Engel Fridge Review | MD40F & MT-45F

[@applesbighatranch6906]

The ENGEL MT-45 I purchased here in the U.S.A. in 2009 uses the Sawafuji Electric Co swingmotor compressor. Thanks for your video. Using two Engels makes perfect sense! when one wants both a fridge and a freezer at the same time. I was ponderin' the same thing; keeping my current fridge in the small caravan/trailer galley and the newer freezer (when I might buy one) inside the right rear door of the four-door truck. Safe travels to you!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thankyou for your comments. I found the dual zone unit I had previously, struggled to maintain the fridge and freezer at their correct temperatures, when operating in hot conditions....hence the switch to 2 separate units. And I couldn't be happier with my decision. Safe travels to you, too.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

The mesh on the transit covers on my Engel (75 Combi) really restricted the airflow and the fridge worked considerably better without it. The Transit Cover does have some insulating properties, though they're outweighed by the restriction to the ventilation for the compressor section. Either cut the mesh or provide forced ventilation to the compressor section, the fridge and freezer will cycle less and you'll save battery.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks for the advice, Simon. I'll test them with and without their travel covers and compare their cycle times. Maybe a follow-up video is on the cards!

[@stevezodiac575]

Yes! I loved your excellent video on that - I was going to pass on your advice about the mesh restricting air flow to Rusty and saw you has long since, and quite rightly, beaten me to it! 😁 'Small world' - especially in WA!

[@Utah_Mike]

I’m in the states. Great video! I have a the MT-45 and the MT-35, both older units and purchased used.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Mike, thanks for your kind words....glad you liked the video.

[@stevezodiac575]

Hey Rusty, thank you another very useful, informative review! I've had the MD40 for about 4 years (the original model that can use both 240v and 12v without needing a separate transformer, I love it!!) and was debating whether to get a second so to have a fridge and freezer, or whether to spend more and buy an MT version - your review has settled that question - I'll get an MT! Also I was going to mention the air flow issue with the Transit Cover which I learnt about from Lock your Hubs 4WDing's excellent video on the subject and immediately saw Simon's comment below! Based on his video (which includes current draw measurements), I cut out the mesh over the fan to reduce restriction of the air flow. It absolutely make sense! Anyhoo - thanks again Rusty!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Simon did a thorough review of the Engel's travel cover and concluded that airflow and cooling was better if the cover was removed or modified. I've now taken the covers off both of my Engels, as they live inside the canopy on my Navara, so they're protected while travelling. Having 2 Engels works better for me, 1 as a fridge and the other as a freezer, compared to the dual zone unit I used to use. During our camping and prospecting trips, the daytime temperatures can get quite high, and I find the Engels work fine. Having the fridge in the prospecting caravan also gives me the flexibility to use both Engels as freezers, if I need to. I'm glad you found this video helpful.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Fridge capacity measured in cans, how very Australian :) We still use an old (12 years plus) 60 litre Engel with a 40 litre Two Zone on top. Works perfectly as a freezer at the bottom and a fridge on top. We just set it on 3 and leave it. The new fridges seem to make people worry more about the exact temps. We have a couple of new ones as well but we only run 1 in each vehicle to keep power draw to a minimum.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

As someone who only has the occasional beer, knowing my Engels hold a total of 110 cans isn't really a statistic that I get too excited about :)

[@donaldo1974]

Totally agree I run two fridges a 38L Engel and a 41L Adventuridge cheapy from aldi both work great as either fridge or freezer. The transit bags do nothing but restrict air flow and reduce performance get rid of them or remove the mesh

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Having separate fridge and freezer works well for me....and looks like you, too. Been running without the transit bags as both are in the canopy the whole time I'm out bush, and I think they're happy without the bags. I miss the pocket in the front of the bag, to keep the 'other' lead.

[@richardkaye2228]

Nice review, I have the same mtv 45 and I removed my cover after 3 years of everyday use as a freezer set at minus 18, I could actually feel the heat trapped in the cover where the vents let it out , also the condensation forming between cover and fridge was starting to attract mold cheers

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

I've seen others take their covers off because they might have been restricting airflow around the fridge....which can negatively impact on the fridge's ability to work properly.

[@silverprado1206]

Looking to choose between these two models, your review as very helpful.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Glad you found the review helpful to you.

[@vk6xcj]

Interesting video ,, I have a 45 L non branded and the engel eclipse the 45 L is in my van on 24/7 and eclipse is in my house as a fridge on all the time too.. I was thinking about buying a dual zone fridge but with what you said makes me think twice about it now.... I might get my Engel in my Delica van there's not much room, my battery bank will be OK as well. Thanks it has made me think now

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Christie, glad the video was helpful for you. My Eclipse is happier being a fridge!

