I have just fitted a Diesel heater, I have been told that it is a good idea to run some Kerosene through the heater.
Can anyone tell me if they have heard or have tried this, if so how much Kero and on what ratio would you use it.
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:12 PM Mar 11, 2020
I run up to 10% kerosene for sub zero temperatures to stop the diesel gelling.
I think it also reduces soot build up.
Cheers,
Peter
bowser said
09:44 PM Mar 11, 2020
Thanks Peter.
woofta and precious said
10:54 PM Mar 11, 2020
I use about 1/4 kero per tank, and has served me well.
RichardK said
02:41 PM Mar 12, 2020
We also use 1 litre with each 5 litre tank, they will run on 100% kero but quite expensive nowadays.
Cheers
Richard
Bagmaker said
03:36 PM Mar 12, 2020
I run ours on 100% kero every 6 months or so, just for a litre, flat out.
The kero cleans the internals nicely but doesnt provide enough lubricant for the pump and will lead to premature pump failure (apparently).
Mike Harding said
04:29 PM Mar 12, 2020
Bagmaker wrote:
I run ours on 100% kero every 6 months or so, just for a litre, flat out. The kero cleans the internals nicely but doesnt provide enough lubricant for the pump and will lead to premature pump failure (apparently).
I have a diesel heater still in its box and will shortly be fitting it. I was planning to run it on 10% kero but your's is an interesting suggestion; how long have you been doing the above? And, agreed, that is my understanding of pump lubrication too.
elliemike said
05:19 PM Mar 12, 2020
Mike Harding wrote:
Bagmaker wrote:
I run ours on 100% kero every 6 months or so, just for a litre, flat out. The kero cleans the internals nicely but doesnt provide enough lubricant for the pump and will lead to premature pump failure (apparently).
I have a diesel heater still in its box and will shortly be fitting it. I was planning to run it on 10% kero but your's is an interesting suggestion; how long have you been doing the above? And, agreed, that is my understanding of pump lubrication too.
I do the same (once a year) I did have a copy of the recommendation for doing this from an Eberpacher Publication. I thought i had previously posted it on this Grey Nomads forum but can't find it. Cant even find it in my Filing system Either.
I service my unit myself and the combustion chamber when dismantled was clean with no buildup of carbon.
There are some good Youtube videos on Servicing them.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:11 PM Mar 12, 2020
Our Webasto is 3 years old. It also heats the hot water, so gets used even when it is not cold. I have never serviced it. Nor do I intend to.
Cheers,
Peter
Landfall said
04:52 PM Mar 13, 2020
Diesel heater (Eberspacher) in our yacht is now seven years old, gets used a lot during our Tasmanian winter, never serviced, do not use kero as diesel is mixed for winter use in Southern Australia. I do however carry out the recommended instructions by Eberspacher and run it for ten minutes each month.
The unit in the motorhome is the same and is four years old.
Not sure about the kero factor, is it a suburban myth?
Plain Truth said
06:34 PM Mar 13, 2020
Our heater is about 5 yrs,old,we do the same as Peter use 10 % Kero.Run it every month on full for a few minutes,never serviced yet.
elliemike said
07:11 PM Mar 13, 2020
Mine started belching out smoke and failed to start. So I needed to fix it, Replacing Glow Plug screen and pump filter.
I have had to do this twice. I decided next time I changed the filter and screen I would strip it down to Clean the combustion chamber. This was quite clean when opened up.
I do run a litre Kero through it once a year, this was after the first Screen /Filter Change. I also run it up on high fire once a month. (Last week)
Seem s the recommendation from Eberspacher on running Kero to "clean" the combustion chamber has been removed from their service book PDF
Reading a North American forum on D2 heaters there was a PDF from the Manufacturers re Winter Fuel mixes. So running on Kero is feasible !
Eberspächer uk technical manual Airtronic D2 / D4 / D4+ Operating Instructions and Service Book
If no special cold weather diesel fuel is available for low temperatures, mix kerosene, paraffin or gasoline according to the adjacent table.
A separate tank is available from the Eberspächer dealer. For use with Separate Fuel Tank Only
Temperature Winter Additive
Diesel Oil From 0ºC to -15ºC** 100%
From -15ºC to -25ºC 50% 50% kerosene or petrol
From -25ºC to -40ºC 100% kerosene*
bowser said
07:49 PM Mar 13, 2020
Thanks to all for that info, I will taking all that onboard.
Brodie Allen said
09:01 PM Mar 19, 2020
If you are going to run in sub zero for extended periods and use Kero,
you should add a very small amount of 50-to-one two stroke oil
to act as a lubricant.
