Diesel Heater Habits

[marchie]

Yes I thought that might be the case. I'm obviously way to posh and refined for this forum using fancy electric hookups and sitting in shorts and a T Shirt with my heater on full chat in November. This forum is way to well ard and gnarly for me. I'm off to motorhomo.com Much better class of clientele on there!

Don't think I'll be joining 'motorhomo.com', however much they'll bend over backwards to accommodate me ... . I'll stick to wildcamping.com, because I'd never leave me mates behind ...

Steve

 

[Neckender]

In a weeks time I’ll be starting our trip to Benidorm for a couple of months, and will give our Chinese diesel heater some hammer on the way through France.

 

[Sydwal]

Not a good idea to idle a deisel or any engine when not under load, it glasses the bores and burns oil after a while.

Absolutely right. But needs must. If the van is stationary for a time and we have no solar we take the van for a run - 20 minutes or so. That does the trick apparently. We avoid campsites like the plague unless forced into it.

 

[trevskoda]

Absolutely right. But needs must. If the van is stationary for a time and we have no solar we take the van for a run - 20 minutes or so. That does the trick apparently. We avoid campsites like the plague unless forced into it.

Only ever been in one site in 12 years, mind you ireland is small and where i go i leave early and back home late evening, mainly donegal from glengormley co antrim.

 

[boggie]

If it gets that cold that it wakes her up then she kicks me who's usually led on top of bed then I put heater on for a bit to reduce the condensation until our dog needs go out..

 

[Rumour]

If you are running a diesel heater on a low or thermostat setting, make sure you stick it on full blast for a while every few weeks or so. Running it on low could cause a build up of soot and make starting difficult, taking more electrical power.

 

[Sydwal]

If you are running a diesel heater on a low or thermostat setting, make sure you stick it on full blast for a while every few weeks or so. Running it on low could cause a build up of soot and make starting difficult, taking more electrical power.

Noted. Good advice.

 

[mistericeman]

If you are running a diesel heater on a low or thermostat setting, make sure you stick it on full blast for a while every few weeks or so. Running it on low could cause a build up of soot and make starting difficult, taking more electrical power.

IF it's a genuine eberspacher AND installed correctly and
fueled on
kerosene/
parrafin/
red diesel/
road diesel/
Central heating oil
JetA
it'll be fine ticking over for even long periods...

Fitted with Ductwork that exceeds the manufacturers guide

Or a Chinese clone (most of which have adjustable fuelling/air flow parameters... That are often shipped a month of Sundays outside the ideal settings)

And often poor gapping of the fan assembly...
Etc etc...

Then frankly ALL bets are off

 

[Nabsim]

My Everspacher D4 ran 14 years with no maintenance, no cycles to clean or anything. Just put it on when I wanted it warmer and set temperature. It could be on for weeks at a time and no problems.

I still have it but the reason I put 14 years is that it packed up then with the burn chamber and motor worn out. Sent it away to be refurbed with genuine parts and its sat on the shelf waiting for the Chinese one to fail before I refit it. Chinese has been in 2 years almost now, must admit it was an 'expensive one' (£200 at the time) because everyone was buying them to fit in houses and it pushed the prices up. It is supposed to have thermostat control and it does turn up and down but mine doesn't turn off and restart like my Eberspacher does.

Mistericeman got a Chinese one that works like the Eberspacher I believe but they weren't available when I bought.

 

[mistericeman]

Mistericeman got a Chinese one that works like the Eberspacher I believe but they weren't available when I bought.

Yup the 2 I bought (one all in one type and one component type)

Are both Hcalory, now mostly sold as Kroak... (Kroak is the parent company)

Both have full thermostat control AND the larger 90mm control.... (Important as the larger up to 8kw Heaters suffer overheat faults with anything more than short lengths of duct when they come with smaller 70 odd mm )

IF you have this type of controller they can usually be run in none thermostat mode AND thermostat mode.

