There’s Holden vs Ford, and Land Cruiser vs Patrol – but you will not find a topic that causes greater divide around the campfire than an Engel vs Dometic debate.
Which one really is the best portable fridge?
Rather than listening to stories about someone’s mate’s uncle’s neighbour that had a fridge that didn’t work very well… let us take you through some key differences, so you can make your own assessment.
Which Fridge is More Reliable?
- When it comes to reliability, Engel tends to come out on top. With a company history spanning over 50 years, it is not uncommon to hear of an Engel still functioning after 40 years.
- The Engel is built with a steel exterior, and there are plenty of stories about Engel fridges surviving endless outback tracks, falls from the back of Ute trays, and vehicle rollovers.
- Don’t believe us? Check out this magic machine, owned by Snowys blogger Bob West. When this photo was taken, it had almost been 30 years of living in the back of a mate’s farm ute – often not tied down, always uncovered, and out in the weather. Its bruised and battered facade is deceptive, continuing to spit out delicious sandwiches and cold drinks in the tough Flinders Ranges environment. This photo is a testament to how tough these fridges are:
30 years old, battered, but still working – a legend in reliability. Image: Bob West
- With regards to product development though, Dometic has been leading the pack. Unfortunately, this has made them the guinea pigs when it comes to new technology.
- In the early days, Dometic were not known for their reliability – but on our experience, the Dometic CFX range looks to be changing this.
- After chatting with one of Adelaide’s leading fridge repairers, it seems the Dometic CFX is tremendously reliable, especially in comparison with its older CF counterpart.
Features?
- Both fridges have battery protection and the ability to set the temperature.
- Both fridges will run from 12 or 240V.
- The Dometic has a built-in bung for washing out the interior, making it easier to clean.
- The Dometic CFX range has elements that are flush with the sides, while the Engel cooling elements are attached to the side. The latter creates a gap that is hard to clean.
- Dometic features a USB output, so you can charge mobile devices or lighting etc.
- Dometic also features wireless technology and an app, so you can control your fridge from your smartphone.
The Engel MT-V45F 40L Fridge Freezer. A fine size for an outback 4WDing trip or long weekend away.
Power Draw?
Power draw is extremely variable as there are many factors to consider, such as:
- The ambient temperature
- Which setting you have your fridge on
- The contents of the fridge, and how cold was it before you filled it
- How often you open the lid
Find out how to increase your fridge efficiency here.
Let’s assume both fridges are operating in identical conditions, and power consumption is calculated as an average over 24 hours. Both are current 40L models.
- At low ambient temperatures (20-30 degrees), both fridges will use similar amounts of power and both are considered very economical.
- When the temperature heats up (40+ degrees), the Engel will start to use more power than the Dometic
- For the reasons outlined below, the Engel will still use a little more power – but not as much as previously thought.
- The Dometic is still one of the most efficient fridges on the market.
Why Does Engel Use More Power?
- The Engel compressor uses less moving parts, making it very efficient in cooler conditions.
- Their compressor is limited to a maximum 2.5amps per hour.
- This design means it can run out of puff very quickly. Before long it will be flat-out trying to stay cool, and will remain running almost constantly, using more power over a 24-hour period.
- Engels are made from metal, so they are very strong. The downside is that metal conducts more heat than plastic, and it’s much harder keeping a hot, metal box cold than it is to keep a plastic one.
Why is the Dometic so Efficient?
- Dometic use a variable speed compressor that has the ability to work harder in the hot conditions.
- This allows the fridge to cool down quickly so it can turn itself off and ‘cycle’, which reduces the average power consumption.
The popular Dometic CFX3 35 Fridge Freezer 36L. Ideal size for a couple travelling on an extended camping trip, or even a weekend.
Where are Engel and Dometic made?
- Engels use a Sawafuji Swing Motor, which is made in Japan. The fridge/freezers themselves are made in Thailand.
