Whale water heater goes <backfire>

[Jane NotRog]

Our three year old whale water heater is trying to start but not firing successfully. It does the usual pump-pump-pump-ignite but then sounds like it backfires. It does this three or so times then switches itself off and lights the red “I’m unhappy” led solid. Our gas and water are good.

Any ideas for how I can fix this? In France at Poitiers now, likely to be in Spain tomorrow or the day after.

 

[Chasnam]

I have a whale which showed the same symptoms it was the inner exhaust pipe that has disconnected which means it shuts down due to exhaust gas been sucked in
Chas

 

[Jane NotRog]

Thanks, will take a look.

 

[Jane NotRog]

No luck. Ours is an external under slung heater and has a single exhaust that is solid and dry and well connected. However it definitely sounds like some gas is exploding in the exhaust and I am getting single flash error codes that indicate it’s not getting a flame.
I’m at a bit of a loss - the only controls I have for the heater are the single switch and the drain valve :-(

 

[scallywag15]

No luck. Ours is an external under slung heater and has a single exhaust that is solid and dry and well connected. However it definitely sounds like some gas is exploding in the exhaust and I am getting single flash error codes that indicate it’s not getting a flame.
I’m at a bit of a loss - the only controls I have for the heater are the single switch and the drain valve :-(

Our whale on previous Elddis was like a balanced flue boiler ..inner and outer tube\flue. it was forever failing but badly fitted.Sorted it , Rollerteam we have now better built. same two flues though. Check inner tube hasn,t contracted .I think inner was gas out and outer was air in.

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[Chasnam]

Hi mine is also underslung and the exhaust has an inner tube that takes the gasses out and an outer that draws combustion air in.
If the inner disconnects you will get the problem you describe.
If you pull the outer tube off you will be able to see.
Chas

 

[scallywag15]

Hi mine is also underslung and the exhaust has an inner tube that takes the gasses out and an outer that draws combustion air in.
If the inner disconnects you will get the problem you describe.
If you pull the outer tube off you will be able to see.
Chas

If i remember the inner tube is the silver heat resistent convoluted tube the outer is black convoluted tube both just push fit on to the bracket. I had to really fix the silver one to the bracket as there was no slack before pulling on the outer tube .any kinks in tube will cause probs.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Have you changed gas regulator recently ?

 

[Jane NotRog]

We have changed to Gaslow fairly recently but we’ve used the water heater several times since then.

I’ve also now understood the inner/outer tube and had a look. The inner is securely fitted as is the outer. We tried an Adria dealer today but they’re all still closed for new year. We’ll try one more before I go to the length of removing all of the exhaust tube and checking it’s ok.

 

[Jane NotRog]

Thanks to everyone who suggested fixes. We’re in Morocco now (see Jane’s thread for a blow by blow account) and my preferred fix is “relax and be happy grubby.”
Once we’re in the south and it’s hot I might disassemble the exhaust and inhaust to see if there’s a kink.

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[jockaneezer]

Backfires are usually caused by a weak fuel/air mixture, maybe the gas jet is partially blocked ?

 

[Jane NotRog]

from a post in 'Jane & Rog’s retirement tour, Morocco 2023'
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...irement-tour-morocco-2023.275789/post-5454942
Today a Webasto/whale service centre confirmed this is not an air intake problem despite that being the error code. I’m going to wait to Blighty to get the whale removed and taken to bits Which is their next suggestion.