Diesel Heater advice and tips

TerryH · Member

Diesel Heater advice and tips

elliemike · Guru

TerryH wrote:
Hi to all, I'm a newbie to Grey Nomad Forum.
I have been vanning for about 15 years but just recently installed a diesel heater into my van. Am ready to connect it to the battery and add diesel to the tank. The translated Chinese instructions that came with it are somewhat vague to say the least re initial turning on and start up procedure. The unit has a rotary knob controller. The tank is fitted higher than the heater so I assume when I add diesel it may flow through to at least the fuel pump. Can anyone give me a few tips on the initial start up procedure for a heater with the rotary knob controller.
Any advice is appreciated.

I remember installing mine (Eberspacher ) about 6 + years ago. I think it was just switch it on and it primed itself after the second startup procedure . Which it did itself after the first attempt. It shut itself down then went back into the startup again. primed itself and fired up.

Suggest you photograph the control unit and post a picture.

Good luck.

-- Edited by elliemike on Saturday 4th of January 2020 06:06:04 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang TerryH, enjoy here and out in the playground.

If you come to North East VIC you won't need it as it's regularly in the mid 40's here.

Sorry Terry, couldn't help myself.

I have a gas heater in the aluminium tent so can't really help you with your question.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

PetenSue · Veteran Member

I helped an old mate of mine install one of those rotary control heaters in his van. Im positive you just press and hold the off button in to get the fuel pump to prime the heater. Pete

woofta and precious · Senior Member

This is a good source of info www.facebook.com/groups/146837062640024/

TerryH · Member

PetenSue the instructions said that too in a round about way so (pressing the OFF button didn't sounx rihht)... i will give that a try for the initial startup. Thanks.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Welcome to the Forum TerryH,

There are hundreds of issues every week with these cheap Chinese Diesel Heaters. Good luck with yours. Do you have a Bible, perhaps some

browny points before winter may help. LOL.

Snail · Senior Member

Go on youtube and enter Chinese diesel Heater start up and there is lots of Help.

Eaglemax · Guru

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Welcome to the Forum TerryH,
There are hundreds of issues every week with these cheap Chinese Diesel Heaters. Good luck with yours. Do you have a Bible, perhaps some
browny points before winter may help. LOL.

Not so. The main issue is lack of clear instructions from the Chinese. Also units vary a bit like the knob or control panel differences. Mine has worked perfect from installation.

With mine I kept turning it on after the pump stopped. The pump ended up sucking the fuel through, it wont drain through the pump to the heater. Make sure the arrow of the pump points towards the heater and the pump is angled 30 degrees with the heater end up. If you can prime the line and pump it is better but otherwise turn it on and it will click away and auto turn off after several seconds. Then keep turning it on and when the fuel reaches the heater it should fire up.

Amazing little units for under 200 bucks. The only mod I think is worth it is a swap of the glow plug to a German one.

Tony

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Monday 6th of January 2020 07:12:02 AM

PetenSue · Veteran Member

My van come with one of the expensive brand diesel heaters fitted. Should it ever fail it will get replaced with a Chinese one.

Iva Biggen · Senior Member

TerryH wrote:
Hi to all, I'm a newbie to Grey Nomad Forum.
I have been vanning for about 15 years but just recently installed a diesel heater into my van. Am ready to connect it to the battery and add diesel to the tank. The translated Chinese instructions that came with it are somewhat vague to say the least re initial turning on and start up procedure. The unit has a rotary knob controller. The tank is fitted higher than the heater so I assume when I add diesel it may flow through to at least the fuel pump. Can anyone give me a few tips on the initial start up procedure for a heater with the rotary knob controller.
Any advice is appreciated.

Gday Terry,

Here is a translated manual that I used when I fitted my cheaply 5 and a half years ago.

Page 9 gives details of priming for the initial start.

The original Manual in Chinglish is useless.

When I fitted my cheaply I was advised not to go down the cheap path but to buy a unit that was close to $2000.00. The expensive unit looked the same as the cheaply I bought and for the difference in price I decided to give it a go.

Well after 5 odd years I still have the money which I saved in my pocket and my heater has not missed a beat. I installed it myself as per the instructions in the manual below.

http://pinnaclewholesalers.net/ebay/listings/Air-heaters-2KW.pdf

Edit;

Sorry mate I am not sure about the rotary knob model but the priming procedure should be very similar on all models.

If you could lift the tank higher before mounting it then the system would probably prime itself a lot quicker than just relying on that tiny pump.

-- Edited by Iva Biggen on Monday 6th of January 2020 09:22:27 AM

valiant81 · Senior Member

Hi all; If it helps, what i did with the install of my Chinese diesel heater. The diesel fuel tank lives in the front boot and is mounted next to the divider for the gas bottles. The fuel line is taken from the from the bottom of the tank ( under the fuel filler neck ). The fuel line is also protected in 20 flexible conduct and is run under the caravan and the conduct is held in place with 20mm 1/2 saddles, this protects the fuel line from damage. The fuel line then goes to the filter and onto the pump. All i did to prime the diesel heater was to disconnect the fuel line from the filter and let gravity to the work. Ran a little bit of fuel into a small container to get rid of any air lock or bubbles in the line, reconnected up the fuel line and fired up the heater . It started up right away.
No problems since, bar the fuel filter starting to leak ( replaced and all good ).