- Dometic fridges are made in China and used to have the German “Danfoss” now known as SECOP compressor. The CFX range runs a new compressor developed by the brand, also made in China, called the VMSO3 (Dometic proprietary Variable Motor Speed Optimization).
The Verdict
Not many adventurers would be disappointed with either of these fridges. There is a lot to be said about Engel’s reliable history, but you pay extra for this and meanwhile sacrifice a little on efficiency.
You may not have the same reliable history with a Dometic CFX yet, but the efficiency, functionality, and lower price tag mean they’re great value for money.
Some believe that the Dometic out-spec the Engel on paper, and appears to be much better value for money. Snowys blogger David Leslie says he has owned a Dometic since 2010 and it has never missed a beat – and uses less power than his mate’s Engel every time (which he loves to hear about).
For more information, read more from David Leslie on how to power your camping fridge for longer, and a guide to help you purchase the right portable fridge for you.
From setup tips and hiking trips, to campsite cooking and 4WD kits – our Snowys Bloggers boast exceptional outdoor, fitness, and travel experience. Combined, their individual content is only enhanced – and the result for the fellow outdoor enthusiasts following along is a bigger, beefier, and more beneficial blog.
These articles are an updated collaboration of previous or existing works on the Snowys Blog.
I have 39ltr Engel bought in 1999 and it is still going strong. It is in the original insulated bag which has protected it – although the bag is looking worse for wear. Missing some of the new modern features (lights) but where I go reliability is key so I just wear a headlight. Thought about upgrading to a fridge/freezer, but if this is needed I run the Engel as a freezer and take a good Esky. It has outlasted 3 fridges in my kitchen at home…
Haha I thought this comparison sounded a bit bias.. almost as if the person doing the comparison owned a dometic. Sure enough in the “verdict” my thoughts were proven to be true..
This article is on a list for updating, the content is pretty old now.
Took my Waeco to have checked at the repair shop was told if it is low on gas chuck it in the bin that will be $150 thanks. roughly 5 years old. Great fridge suppose $125 a year is not to bad
My first Engel bought in !978 is still going strong, AND never missed a beat!!
I have a 39L engel I bought in 1986 it stopped working properly about 3 years ago will only go down to 10C now low on gas I guess- it has had the shit kicked out of it and now it is in Canada where you really don’t need fridges to go camping so am in 2 minds weather to fix it or not .
The big down side to Engels is the lid people sit on them and the lid is bends that is the major floor
Yeh i had a go at my brother the other day for sitting on it
This is probably the best way to compare! I work at 3 rubbish dumps across a large shire. I have seen a lot of Waeco fridges dumped over the years but no Engel fridges. That speaks for itself!
A poor man pays twice as much as a rich man. Dometic / Waeco costs half the price but dies just after the warranty expires.
The Engle will still be going 20 years from now!
Looked at all the posts and must ask where anyone gets service on any of these fridges? The answer is almost nowhere! When they die they cost more to repair than replace. Things are different today.
The Engel is way way over priced and worse now since its been cheapened to be competitive. The CFX is made in China. It’s way overpriced compared to what you get in a ICECO Fridge. (The ICECO has the same compressor, and is a comparable unit to the CFX at half the price.)
If you buy an ICECO, you can throw it or any of them away when they die, and have enough money left to buy another ICECO to replace the CFX or three more to replace the bigger gamble Engel.
We don’t stock ICECO, so we can’t offer much feedback on those. But, when it comes to warranty issues or servicing, the brands we stock prefer to manage it themselves through their own approved and certified repairers. These are usually detailed on the brand’s website or sometimes in the product manual. Cheers mate
Gday , bought a 40 liter Engel way back in 1996 , dont know about brands , but this fridge keeps plugging away in rain , up steep inclines in high country and even upside down in a roll over 10 years ago up side down for two hours , still going to this day , isnt waeco chinese for warm beer , cheers with my cold engel beers
Tough as nails and made to last, eh John?!! Great to hear your Engel is still going strong, Cheers mate
I have a 30+ year old small Engel. Still a real beauty. Bought a bigger Waco last year, hopeless sold it for less than half price just to get rid of it.
