The Diesel heater thread

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by wrenchtech

I am just finishing up installing a 5KW Chinese diesel unit forced air heater in my bus. It is a rear engine bus. I mounted the heater low on the firewall, almost by the floor and routed the exhaust out through the firewall and caused it to exit through the driver side access door to the engine compartment. My intention is to build a lofted bed platform over the part of the engine compartment that sticks out into the passenger compartment and then enclose an area ending about 12 feet forward from the back while I continue working my way to the front. I fired the heater briefly after I installed it, but I have not actually run it for any length of time. Insulating that 12 foot area, floor first and then walls and ceilingAre high on my agenda.

Nice. Same plan here only I want a diesel fired coolant heater. Price is a hell of a lot higher than the air version. Grrr.

[Native]

Never priced the coolant versions ... any idea? (Sure, I probably could search myself ... )

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Native

Never priced the coolant versions ... any idea? (Sure, I probably could search myself ... )

From what I'm seeing way too much. From $600 to $2400.

[cadillackid]

my diesel coolant heater (oh yeah damnit its cold and where is it? still in the box brand new.. that makes what 3 years now since i got it?).. oh anyway.. says it can be mounted outside but not to be mounted in direct spray of the tires.. they suggest bolting it to a frame rail underneath the bus and plumbing coolant lines into it.. if i was using an air heater id want it mounted inside or use insulated pipe to plumb in the air ducting..

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Nice. Same plan here only I want a diesel fired coolant heater. Price is a hell of a lot higher than the air version. Grrr.

I got my Webasto Scholastic 45k BTU coolant heater on eBay for around $400 shipped.

Keep an eye out. They show up from time to time.

[WIbluebird]

My bus already has a Webasto DBW 2010 installed but it hasn't been used in YEARS....control panel lights up and the water pump kicks on but no smoke or any sign of ignition.

I'll have to change the fuel filter and clean out the nozzle, see if that does it. Hopefully it doesn't need any parts beyond that because Webasto parts are $$$$$

[wrenchtech]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Nice. Same plan here only I want a diesel fired coolant heater. Price is a hell of a lot higher than the air version. Grrr.

A coolant heater would be a great investment, even if you have to buy a genuine Webasto. I once operated a class 8 rig with an APU that consisted of a three cylinder Kubota diesel engine, liquid cooled, that was plumbed into the main engine coolant system. It also had an air conditioning compressor for a separate air conditioning set-up in the sleeper and an alternator/generator to provide power for general purposes.The Kubota by itself did not generate enough heat to warm the coolant sufficiently. An electric coolant heater was also installed which got its electricity from the APU. Together that raised the coolant temperature high enough that you could also heat the cab using the truck’s built in heaters. I had the opportunity to test it down to about 0°F, and I can say that it worked. There are not many 18 wheelers going down the road these days without an APU. At roughly $10-$15,000 new I don’t think we are going to be seeing too many of these installed in skoolies, but it’s something to keep an eye out for on the used market.

[brijn]

Hi,

For all that have one of these Chinese heaters: have a look at the Afterburner

It adds some much improved control options. Ray, the guys who designed these (and sells them), is still very actively developing them. There is a dedicated Facebook group just for Afterburner users with a much better S/N ratio then the main Chinese Heater group.

Note that very recently a new version of the control board used in the heaters has come out, and it's NOT compatible with the Afterburner.

Bas

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by brijn

Hi,

For all that have one of these Chinese heaters: have a look at the Afterburner

It adds some much improved control options. Ray, the guys who designed these (and sells them), is still very actively developing them. There is a dedicated Facebook group just for Afterburner users with a much better S/N ratio then the main Chinese Heater group.

Note that very recently a new version of the control board used in the heaters has come out, and it's NOT compatible with the Afterburner.

Bas

Looks interesting ... but how do you buy one?

[brijn]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Looks interesting ... but how do you buy one?

Join the group and DM Ray. He is currently waiting on more parts to come in. He is just a single guy (with a day job) building these

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

my diesel coolant heater (oh yeah damnit its cold and where is it? still in the box brand new.. that makes what 3 years now since i got it?)..

Wanna sell it?

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I got my Webasto Scholastic 45k BTU coolant heater on eBay for around $400 shipped.

Keep an eye out. They show up from time to time.

I have an auto search on Gov-deals that doesn't find much of nothing. I'd love to get my hands on one for $400. If you see one, drop everything. Send me an email, text, telegram, phone call and smoke signals!!!

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

I'll have to change the fuel filter and clean out the nozzle, see if that does it. Hopefully it doesn't need any parts beyond that because Webasto parts are $$$$$

Hmm, these things even have a standard? Are they carbed, fuel injected, what? Hadn't even thought about it until now.

[WIbluebird]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Hmm, these things even have a standard? Are they carbed, fuel injected, what? Hadn't even thought about it until now.

There's no cylinder, it isn't a motor. There's a combustion chamber where fuel from the main tank is injected. A very high voltage spark ignites the fuel and starts the process. Coolant flows through the combustion chamber and it heats.

Usually if these things sit for long periods of time the nozzle that the fuel gets sprayed through will clog up. There's also a dedicated fuel filter for the Webasto that I'm replacing as well. The service manual also says there's a flame window inside the combustion chamber that needs to be cleaned as well. I'm hoping that's all it takes to get it running again!

[brokedown]

I just bought another 5kw unit for my new bus. Found a seller on Ebay who ships from the US for half the price I paid for the one I bought a year ago, while adding the remote control and a muffler we eventually purchased separately. Meanwhile we just got to an event in Ocala where we might find it cold enough at night to run it! Below 50 degrees I get an ear full from Hillary...

[brijn]

I had very poor luck with Ebay. I ordered three times from different sellers, and in the end got one.

Aliexpress worked much better for me.

Bas

[brokedown]

Well I ordered it yesterday and got a tracking number todays so I'm feeling OK so far! The last one I bought was from Amazon and I know these things are basically all the same except for the accessories in the box!

[banman]

Is the consensus that the 'cheap' chinese air heaters are safe and efficient enough? I'm guessing they're webastco copies...

Or if you're into exploring junkyards is it better to get a used system off a tractor trailer? 'Used' meaning name-brand with service/repair parts available.

I would be leary of plumbing a 'cheap' unit into my buses engine -- I wouldn't want anything that could damage or reduce the reliability of my engine...

[brokedown]

The Chinese ones have parts available as well. I am very pleased with mine and recommend them to everyone.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by banman

Is the consensus that the 'cheap' chinese air heaters are safe and efficient enough? I'm guessing they're webastco copies...

Or if you're into exploring junkyards is it better to get a used system off a tractor trailer? 'Used' meaning name-brand with service/repair parts available.

I would be leary of plumbing a 'cheap' unit into my buses engine -- I wouldn't want anything that could damage or reduce the reliability of my engine...

Don't they only use the bus fuel for power, it's not connected to the motor?

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by brokedown

I just bought another 5kw unit for my new bus. Found a seller on Ebay who ships from the US for half the price I paid for the one I bought a year ago, while adding the remote control and a muffler we eventually purchased separately. Meanwhile we just got to an event in Ocala where we might find it cold enough at night to run it! Below 50 degrees I get an ear full from Hillary...

Coolant or air?


At 50°, Hillary would get an open window!!

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Don't they only use the bus fuel for power, it's not connected to the motor?

Most come with a hose, filter, and a fuel pump. I would assume fancy ones (expensive) might have their own tank as well?