PetenSue · Veteran Member

Yes valiant. Exactly what we done. Tipped fuel into the fuel tanks and waited for a full fuel flow to come out so no air in the line. Maybe 3/4 of a soft drink bottle. Then connected the fuel line onto the pump. Primed it twice by pressing and holding the off button and bobs ya uncle. My ole mate is an ex truckie who is used to huge fuel tanks so he has 2 fuel tanks for his heater. Simple as. Hope the op comes back and tells us how he got on.

PetenSue · Veteran Member

If someone is unsure about rotary knob models why even reply?? . Lol. Pete

Iva Biggen · Senior Member

PetenSue wrote:
If someone is unsure about rotary knob models why even reply?? . Lol. Pete

If you comment relates to my post then,

The original translated instructions did include the rotary knob control but it is obviously now obsolete with that supplier.

Other people on here may gain from those instructions and the link is certainly more helpful as general information than some other posts.

Peter, you might even need those instructions if you do have to replace your own hearer with the cheap Chinese type.

Anyway enjoy the rest of your night. Lol

-- Edited by Iva Biggen on Monday 6th of January 2020 09:37:08 PM

TerryH · Member

I read every comment posted re my inquiry and i appreciate that people are taking the time to respond. I do get a little bit more knowledge from each posting but all i was really looking for at this time as a new diesel heater owner was, perhaps just dot points on what had to be done when initially starting the heater equipped with the rotary knob controller. Once I've mastered that step i can look at more involved things with these heaters. Thankyou.

Eaglemax · Guru

Surely you can discount information given that isnt so relevant. Posters are trying to help you and arent perfect.
Tony

TerryH · Member

Eaglemax/Tony you are quite right and i dont think my comment really suggested that at all. As i said i initially sought advice just to get my heater up and running but also indicated thst i had read all posts and was appreciative of people responding and commenting on peripheral issues which might help me in the future. I apologize if my above comment was not clear enough for some, but i really do welcome all responses...im just taking things one at a time....learnng to walk before i learn to run as diesel heaters are all new to me. Regards Terry

Eaglemax · Guru

TerryH wrote:
Eaglemax/Tony you are quite right and i dont think my comment really suggested that at all. As i said i initially sought advice just to get my heater up and running but also indicated thst i had read all posts and was appreciative of people responding and commenting on peripheral issues which might help me in the future. I apologize if my above comment was not clear enough for some, but i really do welcome all responses...im just taking things one at a time....learnng to walk before i learn to run as diesel heaters are all new to me. Regards Terry

That's not a problem mate. I installed my 3kw diesel heater in March 2019. I'm saying that youtube videos has been my greatest source of information.

You'll find the knob controller and the LCD controller do the same thing, start the pump ticking way until fuel reaches it, so it will suck fuel along the line, you might need to turn on and off a few times to do this. Then it will pump to the heater. Here is another solution-

https://www.caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=57629

"I slightly pressurized the tank, blow into it or squeeze it together if plastic, with the fuel line disconnected at the pump.
Then disconnected at the heater with the pump running.
If that's a bit slow join the fuel line together at the pump and open at the heater and as above pressurize the tank, when you get fuel at the heater end connect the lines , without losing the fuel and "bob's yer uncle"

Tony

TerryH · Member

Hi Tony,
If all else fails i'll try the "blow/squeeze" option. Yes Ive read a couple of comments elsewhere that with the rotary knob control you probably have to turn it on a number of times. My fuel tank is fitted between the gas bottles on the A frame and quite a bit higher than the pump/heater so when i put diesel in it it may flow to the pump by gravity, or partly anyway.
Just looking at the photo of car/caravan alongside your entry above...awesome, is that your rig?

Eaglemax · Guru

TerryH wrote:
Hi Tony,
If all else fails i'll try the "blow/squeeze" option. Yes Ive read a couple of comments elsewhere that with the rotary knob control you probably have to turn it on a number of times. My fuel tank is fitted between the gas bottles on the A frame and quite a bit higher than the pump/heater so when i put diesel in it it may flow to the pump by gravity, or partly anyway.
Just looking at the photo of car/caravan alongside your entry above...awesome, is that your rig?

Yes, JBA Falcon Tourer 2001 kitcar not built by me. V6 Holden powered. from the UK, about 250 here in Austrlia mainly in Perth where the importers were.. Built the van myself registered 3/2019. Full ensuite, 730kg tare 998kg ATM 16ftx7ft. Built ultra light. Steel frame.

Gravity will help and once primed it wont need it again. I have the LCD unit controller that took some getting used to but is really good. I installed a on/off switch on the power cable so the LCD isnt left on permanently as they fade over time. I believe you can change the knob to the LCD but simple is good. Nothing wrong with the knob controller. If you take off the fuel line at the pump (tank side) and let it drain it should pump away just fine. Question- does your fuel line go into your tank from the bottom or from the top because it might find difficulty draining to the pump initially if it goes through the top.

I'd even be tempted to suck on the line till the fuel was near the pump. But the pump itself should suck it through. Initially it took my pump about 2 minutes to get the fuel to it then 1 minute to the heater then it fired up. 1.2 metres of line each side of the pump.

Tony