Now looking at buying another Engel -MTV 40 as a second fridge/freezer.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Michael 🙂 We like Engel too.
Ours is 1998 still going too!
I’ve owned 5 Engels in my life & not 1 of them has ever failed.
My first fridge was a second hand 30 litre which I sold years later.
I bought a second hand 15 litre after that & I’ve had that for 25 years & recently gave it to a mate as my old man gave me his 15 litre (which he bought new 35 years ago). I’ve also bought a second hand 40 litre & 60 litre which I still have, but I mainly use the 60litre when I go out bush for a couple of weeks as it can hold 2x 30 can packs of beer.
Engel, buy once, cry once.
That’s awesome, Russ! I love that… buy once, cry once haha. Cheers mate
My Engel drawer fridge failed after 2 years 10 months. Compresser stoped working.
That’s pretty disappointing to hear George! Did you ever follow up with an Engel service agent about it?
My waeco 80 has had the odd issue of not working but than somehow fixed itself . Our CFX 95 on the other hand has er2 on the large compartment and well no one seems to know the fix and to be honest I’ve had enough of the unreliability of these fridges (my sons 40ltr has the most ate issues as well) .
So I will pay the extra and get an Engel solely for reliability. I do not need a fridge I can charge my phone with or to see on my phone the temp , I just want a good solid reliable fridge and in my experience that isn’t a dometic. In saying that our 11ltr dometic used as a fridge console is great and touch wood out of all 4 it hasn’t had an issue .
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jai!
This is really helpful. I was a on the fence between the two brands for various reasons, but the power-consumption aspect is huge, of course. Another factor which was, for me, important: physical size. Each manufacturer makes various different capacities with different exterior dimensions, and none are identical across brands. Meanwhile, the space I intend to devote to a fridge restricts me to a handful of models. I’m feeling good now that I can make a choice between these two brands largely based on the dimensions. Thank you!
Great to hear you found it helpful, Rob! Cheers mate
How exactly do you know it uses less power? Exactly you dont unless you constantly measured the power draw on both.
Dometic dont even compare to engel they arent even in that same league. Ive had 2 engels for 10 years one is on full time the other at least half the year is bs heat i have never once had a flat battery after a couple days hooked without an engine start. Having said that im not saying its not doing damage to my battery.
Both have voltage protection? Thats bs. They didnt design them like that on purpose the compressors wont run under a certain voltage its like the run pump in your car if it drops below a voltage the fuel pump wont kick in. Its just their bs or turning a negative into a positive.
If you are going write a review maybe you should base your review around facts and not some dribble you make up as you go.
Thanks for your time. 🙂
G’day Anthony, thanks for such valuable input. It was a while ago that our writer wrote this blog and your comment has us thinking that we should make some updates to reflect the latest models. This one will forever be the great campfire debate… watch this space mate, there’s more conversation to come. Cheers
I have been using Engel fridges for 30 plus years in some of Australia’s harsh, remote and unforgiving areas and they have never let me down. Sure they draw a little more power but if you want tuff and reliable grab a Engel.
i have got a engal 30 Lt which i have had for about 40 years it has done about two milliion killometers in a truck and never missed a beat it is now in my shed full of stubbies and still going
You will only have one Waeco fail on you when it is full of crayfish and you will never touch one again.
I took one look at the Waeco and the quality wasn’t there. All plastic, crappy lid, hinges, latch. I’m sure if I could take it apart in the shop it’d be the same under the hood – cheap and made in China, not even using a Secop compressor any more but instead, a Chinese copy.
Picked up the Engel a while back and don’t regret it for a second. Power usage is not much different as the article makes it out.
I have just bought an Engel MTV45. Opted for this fridge due to reliability but also because Waeco are Chinese made and recent intimidation by China against Australia sealed the deal to by Engel.
