Forum Discussion

Camper2209's avatar
Camper2209
Explorer
Jul 11, 2014

Diesel fumes and camp smoke drawn in by air conditioner

New to the RV world. Have a 2013 MB Sprinter class B. I am allergic to smoke so evenings in campground are a challenge. Windows are closed tight and air conditioner is turned on. If there are diesel fumes or smoke in certain areas around the van, they will be pulled inside the van.

Not sure how it is getting in or where the smoke/fumes have to be around the van for it to happen. Does not happen all the time, but when it does happen the air conditioner is always on. Any ideas why this is happening and how to track down the entry point?
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    I HAVE seen air conditioners with fresh air intakes... Or stale air exhaust. However not many RV units have that feature.

    IF yours does, make sure the air exchange doors are CLOSED (May be labled exhause, fresh air or vent but make sure it is CLOSED)

    Next, Clean the intake filters.

    ODDS are the offensive fumes are entering.... elsewhere, not via the A/C but the A/C may be assisting them in entering.

    My A/C right now is working great, it's water cooled (It is raining again outside).
  • More than likely, fumes are coming in some other way. I thought RV air conditioners were closed systems, meaning, they only circulate air from inside the camper, unlike home window air conditioners that have a switch to flip so you can draw air from outside.

    As stated above, campgrounds are not healthy if you don't have strong tolerances form fumes, smoke, smells, noise and light (Kind of makes anyone ask the question, why do we go there then?)

    Funny, but true story:

    Several years ago (our first TT) we were in a private campground that was located in a shallow valley, surrounded by trees in every direction, and a river running through it. No wind at all. Campground full. Evening, sun going down. Peaceful. Hot! Seems like everyone had a campfire that night.

    Next thing you know, our smoke alarm went off in the camper as the campfire smoke was going right in the camper. Then the camper beside us, theirs went off. I looked up and the whole campground was filled with smoke. No air movement, like a fog, and getting thicker.

    Then someone elses went off, then another, then another, and then another. People were scrambling to their campers by now to pull their smoke alarms and rip out the batteries to get them quiet. I did the same thing. It was comical, but then I realized, there wasn't a breath of fresh air anywhere, and realized how much we all were choking and coughing and couldn't get away from it.

    We went inside, shut all the windows, turned on the air conditioner until we could breathe easier. We didn't go back outside that evening.

    True story.
  • I have yet to see an AC that draws in outside air, but then again I haven't seen each and every unit.
  • Ooh.. that's not fun. Campgrounds can be very unhealthy places with no wind and lots of fires.

    I don't know... perhaps you have leaky door gaskets..? Most a/cs do not draw in outside air.