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

I use about 1/4 kero per tank, and has served me well.

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 wrote:

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Bagmaker wrote:

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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).

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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.

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 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.

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?

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*

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.

elliemike wrote:

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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.   

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