G’day Don, the MT-V Series are ripper fridges mate. You won’t be disappointed 🙂
We were looking for one that could be used as both a fridge and a freezer at the same time. In the end we have now decided to go with the Engel MT V 45FC over the Waeco CFX 45, ( I think that was it). Due to not having much of a freezer in the van, we wanted something that can keep food frozen and also have some drinks cold in the car as well. We did not want to fill up the back of the SUV with fridges and eskies.
All i can say is that i have had nothing but issues with my last 2 engel fridges which were the newer style units and both have been unable to be repaired and one was only 6 months out of warranty. Both had blockages in the compressor and was going to cost more than half of what the fridge was worth.
My Brother in law has an engel which is about 25 years old and still going strong i would recommend an old second hand one over a new unit any day
The Waeco CFX range is absolute crap, our 5yr old cfx40 is on its way to the scrap heap, nothing but problems and now needs a new compressor. They are cheap chinese rubbish unfortunately.
Mate your full of it the waeco,s are crap plastic pieces of shit the hinges break the lids bow, Ive got 2 45,S justbthrew the 80 litre Waeco to the shithouse, replaced the hinges 30 times over 8 years waeco are dead
I have an Engel (40l Anniversary edition) and have monitored the power usage under many differing conditions. It draws 38watts while running. Daily power usage depends on ambient temperature and how often it is opened. Putting in warm items uses a lot of power and should be done in the morning when you can expect plenty of solar power to do the extra work.
The Engel is set to 2 degrees and meats are cryovacced for up to 6 weeks keeping. Chicken and seafood is of course less.
The daily usage in amp hours can be as low as 15 in cooler weather and as high as 30 amp hours in 40 degree temperature. Overall the Engel has performed well over the last 6 years. I don’t currently have a Waeco, but if someone would like to give me one I would be happy to put it to a fully monitored test.
I have dropped my Engel off the back tray of my 4×4 and it hit the ground hard. Besides some scuffing it has no damage and still works like new. Strong fridge freezer, made to last even when treated rough. I don’t know if Weaco would stand up to that but I didn’t think my Engel would either. Brilliant fridge freezer, I wouldn’t buy anything else, not that I will need to anyway.
Hope that is helpful, happy camping : )
Engel fridges do have a reputation for being rugged, so it’s good to hear that they are upholding that, Zed. Cheers!
Might be a small thing that doesn’t matter to some but one benefit I find with the Engel is that you can sit on it !. handy when you want to keep other people away from the beer !!!
That is a very handy feature, Stuart. Cheers! 🙂
Can sit on the waeco lid no problems. Mines WEL over 15 year old, second lid but due to the hinges not from sitting on
Read with interest your take on the “Waeco/Engel” saga.
Couple of things don’t gel.
1. Engels historically (and I have run Engels since 1973, and still do) draw 3.5 to 4.5 amps. i.e around 40w, when the compressor runs. Naturally, if the temperature is benign they will not run as often and hence may only draw 2.5 amps “average”.
2. I am a bit mystified by your statement that Engels are “limited” to 2.5 amps/hour. Either they draw 2.5 amps ad infinitum if ambient is hot enough or, as I suggest, 40w or around 3.5 amps + depending on battery voltage.
Incidentally my small Engel from 1973 is still freezing cans, unfortunately ! Both my Waeco and “Chinese generic Waeco clone” have not missed a beat in years. The big advantage for me with the Waeco is the weight reduction. Lugging even a 39l Engel in and out of cars is not fun.
Unfortunately, Dave wasn’t available to reply to your comment Mike, but as far as we understand it the older model Engels drew more power than the new versions which Engel claim to draw a variable current between 0.5 to 2.7 amps.
It’s great to hear that your Engel has stood the test of time! But I suppose for some the weight is a deciding factor that makes them choose other models.
Thanks for weighing in Mike!
I just purchase a CFX65 have had several issues;
1st. Set point temp doesn’t really directly correspond to any of the 3 compartments. Best I can tell with instant read thermometer in water bowls or Ice bowl is with the temp set at 14F the freezer will be apx 30 deg mid section is 36F and RH is 45Deg.
