All in one diesel heater installation

[afblangley]

There are many amenities I appreciate in my van, but the single biggest item was the installation of a diesel heater. It turned my vehicle into a place where I could work, sleep, and hang out, in comfort. My electronic gear hates the cold as much as I do, so when in a cold climate I keep the interior temperature a minimum of 55F, 24/7.

I am on my 3rd Chinese diesel heater in 4 years. Given my overuse and negligence, I've no complaint. At a cost of $100, the heater is disposable, but the installation (under the passenger seat and connected to the vehicle's fuel tank) is beyond my skillset. This winter when it broke, it took some time for me to find someone to install it. That got me thinking that I need a backup heater that I can install myself, when the primary heater fails.

I'm considering an all in one unit installed in such a way that I could put in or remove as needed. I'm thinking about the step inside the sliding door. The exhaust needs to be vented out, so I'd drill a hole into the step and install this thru hull. The inside exhaust pipe would be clamped to the heater and the other end would slide on or off the hull. Thus, the heater (with the pipe attached) could then be removed by simply lifting it up. The outside exhaust pipe would be clamped to the other end of the hull and always remain in place.

Has anyone ever seen or done anything like this?

https://www.amazon.com/HZJD-Exhaust...Mj&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dA&th=1

 

[bullfrog !]

There are many amenities I appreciate in my van, but the single biggest item was the installation of a diesel heater. It turned my vehicle into a place where I could work, sleep, and hang out, in comfort. My electronic gear hates the cold as much as I do, so when in a cold climate I keep the interior temperature a minimum of 55F, 24/7.

I am on my 3rd Chinese diesel heater in 4 years. Given my overuse and negligence, I've no complaint. At a cost of $100, the heater is disposable, but the installation (under the passenger seat and connected to the vehicle's fuel tank) is beyond my skillset. This winter when it broke, it took some time for me to find someone to install it. That got me thinking that I need a backup heater that I can install myself, when the primary heater fails.

I'm considering an all in one unit installed in such a way that I could put in or remove as needed. I'm thinking about the step inside the sliding door. The exhaust needs to be vented out, so I'd drill a hole into the step and install this thru hull. The inside exhaust pipe would be clamped to the heater and the other end would slide on or off the hull. Thus, the heater (with the pipe attached) could then be removed by simply lifting it up. The outside exhaust pipe would be clamped to the other end of the hull and always remain in place.

Has anyone ever seen or done anything like this?

https://www.amazon.com/HZJD-Exhaust-Stainless-Parking-heaters/dp/B0BX9BW71G/ref=sr_1_50_sspa?crid=1THZ4IPOSDAAK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7MISje-hOF5sOMcUhqJnppNUNl5g6ACEmT99kl5tu8zGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.EslQATr92HUCeOxivZVBrep2EAsMWYuSfwZMzGhjRb0&dib_tag=se&keywords=all+in+one+diesel+heater&qid=1740018300&refinements=p_36:-9800,p_85:2470955011&rnid=386419011&rps=1&sprefix=all+in+one+diesel+heater,aps,155&sr=8-50-spons&xpid=wVdcme9eGZQMj&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dA&th=1

Why not make the heater under the seat easier to remove and replace? Consider making the seat easier to remove and install maybe or move the connections locations to where they are easy to access that way you could use them for both heaters. There are not that many connections and they do make flexible pipes and hoses.

 

[maki2]

You could purchase a higher quality diesel heater that would last a lot more years. I have a Wallas brand that is from Finland. The company has even filmed and posted on YouTube a how to do your own maintenance video. Webasto is another good make of diesel heaters. You get what you pay for…. But…you also have to take good care of your equipment be it high quality or a made to cost knockoff.

I use a coffe filter in a funnel to pour my fuel through when I fill the tank.
I do add a very small amount of ISO Fuel, diesel compatible, stabilizer to my fuel. The fuel stabilzer is because in the warm months I will not be running my heater often. However following the instruction manual I do run the heater for a half hour once every 4 to 6 weeks in the off season. Doing that brief maintenance run is what
keeps the bellows in the pump lubricated so they stay soft for expanding and contracting to move the fuel up to the burner. Dried out bellows can’t push fuel properly. Year 5 and my diesel heater still puts out good heat because I treat it kindly, so I will continue to do so. I want to be using it for many more years.

Your choice, treat the heater like it’s a throw away disposable or treat it like you value it for the comfort it brings you. I do not know how many winters the typical Chinese heaters last but it seems like at least more than a couple should be a reasonable expectation if care is taken with one. Do not just let it sit half a year or more without running it at least every 4 to 6 weeks in the off season. Look after the fuel conditioning as well.

