Chinese Diesel Heater Questions

[dr8track]

I've been doing a lot of reading and watching videos about the Chinese diesel heater, but there's still a few questions I haven't found answers for.
1. They are described as a parking heater and videos talk about using them when camping. I'm assuming they can also be used while driving?
2. For the bus is the 2k or the 5k the better choice?
3. For a gas bus has anyone come up with a way of mounting the diesel tank under the bus vs inside the cab? If I mounted it inside I was considering putting it in the rear closet of my 74.
4. Does the air intake at the back end of the heater need to be outside air vs cabin air? I saw one video that warned against just constantly recycling cabin air.
5. I read a post about using a 50/50 mix of diesel and kerosene. Is this recommended ‽

The most logical place to install it in my 74 would be under the rear bench seat on the driver side. One Vanagon video put it there and cut a hole in the end of the bench platform to allow air from the cabin to reach the air intake of the heater. Mounting it on the driver side would give easy access to run the fuel line if I mounted the fuel tank in the closet. But this still leaves the question of whether the heater needs to be fed outside air. One option would be to open the wing window a bit on the driver end of the rear bench seat.
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[k@rlos]

I have a 5kw in my 1970 Westfalia pop top. The actual heater is under the bed, the vents come through the panel beneath it and the 5 litre fuel tank is in the bottom of the wardrobe. I run mine on straight diesel, burns very clean and doesn’t stink, yes the intake should be outside but the way they are designed so the inlet & exhaust can only be outside the bus. I think they are amazing things, mine was £110 with free post, I don’t know what they are like in the US price wise?? I’ve also fitted several both 2kw & 5kw to customers buses, and a beetle! Everyone has been very happy with them. They come with decent instructions and are pretty straight forward, if you’re pretty handy you’ll have it fitted and running in a morning.

Keeps the bus lovely and warm, I even use it when driving when driving on really cold days. Very economical too I think, recommend 100%

[hazetguy]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=727273

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714257

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=703569

[Starbucket]

If the heater is burning inside air only it could lower the Oxygen levels and it's called a "parking heater" because if you have an accident and the bus flips on it's side and if that heater has an electric fuel pump having a fire and fuel spilling about would get the company sued out of business quick.

[KentABQ]

[danfromsyr]

[Starbucket]

[dr8track]

I didn't word my question clearly enough about the heater having access to air. I know the two metal hoses go out to the exhaust and the outside air intake. What I'm wondering about is the end of the heater opposite the hot air blower.

That opposite end needs access to air within the cabin, correct? I saw an installation for a Vanagon and they placed it in the compartment under the bench seat.



I like that location because it's near the rear where I'll get power from the battery and it's close to the closet where I would plan to mount the fuel tank.

On the video i watched the guy cut a hole in the side of the seat compartment so it would have more access to air for that heater air intakde.

You can see the hole he cut on the left side of the photo.

There is about a 2.5 inch gap between the seat compartment and the driver side wall of the bus. But on my bus cutting a hole on the intake end of the heater would not result in extra air because when you putthe bench seat down it covers that gap. So my question is, can the heater operate properly in an enclosed wood box under the bench seat? It seems like it would need more open area.

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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[k@rlos]

[k@rlos]

Here’s mine, picture is misleading. There is a about a 4” gap between heater and wheel arch

[dr8track]

[k@rlos]

[danfromsyr]

I don't usually toss insults, but you sir are both pedantic and dumb.

yeah, I'm saying the heater and it's fuel tank will be fine in an 85mph T-boned argument.

[danfromsyr]

and the heater DOES NOT CONSUME INTERIOR AIR, so it has ZERO effect on your O2 and ability to breath most certainly while driving

now if you want to be worried about a 'parking heater' then no one talks about the CO issue of poorly planned exhaust, and less than air tight vans with rust floors or open OE heat ducts. some people (improperly) don't install the combustion exhaust outside the umbrella of the chassis. this is the risks of uncertified installations. and why NEW VWs had to abide by RIVA rules when produced/sold. https://www.rvia.org/standards-regulations
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[danfromsyr]

dr8track, iirc but the seat does not sit on the sideboard completely either so there is plenty of air gap there for it to draw in recirculating air.
it would be quite a feat for the underseat storage area to be an airdraw restriction., there's like a 1 to 1.5in gap up there. plenty for airflow.
well it could if stuffed with lings like asleeping bag/pillows etc..
and yes if the airflow was restricted then the heater would run HOTter than it's happy with and would actually shut off (because they have heat safeties in the processing board). it's not a bad idea to allow it a better ducted intake air so that doesn't happen by accident.. also make sure you use a grill or wire mesh so that rodents don't set up a habit trail inside the works.

but it'll generally work just fine sucking air from under the seat box.

[dr8track]

Thanks for all the helpful info gents. I think I have a general plan now. Not sure where I will place the fuel pump. I've seen the videos of how noisy it is which leads many folks to mount it underneath. By far the quietest option I've seen was a guy who suspended it in an interior location. He does a before and after in the video and you can barely hear it when suspended.
This isn't the one I originally saw,but same idea.
https://youtu.be/YxalU1klYoE
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[dr8track]

Well I pulled the trigger and ordered a 5K Chinese diesel heater from Amazon. I went ahead and ordered the larger 15L fuel tank. I plan to put it in my closet so there was room for the larger tank. I noticed when I unpacked it that it comes with a metal fuel line that inserts into the tank through the cap. Then there is a fitting to connect the tube to the fuel pump. Looks waye more convenient than drilling the hole in the fuel tank and fishing that fitting through.
I'm pretty sure I will put the heater under the rear seat, but I was curious if anyone has installed the heater under the bus? Seems like you could have a metal frame covered in sheet metal to protect from the elements.
Just curious if that's been attempted
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1974 Westfalia Deluxe Campmobiles - Lake Stevens, WA

[Jetfxr69]

One of your questions was about a 50/50 fuel mix. Dont know about these heaters, but I can tell you, up here in the Great North Woods, near the 45th parallel, we run that mix in all our heavy equipment during winter. It merely keeps the diesel from gelling on sub-zero days.

Unless you plan on camping in Canada, in Febuary, I dont see where this would matter.
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‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
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[danfromsyr]

do some searching, there have been a few under the bus installs..
though no one has reported back regularly how they're operating down there.

If I was me, I would SERIOUSLY NOT consider mounting the tank inside the bus.. especially in the closet.. there is nearly no way to not get diesel to 'wick' on a surface. it's seriously stinky.

I haven't mounted the heater in my bay just yet, but I am considering this tank in the back by the Drivers side battery. though 5L is only enough for ~1day.. would have to bring a refill gallon for the 2nd day (depending on weather)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393295863082?hash=item5b92429d2a:g:yWUAAOSw~E5gkkEK


Or a round tank under the bus like a propane tank modified to a remote fuel filler opening/cap. I have an old fire extinguisher that I can modify, should hold ~3gals.

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[ImAddicted]