2nd.
CFX-WD wireless display wont connect, Dometic has sent me a replacement and same issue which no must be the cooler not transmitting. (instructions not very clear and help desk very unsure of process)
No sure why they word not have the WIFI app included on the dual zone model.
I think they should have gone with to temp settings like I understand the 95 DZ is. (just didnt need that hugh unit)
Will see what Dometic has to say tomorrow
G’day James,
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been having trouble with your CFX65.
As for your first point – the temperature at the bottom of the fridge will always be slightly colder as cold air drops, so we don’t know any way around that, unfortunately.
And your second point – I’ve asked the guys on the floor, and they said there is a specific technique to get it to connect. As far as they know, you set the transmitter on first (e.g. fridge) before putting in the batteries or turning on the receiver (the wireless display).
If you have any problems, then give us a call and we’ll see if we can do some further troubleshooting for you!
A great review!
I am looking at getting the CFX 35w after lots of research and this review.
Very fair statements and look forward to seeing how it does!
I would say though, it is deceiving that you have a picture of the CFX 40W instead of the stated CFX 35W
Maybe something to change and prevent confusion.
Thanks for your blog post!
Bryan
Thanks for the feedback Bryan!
We had a look into this, and believe it or not, it’s definitely an image of the CFX 35 – they are quite similar so I can see why it would look that way.
I hope you enjoy your new fridge Bryan ?
I have had 2 30ltr Engels one for 36 years and the same model second hand one for ten years and had no trouble with either of them.Both are still running very well.The only downfall is they use a lot more power than the later model ones.I have now just bought a CFX40 Waeco to see how it goes.My mate and i have just come back from a trip to Bourke and back down the Darling to Whitecliffs, Willcania ,Pooncarie to Wentworth with his CFX 40 and i was so impressed i just went and bought ono so i hope it lasts as long as the 2 Engels.Very quite and use very little power.
Cheerz
Sounds like you have had many adventures with your Engel! That’s incredible how long they’ve stuck around. I hope you get the same amount of use as your brand new Waeco – and do let us know how you get on with your CFX40 Wayne.
Doh! mistake made on my last, Waeco is cheaper but the Engel does not have the split lid, or the greater capacity.
Hi guys, very interesting reading all your thoughts on the differences and comparisons of the Waeco and Engel fridges. Along with the information of course brings confusion with which one to buy. I am looking at the 95 litre CFX. I see Engel do not do one that big. I have done a lot of travelling and currently have a smaller Engle and have previously (Back in 2010) had a 60 litre Waeco. So here I am again, which one to buy. Is there any information that has come through re the 95cfx. I like the split lid and the 2 compartments. The Waeco being dearer, not having the dual lids comes second but causes confusion because of its reliability. Talk to me Oh knowledgeable ones
Sorry about the slow reply, Kerry. I’ve got somebody on to answering your questions, who’s a bit of a gun with fridges.
They’re great questions Kerry. As you’ve pointed out – Engel don’t make an equivalent fridge as the Waeco CFX 95DZ. The size and dual bins make it very unique. David makes a great point that because of history, Waeco CFX don’t have the track record to match up against that of the Engel but the efficiency, functionality and lower price tag of the Waeco CFX does make them a very appealing product. Further to this – Waeco offer a 3 year full warranty plus additional 2 years (parts only) on compressor which we see as a strong statement from Waeco in them backing their product. It’s for these reasons that everyday, we’re seeing more and more campers invest in a Waeco CFX and the feedback over the past few years has been exceptionally positive which suggests to us that reliability shouldn’t really be a concern.
Waeco CFX95, in a Ford ranger on a slide, connected to a 75 amp lithium, average draw with freezer set at -10 and larger fridge at 2 C was 2.5 amp. With lithium meant over 20 hours on battery. Worked perfectly. Easy to set temps. Dual compartments great. Seen this unit in a lot of premium off road camper trailers.
