Diesel Heater

baker · Member

Diesel Heater

Mike Harding · Guru

I'm not aware of them needing any servicing. My Chinese one has over 3500 hours of use and has not been touched.

Running them at maximum for 15 minutes two of three times a year is a good idea as is running them on pure Kero for 15m at maximum occasionally other than that I'd say leave it well alone.

KJB · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
I'm not aware of them needing any servicing. My Chinese one has over 3500 hours of use and has not been touched.
Running them at maximum for 15 minutes two of three times a year is a good idea as is running them on pure Kero for 15m at maximum occasionally other than that I'd say leave it well alone.

x 2 - I have 2 (1 Chinese, 1 US ) - neither have been "serviced" , both operate without problems , some kero or Diesel Anti-gel Fuel Treatment in the diesel will stop Summer Diesel "gelling" and blocking feed line/pump in Winter. KB

landy · Guru

X3 mine got clogged up and started smoking from the exhaust once. I just ran it flat out for half hour and it has been fine ever since.

elliemike · Guru

baker wrote:
Hi everybody looking for some help i will be travelling down from Mareeba to Bingara in the next couple of weeks and i would like to get my diesel heater serviced can anybody recommend a service agent.
Cheers
Baker

Baker,

Do you have a fault with your heater, E.G. smoking exhaust, not starting, not actually heating. ?

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Is the fuel and power getting to heater ?

baker · Member

Hi Mike it just started blowing white smoke so i stopped it and now she wont go.
Cheers
Baker

Mike Harding · Guru

It's always difficult when only people only post 10% of the story.

Bin it. And fit an Ebay Chinese unit at $150 - that'll be cheaper than a service.

DMaxer · Guru

Dont bin it. Send it over to the Vatican for the next time a Pope is elected.

baker · Member

Just to be clear if you had answered the question i had asked instead of waffling on about what the problem is as i know what the problem is hence why i was asking for a service agent to service my Eberspacher diesel heater so in future if you dont know say nothing.
Cheers
Baker

vanTas · Veteran Member

The trouble is that you didn't give quite enough info to get the appropriate answer.

With the chinese units being so prolific, readers just assumed that your's is just that.

But a full-bore burn may be the answer in the future, before getting to the stage you are at.

yobarr · Guru

baker wrote:
Just to be clear if you had answered the question i had asked instead of waffling on about what the problem is as i know what the problem is hence why i was asking for a service agent to service my Eberspacher diesel heater so in future if you dont know say nothing.
Cheers
Baker

Cairns has several 'caravan repairs' places that may be able to help you, or at least point you in the right direction. Good luck. Cheers

Mike Harding · Guru

baker wrote:
Just to be clear if you had answered the question i had asked instead of waffling on about what the problem is as i know what the problem is hence why i was asking for a service agent to service my Eberspacher diesel heater so in future if you dont know say nothing.

/Waffle mode on

An issue which many internet forum posters are confronted with is that once they pose a question into cyberspace they loose control of it and, consequently, the responses people choose to offer. However it does help if you can be specific with the question and, in a way, force the direction of the replies. This you singularly failed to do.

However: be assured that in relation to your future questions I shall obey your command.

/Waffle mode off

PS. Buy a $150 Ebay Chinese heater, you'll be a happier bunny... which, no doubt, we'll all appreciate.

gold dandelion · Senior Member

I guess he did only ask where he could get his heater serviced, not how to fix it?

Oka374 · Veteran Member

If you are at all handy with tools they aern't that difficult to disassemble and clean the built up carbon out of the burn chamber and exhaust. In most installations it's getting it in and out of the van or vehicle as it involves going underneath to disconnect the intake and exhaust and the pump wiring to enable the heater to be removed.

PeterInSa · Guru

I do not know the Name/address of a repairer but I think the problem is caused by the atomiser screen being carboned up.

I carry a spare screen and glow-plug and have changed both in situ in my Chinese heater.

After the change I would run on high with a Kero mix to clean the unit out.

www.youtube.com/watch

Magnarc · Guru

Well. reading this post I sure am glad that we bought a gas heater.

Mike Harding · Guru

Magnarc wrote:
Well. reading this post I sure am glad that we bought a gas heater.

Unless it explodes! :)

yobarr · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Magnarc wrote:
Well. reading this post I sure am glad that we bought a gas heater.
Unless it explodes! :)

Or until you're in the back of beyond and have to pay $70 for a bottle of gas! Always you'll get diesel, even if you've got to milk the car. IMO Gas heaters are in the same group as 3 way fridges. Cheers

PeterInSa · Guru

yobarr, I am happy with our 3 way Frig when remote as I don't have to significantly expand my solar on the roof and have not changed over to lithium Batteries yet, but am happy with our Diesel Heater. Running 2 fans in the upper frig vents 24/7 when it gets warm/hot, a 9Kg gas bottle will last for up to 18 days. Agree with the $60+ 9Kg gas bottle fill cost when remote.

Radar · Guru

Magnarc wrote:
Well. reading this post I sure am glad that we bought a gas heater.

Funny that, we were up in Queensland just last month spoke with 2 different couples who were going from power pole to power pole because their gas heaters were not playing the game instead were using the reverse cycle A/C, how about that and they were not happy.

Magnarc · Guru

Mike, when we considered heating for the van we wanted something that did not require a heap of maintenance. From what I have read on the forum, this is not the case with a diesel heater, (glow plugs, pumps, white smoke, clagged pipes, smell, et al.) I guess it comes down to personal preference but I did not buy a van to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to fix things when there are cleaner alternatives, plus the fact that I am not mechanically inclined.

Explosion Mike? Chances are probably about the same as a diesel heater catching fire?????

We have had three way fridges in all four of our vans over 30 yrs, and only once have we had a problem with gas.

Yobarr, We very rarely spend a lot of time "off grid". The places that we free camp are never much more that 20klms from a town, a week or two at most and when we do we carry an extra gas bottle. I have never paid $60/$70 for gas.

We all have our preferences and thats how it should be. Your views on gas fridges and weights are well documented and you are entitled to air those views but,airing your opinions should not include put downs of others. I might add that you are not alone in this though.

Horses for courses?.

Mike Harding · Guru

Magnarc wrote:
Explosion Mike? Chances are probably aboutMike the same as a diesel heater catching fire?????

I was teasing you :)

Magnarc · Guru

Mike.

Didn't realise that you were teasing, You will have to make allowances for this old blokes perceptions, they ain't what they used to be.

Happy times in the jungle !!!