Good save there, Don. Seeing is believing! I have run my propane heater in
my westy without worrying about it as I can feel the breeze through the
canvas with the top up. A sunbrella or nylon "canvas" would be a while
different deal. Since VWs are considered to be among the tightest bodies of
their era, I don't think I could get away with it in a tintop without
ventilation.

A question for one of the more physics-minded on the list might be how long
you could burn the volume of oxygen contained in a Vanagon at a certain
altitude and still leave enough for yourself? Watching a single candle
flame extinguish itself in a mason jar makes me think it isn't as long as
you might think.

Jim

On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 8:50 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:

> Over many years and different vans, the majority VW, I've often used my
> cook stove for quick heat.  I've believed that my vans "leaked" enough
> outside air that asphyxiation wasn't going to happen.  This is probably
> wrong, at least in my tin top camper.  Just now, it being around freezing
> in the pre-dawn desert SW, I brewed coffee and left both westie stove
> burners on high for some heat as I watched the sunrise ....  I saw my
> burner's flame diminish and get thready.  Thought I was out of propane...
> But I discovered that a kitchen match, the "strike and light anywhere"
> kind, that would not light!  No O2 or too much  co2....whatever, pretty
> scary.  I ran back the slider and let some air in, things burn normal
> again.
>
> So I believe the warning against using the cook top for cabin heat.,..now.
> I just saw why.
>