Been reading through some American RV forums and found it interesting so far to find no mention of diesel heaters as we know it. They have all sorts of heat pumps, underfloor heating and others, but the good ol' diesel heater seems yet to be discovered by the mainstream. Diesel heating is quite cheap and effective - makes you wonder.
Cheers, John.
Oka374 said
07:40 AM Feb 20, 2018
Probably for the similar reasons that diesel vehicles aren't as popular as here, Cold! in many parts of the US and Canada diesel vehicles either have to be parked in a heated garage/shed or plugged into power to prevent the fuel gelling if you want them to start before the next warm spell.
When we were travelling over there we had a petrol powered F250 and many times when camped remotely we awoke to fresh snow and temps below -10C, there was no way we could have started a diesel vehicle that had sat overnight at those temps.
Once we left it parked for four days through several snowfalls and overnight temps of -26 C, (we weren't camped), the snow was over the bonnet beside the truck and the tray was full, it started very reluctantly and took over an hour before we could warm it up enough to move it.
iana said
11:08 AM Feb 20, 2018
I think they will be using the same type of heaters there, and perhaps running on petrol, they aren't just restricted to using diesel as fuel. Called also by different name.
KJB said
11:21 AM Feb 20, 2018
DO NOT PUT PETROL IN A DIESEL HEATER
Peter_n_Margaret said
11:35 AM Feb 20, 2018
They do get cold weather in Europe too :)
Diesel for cold weather use is not the same as diesel for warm weather use. Jet fuel is very similar to diesel. They get pretty cold. :)
There are similar heaters designed to run on petrol made in Europe by Webasto and others.
Cheers,
Peter
Dickodownunder said
12:42 PM Feb 20, 2018
Our diesel in Australia used to be different north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
Years ago we used to have to make sure to use up or drain the Territory fuel prior to using the machine in a cold area down south.
Got caught one time when we transported a service truck on a semi from Darwin to Mt Buller. Needless to say, the service truck did not do much servicing until it was serviced...
I am not sure that is different these days or it all has the additive for the cold weather.
dogbox said
03:53 PM Feb 20, 2018
the heaters may be called furnaces
diesel can become waxy when the temperature falls down around freezing additives are added and it is referred to as alpine diesel here
I do remember in days gone by the oil heter guys used to add kero to the delivery in colder climates...or was it that they were just delivering kero? I dont really know but diesel without the road excise was very cheap years ago???
Been reading through some American RV forums and found it interesting so far to find no mention of diesel heaters as we know it. They have all sorts of heat pumps, underfloor heating and others, but the good ol' diesel heater seems yet to be discovered by the mainstream. Diesel heating is quite cheap and effective - makes you wonder.
Cheers, John.
When we were travelling over there we had a petrol powered F250 and many times when camped remotely we awoke to fresh snow and temps below -10C, there was no way we could have started a diesel vehicle that had sat overnight at those temps.
Once we left it parked for four days through several snowfalls and overnight temps of -26 C, (we weren't camped), the snow was over the bonnet beside the truck and the tray was full, it started very reluctantly and took over an hour before we could warm it up enough to move it.
DO NOT PUT PETROL IN A DIESEL HEATER
Diesel for cold weather use is not the same as diesel for warm weather use. Jet fuel is very similar to diesel. They get pretty cold. :)
There are similar heaters designed to run on petrol made in Europe by Webasto and others.
Cheers,
Peter
Years ago we used to have to make sure to use up or drain the Territory fuel prior to using the machine in a cold area down south.
Got caught one time when we transported a service truck on a semi from Darwin to Mt Buller. Needless to say, the service truck did not do much servicing until it was serviced...
I am not sure that is different these days or it all has the additive for the cold weather.
diesel can become waxy when the temperature falls down around freezing additives are added and it is referred to as alpine diesel here
See page 17 here.....
www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/02c5772c-16bf-4aba-871f-33360c382a30/files/paper4.pdf
I add up to 20% kerosene to our diesel fuel for the Webasto heater if I think we will be in colder conditions.
Cheers,
Peter
A great tip and info Peter,
I do remember in days gone by the oil heter guys used to add kero to the delivery in colder climates...or was it that they were just delivering kero? I dont really know but diesel without the road excise was very cheap years ago???