It has to be said.... The 5/8kw units are pretty chunky compared to, a Eber 2kw.

 

[trevskoda]

IF it's a genuine eberspacher AND installed correctly and
fueled on
kerosene/
parrafin/
red diesel/
road diesel/
Central heating oil
JetA
it'll be fine ticking over for even long periods...

Fitted with Ductwork that exceeds the manufacturers guide

Or a Chinese clone (most of which have adjustable fuelling/air flow parameters... That are often shipped a month of Sundays outside the ideal settings)

And often poor gapping of the fan assembly...
Etc etc...

Then frankly ALL bets are off

No lub in jet a parafin or kerosene, central heating oil has a small amount for the rotery pump, red and straight derv ok.

 

[mistericeman]

No lub in jet a parafin or kerosene, central heating oil has a small amount for the rotery pump, red and straight derv ok.

And what are we needing to lubricate on a diesel heater Trev?

 

[barryd]

On the other thread about diesel heaters there was some discussion about them not being able to use existing heating ducts to distribute heat to all parts of the van like the bathroom, front dinette etc because they overheat. However having talked to Bill (Fisherman) you can with the Truma diesel combi which he has. So I googled it and on the Truma support page it says you can.

It looks like the latest generation Combi Diesel is pretty much a drop in replacement for the Combi gas truma system. Well its a bit more complicated than that and needs doing by a professional but it 100% says it can use the existing heating outlets.

Service und Support

support.truma.com

 

[mistericeman]

On the other thread about diesel heaters there was some discussion about them not being able to use existing heating ducts to distribute heat to all parts of the van like the bathroom, front dinette etc because they overheat. However having talked to Bill (Fisherman) you can with the Truma diesel combi which he has. So I googled it and on the Truma support page it says you can.

It looks like the latest generation Combi Diesel is pretty much a drop in replacement for the Combi gas truma system. Well its a bit more complicated than that and needs doing by a professional but it 100% says it can use the existing heating outlets.

Service und Support

support.truma.com

Being a 'Drop' in means its been designed to cope with the slightly longer/complicated runs in motorhomes/caravans...
So I wouldn't have any concerns about having one.

The Eberspacher/Chinese clones haven't been...

Eberspacher (and thus Chinese clones) are designed for much simpler ducting
Which is why folks have issues when they install them beyond the manufacturers design parameters....

I have to say I still love the looks of Wallas stove/heaters.

 

[Robmac]

I have to say I still love the looks of Wallas stove/heaters.

A friend of mine had one on his boat and he loved it.

 

[mark61]

Being a 'Drop' in means its been designed to cope with the slightly longer/complicated runs in motorhomes/caravans...
So I wouldn't have any concerns about having one.

The Eberspacher/Chinese clones haven't been...

Eberspacher (and thus Chinese clones) are designed for much simpler ducting
Which is why folks have issues when they install them beyond the manufacturers design parameters....

I have to say I still love the looks of Wallas stove/heaters.

I guess the Finnish should know a bit about heating.

I think Wallas are generally regarded as more premium product then Eberspacher, Webasto etc.

 

[mistericeman]

A friend of mine had one on his boat and he loved it.

They are impressive.... Though like a lot of these things.... Possibly take some getting use to.

There ARE some Chinese clone versions.... For not a lot of money...
BUT the import duties kill the job sadly.

 

[trevskoda]

And what are we needing to lubricate on a diesel heater Trev?

The pump rotor only or if its a diapham pump then no requirement for lub.

 

[mistericeman]

The pump rotor only or if its a diapham pump then no requirement for lub.

Exactly

Eberspacher/clones are simple solenoid operated diaphragm units

Nothing to lube

They will happily pump water...

 

[mistericeman]

I guess the Finnish should know a bit about heating.

I think Wallas are generally regarded as more premium product then Eberspacher, Webasto etc.

Starting to compare apples with onions there.