Glad your CFX95 is serving you well, Rod. They’re an absolute beast of a fridge/freezer. We’ve been blown away by how in depend such a big unit is, too. Cheers, Paul
I have just bought a new CFX 40 Waeco, and it works like a dream. Did my resurech and decided that it was the better choice. Went camping the weekend and my second battery in my cruiser ran the fridge just fine. My mate has had his waeco for 10 years now and his has also not skipped a beat. You get a good fridge/freezer for way less coin
Thanks for the feedback Bruce. I definitely think we’re starting to see the longevity of the Waeco materialise. We sell about 3 Waecos to every Engel and feedback mostly echoes yours. Cheers, Paul
Hi. I bought a 50 ltr (Danfoss 35 comp) when they first came out for 3 monthly caravan trips round the top end . Went up fo a 80 ltr Fr/Freez when they came out (Danfoss 50 comp.) 50 just being given to son for fishing gear in Patrol. He buying me a 45/50? for Birthday (80th).
Mate is a 12/24 v old fridge tech. Wksp full of old crashed Enget to maybe 7 or 10 Waeco .
I’ll stick with my Waeco thank’s. My spare Danfoss 50 comp will go into new one if it’s comp calks.
I bought a Waeco Marine split Fr/Freez, 150ltr for yacht yrs ago. INCL a spare 50 Comp. Theydecades in advance for reliability and quality over thal Engel thing when side by side on bench.
450yrs plus travelling in AUst and elsewhere. I’d go a Waeco over Engel EVERY day.
And the debate continues! Haha thanks for chiming in, Mack 🙂
Engel vs Waco
It is true,Wacoe are cheaper but as far I’m concerned that is as far as it goes… for power consumption, reliability and user friendly design for those undecided people check the reliability of Engels swing motor to Wacoes danfoss kompressor which is basically a domestic refrigerator compressor…. I am a refrigeration technician and have done my own homework on both products…Engel wins… I have 2 Engels one of which is nearly 20 yrs old and never let down.. Cheers
Just to further my post,Wacoe variable speed motor, the motor will only slow down when the temperature in the fridge is reaching the thermostat setpoint, in high ambient or start up the motor will still be running at maximum speed and current draw….tell me if I am wrong… Engel still wins
Thanks for your input, Tezza. 😀
I have a CD waeco which is around 18 years old, only thing I’ve replaced is the lid due to the hinges other then that still going strong. Of course it will run full power on start up to help cool down as quickly as possible but it’s still not running at full capacity unless you hit the turbo cool button which then ramps it up even more. I ran mine in high country as a freezer for 7 days just off my car battery as my dual battery system shat itself the night before we left and it didnt affect the starting of my hikux each day. Fridge still running strong now, mine has always been in a transit bag so my fridge still looks like brand new if you remove the cover and good things with waeco they don’t dent like a Engel and don’t absorb the heat like the metal does on a the Engel. Let’s hope my new cfx is as reliable
I brought my lemon and lime, 40 litre, 2nd hand engel in the late 1980’s, it is still doing service in my camper trailer and has never let me down. I am sure the new Waeco’s are a good fridge but when I recently brought a second fridge to put in the back of my landcruiser, it was always going to be an Engel – I’ll be happy to use a bit more power for the next thirty years.
I think you will find many camping fridge users will agree with you mate, reliability is how Engel built their legendary reputation and is arguably the most important feature of having any camping product, it will be interesting to see how the new Waeco CFX range will compare over the next few years 🙂 Thanks for your input!
4WD action have posted a correction on there website as the people doing the testing got the engel power consumption wrong
http://www.4wdaction.com.au/articles/2015/correction-engel-40l-fridge-freezer-power-consumption-result
cheers from roger
Hi Roger, thanks very much for that info! Very interesting development and a big mistake for them to make! It seems the Engel is a lot closer than we thought in that area of comparison. We will adjust our blog accordingly and try to find some data to give a more accurate comparison in this area, we may need to do our own test too 🙂
Kind Regards
Dave