[@TwoWheeledDecaf]

Great video, thanks mate

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks...I'm glad you found the video helpful.

[@DonsShed]

Thanks very much..... you've got a new subscriber ☺ just wondering out of the two.... which one would you buy, if you could only get one? 6 weeks until the next Perth 4wd show. So might look for a bargain whilst there 😉 Cheers, Don, also from Perth (Dons Shed and Xplor Overland)

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

G'day Don and thanks for subscribing. If I could only buy one of the two, I'd buy the MT-45F...it's digital readout, each of access to the control dial and the fact that it doesn't care whether it's a fridge or freezer, makes it my preferred choice. I'm sure you'll get some good deals, leading up the the 4WD in Perth on the first weekend in November....that's where I bought these 2 from, 2 years ago.

[@hecticgerva1192]

Thanks for the review mate, Im looking at the combi unit so if i want to keep some ice creams or zooper dupers when i go to the beach or go on a long trip or even to freeze a certain amount of meat and keep some fruit n vegs chilled with other items.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Glad you found the review helpful.

[@theghostoffrankgrimes5621]

I think ur Eclipse will cycle better without the cover (both fridges actually)… there’s a Aussie guy on here who did the tests and they run better without (the covers stop the heat they generate themselves from dissipating) Great vid too, thanks for sharing

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

You're referring to Simon from Lock Your Hubs 4x4...he does some great product tests. On our next prospecting trip, I'm going to run both fridges without the covers and see what happens.

[@malcolmhay6668]

I have 2 15lt. engels that would be 35 years old. They both work as well as they did when new.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Glad you hear your Engels are still working perfectly. My son inherited his grandfather's 29L Engel and it's still going strong. The only thing we've ever had to do is replace the lid seal.

[@dabbbles]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures Try a lid penguin🥴

[@markjones8704]

Nice one mate👍 I have the same Engel eclipse and love it. I’m looking into getting another so I can run one as a fridge and the other as a freezer too. Did you look into the drawn style by chance? Cheers

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Hi Mark, thanks for your comments. When I ran the Eclipse as a freezer, it did run more than it was off, so that's why I swapped it over to being our fridge. I didn't look at the draw style because of the issues of accessing them...Mrs Rusty has to use a step to get into our Engels.

[@robbusa69]

Great review mate - cheers

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Rob.

[@chrismoustrides3905]

Awesome!

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thanks Chris, I hope you found the video helpful.

[@roshangoonewardena7522]

Engels only use Sawafuji compressors since the first one they manufactured in 1962 and continues to do so as its a time tested compressor. Its not a new Technology. Thank you for the comparison.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Thankyou Roshan.

[@ifyoucantjointhem]

Are they lighter than what you store to the rear of the canopy? Would it pay to put them further behind the axle and put heavily stuff further forward? Why do you only run the freezer at -4? My understanding is that frozen food should be stored -10C to -18C-ish...

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

That's a really good question. I put the fridge freezers on the passenger side of the canopy because that's the 'kitchen' side! I think they'd be heavier than what's stored further to the rear of the canopy. With regard to why -4, I've been working on the theory that when I take frozen food out of my freezer at home (which is set to -18) and put in my Engel freezer set to -4, the food won't thaw out in the 7 - 10 days that we're away up the bush. For long term storage, then a lower temperature, like -18 is accepted as the 'norm' for freezers.

[@GZCon]

I want the new Engel 38l but the fact you have to pay $99 to be able to use 240v really seems like a cash grab and puts me off.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

When I bought these Engels, they came with the 12VDC and 240VAC leads....I've not heard of having to pay extra to get them.

[@robbiereddog4202]

@@RustysOutbackAdventures The new eclipse (38L) has only 12v input and you have to buy a extra 240v transformer which is about $90. Got caught out myself.

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

That doesn't seem fair that they're advertised as operating on 12VDC or 240VAC but only come with the 12VDC lead.

[@Ozfreerider_adventures]

No way 2 fridges are lighter than 1 ….

[@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns]

In total, both Engels were heavier overall, but I think I was referring to each Engel being lighter and easier to handle, than the big combo unit I had. They also take up more space, too, but for me, having the 2 Engels works out better than having the one big combo unit.

[@Ozfreerider_adventures]

@@RustysMetalCutSignsDesigns yeah definitely easier to handle . I can carey my cfx75 pretty easy but the 95 is impossible . I guess it depends how often you intend to be moving them . One benefit of 2 is if one fails you still have one that works . Bit downside is more power draw of 2 compressors and more weight

[@RustysOutbackAdventures]

Agree totally. Hopefully I've got the power draw issue covered, but having the redundancy, especially when planning to be off-grid for some time, is a big plus.