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Wed May 26, 2021 7:09 am

When ducting a diesel heater, can I add the fresh air intake next to the stock heater under the back bench? Will air vent from the cabin and under the bench through the stock heater?

It would be preferred to not add a separate vent right next to a perfectly good vent option.

I just don't know how the fans and stuff work. The answer may be in the heater thread, but that thing is longer than War and Peace

Thanks again

Wed May 26, 2021 7:27 am

Your asking about a diesel powered heater? My espar does have an intake duct in the face of the rear seat. The main reason is that I built an aluminum cover to enclose the heater to keep it from getting damaged by gear. Without a cover and if you keep the inlet clear, enough air should circulate around the seat bench. Up to you I suppose.

Wed May 26, 2021 8:38 am

Thanks MarkWard.

My heater is under the bus just inboard from the propane tank.
The fresh air intake is routed directly aft to under the bench.

My two choices are -
1- Direct the intake through a new hole in the bench face.
2 - Direct intake to the side of the box that protects the rear heater core.

I would rather do the latter, but I must make sure that air can come through the stock vent face because we pack so much of stuff under the bench.

So, if anyone knows if air can pass "in through the out door", lemme know.

Wed May 26, 2021 9:10 am

Is the factory rear heater still in place?

Wed May 26, 2021 9:19 am

Yes. Factory heater is in place. I installed a new one a few years ago.

I would like to try this heater for a season before deleting the rear heater. If it works reliably, then I will gladly remove it for storage space.

Wed May 26, 2021 9:57 am

So you want the intake to come up through the floor in front of the heater core assembly, but behind the factory grill in the face of the seat box? If you can physically do that, I don't see a reason you could not.

edit: our 82 van did not come with a rear heater core. The espar works great on it's own. The diesel engine takes for ever to get to temp on a cold day anyhow. So no real heat for quite a ways. I mounted the thermostat so I could access it from the driver's seat or the upper bed.

Wed May 26, 2021 10:09 am

MarkWard wrote: So you want the intake to come up through the floor in front of the heater core assembly, but behind the factory grill in the face of the seat box? If you can physically do that, I don't see a reason you could not.

Yes. That is what I'm talking about.

Wed May 26, 2021 10:11 am

Outside air for combustion air, inside air for heated air circulation. If it's the same, then it should be outside air,