 

[Sky King]

If it's already installed why not either just change out the bad part or unit or listen to Maki2 & treat it better? You don't want it to fail on the coldest night of the year. It may be just the bellows failing. Do you know what part is failing? I'd have to know & if you're not mechanical give your last failure to someone who is as long as they tell you what failed. If you start treating them right maybe fire it up the 1st of each month or the day your SS check arrives to make it easier to remember. Waste Not Want Not.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Kerosene is a cleaner fuel for heaters but the cost per gallon is 2 or 3 times the cost of diesel.

I have no idea if it would make a chinese diesel heater last any longer, but it burns cleaner in the shop heater that I use.

Even so, I mix it about 50/50 with diesel.

 

[eDJ_]

My experience with diesel equipment is that diesel fuel is inherently dirty stuff.

I've spoken with people who are using Chinese diesel heaters and they speak more of the noise of the fuel pump and muffler. Rarely do they speak of improved fuel filtration.

I would imagine that a two or three stage fuel filter would prolong the life of the heaters more than anything else that you could do.

 

[Sky King]

Cummins 5.9L could burn used motor oil, veggie oil, etc if filtered to 5 microns.

 

[tx2sturgis]

The OP mentions 3 Chinese diesel heaters in 4 years.

They have had a very high failure rate within the first year since they hit the market about 8 or 10 years ago.

And they have become a disposable commodity.

Ever since they came to the consumer market, I have been recommending that anyone who buys one with the intent of using it as a heat source in very low ambient temps, that they should have a back-up heating source, such as propane or idling an engine, and also, buy TWO identical units so they they will have a backup part for those parts or assemblies that fail.

It's always smart to be prepared.

 

[Sky King]

It could be a simple part made to replace as he doesn't say.
How long will a Chinese diesel heater last?


Normal usage of heaters is around 500 hours. Replacement parts after that time are usually the glow plug, filter and burner cartridge. We sell repair kits for our heaters, which includes all of the necessary components that should be replaced.

 

[Sky King]

Kerosene is a cleaner fuel for heaters but the cost per gallon is 2 or 3 times the cost of diesel.

Jet A semi local @ MCG is $3.99 per gallon.

Jet fuel (Jet A-1, kerosene)The fuel type is kerosene. Jet A-1 has a flash point higher than 38°C and a freezing point of -47°C. Jet A is a similar kerosene fuel type that is normally available only in the U.S. After refining, aviation fuel is mixed with extremely small amounts of several additives.
Also when buying any fuel for non vehicle use make sure they take the road tax off.
Many airports sell mogas which is mid grade auto fuel with no ethanal good for power equip, mowers, chainsaws, etc.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Yes... Jet-A, Kerosene, JP-8, home heating oil, and Diesel are all essentially the same fuel, with differing additives and more or less the same flashpoint.

Most people in RVs, vans, etc will have limited opportunities to fill up with bulk fuels other than gasoline, diesel, and propane, but they can easily buy 1K Kerosene at hardware and home improvement stores, at, as I said around 2 or 3 times the price of diesel when purchased in a 5 gallon can at retail level.

It's just not practical for most of us to make special trips to the mid-sized to larger airports to buy Jet-A, no matter what the price. It's actually easier for most of us to find a local fuel depot or farm coop and use the 'blocked pump' to dispense bulk kerosene, or in some cases, farm diesel (also called off-road diesel). Farm diesel is usually dyed red here in the U.S. but otherwise will burn in non-wick-type diesel heaters the same as normal on-road diesel.

 

[Sky King]

It was just a thought. Many airports like C91 Dowagiac are deserted except on nice flying days, it's self serve with a cc & completely legal unless you put it in a diesel vehicle for fuel.
How much is kerosene at a farm store now?

 

[tx2sturgis]

Locally, I have recently paid about $7 a gallon for 'blocked pump' kerosene, and occasionally, nearly $10 a gallon for 1K Kerosene in a retail 5 gallon can.

A 'blocked pump' means it's positioned in such a way that a diesel pickup truck owner (for example) can't pull up and dispense fuel. The access is 'blocked'. Physically locking a pump also means it's a 'blocked pump'.

Farm diesel varies, but around $2.20 to about $2.50 a gallon. It has no federal or state tax included, so it's not legal for road use, other than of course a tractor that might use a road to gain access to a field or farmhouse. Farm diesel is normally dyed red so that if someone were to use it in an on-road vehicle, and a roadside inspection was performed, the driver might find his or herself caught...'red handed'....to coin a phrase.

 

[Sky King]

Here they only dip the tank at an accedent. Some people use ATF which will dye it red but neither is worth it to me.