the way ! Dont ask how I know this...

txdutt · 03-31-2011, 07:07 PM

I've heard the same, I'll be testing it this summer!!

ga traveler · 04-04-2011, 08:50 AM

One suggestion on the dash A/C. Our dealership serviced dash airs, but we were far from experts. all of the A/C companys we sent our major repairs to, Advised me that motorhome owners have more problems than anyone else, because they dont run the dash airs enough. Everytime you run the dash air,it lubes the seals and compressor. So use the dash air.

John_N_Terry · 04-04-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga traveler

One suggestion on the dash A/C. Our dealership serviced dash airs, but we were far from experts. all of the A/C companys we sent our major repairs to, Advised me that motorhome owners have more problems than anyone else, because they dont run the dash airs enough. Everytime you run the dash air,it lubes the seals and compressor. So use the dash air.

Hmmm...that's good info to know. I use the genny and coach air. I haven't used the dash air since we tried it out on test drive. I'll have to run it a bit. Should have known...most of this mechanical stuff works best when it's run now and then.

wa8yxm · 04-04-2011, 09:26 AM

I have heard this too, and when my dash air failed I put it to the test.

I'm not sure the effect on fuel consumption but this I m sure of

The "House" air cools the house, but truly does not do that good a job in the "Cockpit" area of the motor home (At least in my case) the dash air is exactly the other way around, it cools the cockpit area but does not do much for, say, the bedroom.

IF it's hot enough, I run both.

There are two ways dash air is controlled,, I think most factory installs (Like motor homes) mix heated and cooled air so if you turn it on, it's on all the time.. In the very old days I had a car with "After market" air, it used a T-stat and cycled the pump just like the roof air does... If there is any savings at all that is where it comes from.. I wish dash air today worked that way.

If it did, then a curtain behind the driver's and passenger's seats would conserve more fuel than anything, but alas, that's not how it works.