Diesel heater

Trout bum

Trout bum

Free Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2016
Posts
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Location
Ayr
Funster No
45,007
MH
Adria Matrix M670SL
Exp
2006
anyone fit a diesel heater in their coachbuilt motorhome , if so has it made a big difference heat wise and where abouts in the van did you fit it , gas is getting harder to come by so maybe one of these heaters would be better just a thought.
 
Hi. Quite a few of us have. They work well but be aware the standard dose pump does tick away so you can wrap in soundproof material and suspend on elastic etc. Mine went under diner seat.
 
All will be revealed if you type diesel heaters in the search box, loads of feedback & technical detail, how not to do it, and the proper way safe way, but I wont mention any names, you can make your own mind up.:xwink:
LES
 
I fitted one in our summer house which is 5m x 6m and I have to say it works very well.
 
Trout bum said:
anyone fit a diesel heater in their coachbuilt motorhome , if so has it made a big difference heat wise and where abouts in the van did you fit it , gas is getting harder to come by so maybe one of these heaters would be better just a thought.
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I fitted an Eberspacher to one of my early VeeDub conversions (not coachbuilt) it was relatively easy and one thing to consider is that the diesel heaters require VERY good batteries for start up!

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I ordered ours with the optional Truma D but I would have preferred one more like the gas fired Trumas with their electric heater elements so it could run off 230v EHU as well. With 20:20 hindsight I wish I had also ordered the optional underfloor electric heating, to complement the Truma D and save diesel.

My impression is that the Truma D does consume more diesel than the Eberspacher I had previously in the VW. The main difference being that the Eberspacher didn't heat any water. Based on the fuel gauge needle noticeably having moved a bit between arrival and the time we leave site. Whereas with the Eberspacher there was no discernible movement. Diesel heating does have obvious advantages of convenience, and no worries about running out of propane, so I'm happy despite gas heating being cheaper to run (as I understand it).
 
SpeedyDux said:
I ordered ours with the optional Truma D but I would have preferred one more like the gas fired Trumas with their electric heater elements so it could run off 230v EHU as well. With 20:20 hindsight I wish I had also ordered the optional underfloor electric heating, to complement the Truma D and save diesel.

My impression is that the Truma D does consume more diesel than the Eberspacher I had previously in the VW. The main difference being that the Eberspacher didn't heat any water. Based on the fuel gauge needle noticeably having moved a bit between arrival and the time we leave site. Whereas with the Eberspacher there was no discernible movement. Diesel heating does have obvious advantages of convenience, and no worries about running out of propane, so I'm happy despite gas heating being cheaper to run (as I understand it).
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My 2007 Murvi Morello has an Eberspacher that heats the water and heating, this runs on Diesel when not on EHU but, when on EHU I use electric to cover these functions AND my domestic hot water is also heated by my engine, through connected pipes in my hot water tank, when travelling. This takes some strain off the diesel heating startup. Hope this makes sense?
 
Have a look at John and Mandy on tour or the Travel Trolls on Youtube Both have done that with good results
 
Yesterday I ordered a £97 8 Kw diesel heater at 4 pm and today at 7 am it was delivered. I’ve installed it in my garage taking the exhaust and air intake pipework through the external wall so no problems with petrol fumes from my 2 bikes being drawn in to the air intake. It was really easy to install I just had to raise the heater so the pipework was high enough above ground level, syphoned 5 litres of diesel from my van and the heater fired up first time so now it’s really cosy to work in my garage.
John.
A06C0CA0-3E00-4EE2-9540-B3024B41A820.jpeg
 
Neckender said:
Yesterday I ordered a £97 8 Kw diesel heater at 4 pm and today at 7 am it was delivered. I’ve installed it in my garage taking the exhaust and air intake pipework through the external wall so no problems with petrol fumes from my 2 bikes being drawn in to the air intake. It was really easy to install I just had to raise the heater so the pipework was high enough above ground level, syphoned 5 litres of diesel from my van and the heater fired up first time so now it’s really cosy to work in my garage.
John.
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Thinking I need the same in my shed.
you never said from where you bought it.
any more information please.

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GMLS said:
Have a look at John and Mandy on tour or the Travel Trolls on Youtube Both have done that with good results
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its only worth checking them out to see the difference it makes to their living environment. Johns first 'install' was a complete bodge, though to be fair to him he did sort it out later and the Travel Trolls had theirs installed by someone for them,

there are lots of examples on you tube of 'self installs' - although not on a coachbuilt, i do like how Max and Sophie installed theirs under their van. Also check out the silent pump on you tube, it seems to make a massive difference.
 
I like the young fella called wil. He is mechanical minded as me. Checking under the van he had the door open as he jacked it up, the door got caught and bent it on it’s hinges. It’s like watching me do mechanical stuff, haha
 
I install our Chinese diesel heater under our coachbuilt due to no convenient space within our van.