Preferably full synthetic.
You will have to search for the ratio, but I remember it being very small.
(High speed high compression racing 2-stroke cycles use 50/1 but you
won't do anything like this. I cannot remember the size of the diesel tank
but we were only putting about 10mls to the tank.
Don't think any of this would be necessary in Australia.
msg said
03:02 PM Jun 6, 2020
Peter, You have just given me an idea. I have a heat exchange heater that is run by the engine. It warms up approx. 15ltrs water into a stainless steel tank. This works well, except for when I want a shower before I drive away. Yes, I can turn the engine on and it takes about 30mins to heat up the water. Other campers are not very happy with me either. Would it be possible to heat the water via the diesel heater?
-- Edited by msg on Saturday 6th of June 2020 03:03:24 PM
elliemike said
04:03 PM Jun 6, 2020
elliemike wrote:
Mine started belching out smoke and failed to start. So I needed to fix it, Replacing Glow Plug screen and pump filter.
I have had to do this twice. I decided next time I changed the filter and screen I would strip it down to Clean the combustion chamber. This was quite clean when opened up.
I do run a litre Kero through it once a year, this was after the first Screen /Filter Change. I also run it up on high fire once a month. (Last week)
Seem s the recommendation from Eberspacher on running Kero to "clean" the combustion chamber has been removed from their service book PDF
Reading a North American forum on D2 heaters there was a PDF from the Manufacturers re Winter Fuel mixes. So running on Kero is feasible !
SINCE WRITING THE ABOVE I WAS POINTED TO THIS "Youtube" PRESENTER. John McK 47.
The problem I've had with my glow plug Screen "Cokeing" and needing to be replaced twice. I think has been solved by watching his video on the Air intake and Exhaust pipes. Also the Mufflers supplied with the unit don't help.
Seems Eberspacher recommend that the combined Degrees in the number of bends in the intake pipe Must not exceed 270° Also the exhaust pipe bends total degrees, should not exceed 270° when added up.
Just one muffler as supplied had four bends inside totaling about 180°. The stainless steel flexible exhaust piping, routing under the floor and chassis sections, and the Two mufflers in total works out at potentially 1080° of bends.
I now have altered my inlet pipes ans re routed the Exhaust into a almost straight run with Two "STRAIGHT THROUGH" mufflers.
I obviously had far to much back pressure due to restrictions in the exhaust. Also he pointed out the restriction caused by the inlet air silencer I was using. I have since made one of my own.
-- Edited by elliemike on Saturday 6th of June 2020 04:06:18 PM
-- Edited by elliemike on Saturday 6th of June 2020 07:17:32 PM
Jaahn said
08:24 AM Jun 7, 2020
elliemike wrote:
--------
Eberspächer uk technical manual Airtronic D2 / D4 / D4+ Operating Instructions and Service Book
If no special cold weather diesel fuel is available for low temperatures, mix kerosene, paraffin or gasoline according to the adjacent table.
A separate tank is available from the Eberspächer dealer. For use with Separate Fuel Tank Only
Temperature Winter Additive
Diesel Oil From 0ºC to -15ºC** 100%
From -15ºC to -25ºC 50% 50% kerosene or petrol
From -25ºC to -40ºC 100% kerosene*
Hi elliemike and everone
While this is a direct quote from a manufacturers recommendation and might apply at very low temperatures in other countries, I would caution people NOT TO USE ANY PETROL IN A MIX AT ALL. Petrol is a very flamable fuel and is not to be a substitute for kerosene or diesel in any normal situation. Both diesel and kerosene have a low flash point which makes them safe but petrol has a much higher flash point and can be very dangerous in something like an open flame heater.
Jaahn
PS thank god we do not have temperatures that low here in Australia
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 7th of June 2020 08:29:37 AM
Evening everybody
I have just fitted a Diesel heater, I have been told that it is a good idea to run some Kerosene through the heater.
Can anyone tell me if they have heard or have tried this, if so how much Kero and on what ratio would you use it.
I think it also reduces soot build up.
Cheers,
Peter
Thanks Peter.
We also use 1 litre with each 5 litre tank, they will run on 100% kero but quite expensive nowadays.
Cheers
Richard
The kero cleans the internals nicely but doesnt provide enough lubricant for the pump and will lead to premature pump failure (apparently).
I have a diesel heater still in its box and will shortly be fitting it. I was planning to run it on 10% kero but your's is an interesting suggestion; how long have you been doing the above? And, agreed, that is my understanding of pump lubrication too.
