Diesel heater

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 00:14
ThreadID: 138999 Views:4019 Replies:7 FollowUps:2
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We have trouble getting the parking heater going ,would it be pioblem with not enough change in battery ,if so should I go for Linthicum battery
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Reply By: Gbc.. - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 06:33

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 06:33
It will be showing a fault code. Might be best to start with that.
AnswerID: 627462

Reply By: rumpig - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 06:42

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 06:42
It could be a lack of battery charge (they do draw a decent amount on start up), but it could be other things also . No need for lithium, we have run our heater for 8 years now on our lead acid batteries.
AnswerID: 627463

Reply By: Jarse - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 06:52

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 06:52
If you're in a fairly cold area, it could be fuel waxing. It effectively solidifies in the lines and prevents the heater from starting or running.

I run my heater on Jet-A (kero). That's good down to about -45 deg C. A 50:50 mix of kero and diesel will prevent waxing.

Good luck.
AnswerID: 627464

Follow Up By: eaglefree - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 14:58

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 14:58
And cover up fuel lines with small heater hose amd pump with a short length of pool noodle
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FollowupID: 901480

Reply By: David I1 - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 07:50

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 07:50
From the couple of heaters I have come across they have a set start up regime. Not sure if yours does. Mine does the following. Switch on and the fans starts blowing. Fan stops and then you hear the pump start to click. wait a minute then the fan starts up (I assume the glow plug is warming up to ignite the fuel). Then the fan starts working and heated air starts coming through. I had an issue with mine last trip. The air intake hose had been hit by so many stones it starved the unit and as a result failed to iginte. The unit tried 3 times the above regime then through a fault code that had nothing to do with air starvation. Just happened I was under the van and noticed the crushed hose. Fixed that and all good!
AnswerID: 627465

Reply By: Banjo (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 08:01

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 08:01
If the battery is low or the wiring not sufficient you will have starting problems for sure. No need for Lithium though, just a battery in good condition.
AnswerID: 627466

Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 09:15

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 09:15
I agree with Banjo. If everything else is ok then a flat battery will be "flatter" as it tries to start. My heater draws in excess of 8 amps for the glowplug so if thin wiring combined with bad connections or battery can't stand up, then it will abort starting even though the heater itself is perfect..
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FollowupID: 901462

Reply By: Dave B18 - Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 12:53

Wednesday, Aug 28, 2019 at 12:53
Which brand of diesel heater do you have? The solutions are completely different depending on brand.
What capacity is your diesel heater?
Do you get an error code?
Low voltage is a major issue with diesel heaters. If a Chinese heater the power supply cable supplied with them is undersize to start with, which doesn't help matters. You want a minimum 6mm auto cable twin sheathed which is 4.57mm2 to with 300mm of the diesel heater.

Lithium batteries are *magic* if you need battery replacement.
AnswerID: 627471

Reply By: Member - bill & netti p (VIC) - Sunday, Sep 01, 2019 at 08:46

Sunday, Sep 01, 2019 at 08:46
Hi to all who responded about our parking heater problem , sorry bit with response
Van in storage .. brought extra battery ,work well first night but on power ,second night free camp would not start ,will check wiring to see if that’s the issuer ,if that doesn’t work we will start wearing a Bennie . Thanks for all your information
Cheers. Bill
AnswerID: 627507

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