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This is my internals of our "silent pump", it uses an electronically controlled stepper motor driving a small popped valved pump.

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Propshaft said:
Do they run ok on heating oil and forecourt diesel
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Always run ours on heating oil as we are on oil heating at home, cheapest and cleanest to run a diesel heater on.

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I think I am up to 6 installs now.. Always under seat
Average install time from start to finish I would say is around 2 hours inc teas and egg sandwiches :) The diesel tanks are usually mounted in an exterbal locker.. I never run them to the main tank as then you would be running on really expensive diesel !
I did post up a full install on here complete with pictures about 3 or 4 years ago
The only thing I regret is I went for the biggest option, an 8kW unit, thinking it would be needed as our van is a 29ft tag.. Nope!!
FAR too warm ! If I did it again I would fit a 5kW jobby

What I like best ?
Travelling in the winter.. About 1/2 hour before we are due to stop I can just take the remote out of my pocket, blip it and know that when we do pull over it will be toasty in the back :-)
 
Jaws said:
The only thing I regret is I went for the biggest option, an 8kW unit, thinking it would be needed as our van is a 29ft tag.. Nope!!
FAR too warm ! If I did it again I would fit a 5kW jobby
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You might want to go for a 2kW then John as the 5 and 8kW are the same unit as proved and just Chinese selling hype.
 
One of my sons fitted one in the double crew cab of his Defender - you can get a housing that fits under the cubby box between the front seats, so it's a neat install. He went for the 8kW, as bigger is always better (apparently). It is somewhat overkill in the tiny cab, but he isn't cold anymore and it is nicely defrosted in a morning when he goes to out to it.
 
Neckender said:
Yesterday I ordered a £97 8 Kw diesel heater at 4 pm and today at 7 am it was delivered. I’ve installed it in my garage taking the exhaust and air intake pipework through the external wall so no problems with petrol fumes from my 2 bikes being drawn in to the air intake. It was really easy to install I just had to raise the heater so the pipework was high enough above ground level, syphoned 5 litres of diesel from my van and the heater fired up first time so now it’s really cosy to work in my garage.
John.
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You might find it interesting to know that there is no such thing as an 8kW version of these heaters, it's a con by the sellers it will actually be a 5kW one. Have a read on this FB page for more info https://www.facebook.com/groups/265862240781579
 
Two on Tour said:
You might want to go for a 2kW then John as the 5 and 8kW are the same unit as proved and just Chinese selling hype.
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I have tried a 2kW and it was a bit of a failure ( I put one in my workshop )... Sent it back and got a 5
Does not surprise me about the 8 - 5 kW being the same.. Nowt coming from China surprises me !!! :-)
 
I have had a good look at them it is ideal for what I would like but been looking for somewhere to fit it that’s not in 5he way and so far no spaces found .
I think I may have to look for other options apart from the onboard gas fire.
not something I would like to use to heat the accommodation white in travel.
 
Two on Tour said:
I install our Chinese diesel heater under our coachbuilt due to no convenient space within our van.

1640248822357-png.568560



This is my internals of our "silent pump", it uses an electronically controlled stepper motor driving a small popped valved pump.

View attachment 568561
Click to expand...
Just wondering did you connect fuel pipe to the vehicle fuel tank and, if so how difficult was it?

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Len said:
Just wondering did you connect fuel pipe to the vehicle fuel tank and, if so how difficult was it?
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No, I made an aluminium fuel tank that's fitted under our van as I run out diesel heater on home heating oil as it's cheaper than diesel.
Manic and I believe gus-lopez are feeding from their vehicle fuel tanks.
 
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Len said:
Just wondering did you connect fuel pipe to the vehicle fuel tank and, if so how difficult was it?
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I fitted my fuel pipe direct to the fuel tank on my 2001 Fiat Ducato and being the older type without a pump in the tank it’s sender unit cap is only small so I just drilled a hole at the side of sender unit to fit the stand pipe and then cut pipe so it can’t empty the tank.
 
Neckender said:
Yesterday I ordered a £97 8 Kw diesel heater at 4 pm and today at 7 am it was delivered. I’ve installed it in my garage taking the exhaust and air intake pipework through the external wall so no problems with petrol fumes from my 2 bikes being drawn in to the air intake. It was really easy to install I just had to raise the heater so the pipework was high enough above ground level, syphoned 5 litres of diesel from my van and the heater fired up first time so now it’s really cosy to work in my garage.
John.
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The word 'install' on these threads is frightening to me. How easy are they to 'install' please. I thought they were free standing (like an petrol lawn mowere is :() when I thought it might be an answer.

Are they heavy please?
 
Hi Joy, the free standing ones still need an exhaust and air inlet fitting ,plus the hot air outlet piping into your van.
They are not just a heater that you can just switch on. No disrespect but you need to be reasonably good at DIY. Even for the free standing ones. Personally I don't think they are for you. Xx

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