I do the same (once a year) I did have a copy of the recommendation for doing this from an Eberpacher Publication. I thought i had previously posted it on this Grey Nomads forum but can't find it. Cant even find it in my Filing system Either.
I service my unit myself and the combustion chamber when dismantled was clean with no buildup of carbon.
There are some good Youtube videos on Servicing them.
Cheers,
Peter
Diesel heater (Eberspacher) in our yacht is now seven years old, gets used a lot during our Tasmanian winter, never serviced, do not use kero as diesel is mixed for winter use in Southern Australia. I do however carry out the recommended instructions by Eberspacher and run it for ten minutes each month.
The unit in the motorhome is the same and is four years old.
Not sure about the kero factor, is it a suburban myth?
Our heater is about 5 yrs,old,we do the same as Peter use 10 % Kero.Run it every month on full for a few minutes,never serviced yet.
Mine started belching out smoke and failed to start. So I needed to fix it, Replacing Glow Plug screen and pump filter.
I have had to do this twice. I decided next time I changed the filter and screen I would strip it down to Clean the combustion chamber. This was quite clean when opened up.
I do run a litre Kero through it once a year, this was after the first Screen /Filter Change. I also run it up on high fire once a month. (Last week)
Seem s the recommendation from Eberspacher on running Kero to "clean" the combustion chamber has been removed from their service book PDF
Reading a North American forum on D2 heaters there was a PDF from the Manufacturers re Winter Fuel mixes. So running on Kero is feasible !
Eberspächer uk technical manual Airtronic D2 / D4 / D4+ Operating Instructions and Service Book
If no special cold weather diesel fuel is available for low temperatures, mix kerosene, paraffin or gasoline according to the adjacent table.
A separate tank is available from the Eberspächer dealer. For use with Separate Fuel Tank Only
Temperature Winter Additive
Diesel Oil From 0ºC to -15ºC** 100%
From -15ºC to -25ºC 50% 50% kerosene or petrol
From -25ºC to -40ºC 100% kerosene*
you should add a very small amount of 50-to-one two stroke oil
to act as a lubricant.
Preferably full synthetic.
You will have to search for the ratio, but I remember it being very small.
(High speed high compression racing 2-stroke cycles use 50/1 but you
won't do anything like this. I cannot remember the size of the diesel tank
but we were only putting about 10mls to the tank.
Don't think any of this would be necessary in Australia.
Peter, You have just given me an idea. I have a heat exchange heater that is run by the engine. It warms up approx. 15ltrs water into a stainless steel tank. This works well, except for when I want a shower before I drive away. Yes, I can turn the engine on and it takes about 30mins to heat up the water. Other campers are not very happy with me either. Would it be possible to heat the water via the diesel heater?
-- Edited by msg on Saturday 6th of June 2020 03:03:24 PM
SINCE WRITING THE ABOVE I WAS POINTED TO THIS "Youtube" PRESENTER. John McK 47.
https://youtu.be/tvwmU_CcmGI
This is all very good information.
The problem I've had with my glow plug Screen "Cokeing" and needing to be replaced twice. I think has been solved by watching his video on the Air intake and Exhaust pipes. Also the Mufflers supplied with the unit don't help.
Seems Eberspacher recommend that the combined Degrees in the number of bends in the intake pipe Must not exceed 270° Also the exhaust pipe bends total degrees, should not exceed 270° when added up.
Just one muffler as supplied had four bends inside totaling about 180°. The stainless steel flexible exhaust piping, routing under the floor and chassis sections, and the Two mufflers in total works out at potentially 1080° of bends.
I now have altered my inlet pipes ans re routed the Exhaust into a almost straight run with Two "STRAIGHT THROUGH" mufflers.
I obviously had far to much back pressure due to restrictions in the exhaust. Also he pointed out the restriction caused by the inlet air silencer I was using. I have since made one of my own.
-- Edited by elliemike on Saturday 6th of June 2020 04:06:18 PM
-- Edited by elliemike on Saturday 6th of June 2020 07:17:32 PM
Hi elliemike and everone
While this is a direct quote from a manufacturers recommendation and might apply at very low temperatures in other countries, I would caution people NOT TO USE ANY PETROL IN A MIX AT ALL. Petrol is a very flamable fuel and is not to be a substitute for kerosene or diesel in any normal situation. Both diesel and kerosene have a low flash point which makes them safe but petrol has a much higher flash point and can be very dangerous in something like an open flame heater.
Jaahn
PS thank god we do not have temperatures that low here in Australia
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 7th of June 2020 08:29:37 AM