The official Chinese Diesel Heater thread (Webasto Knockoff)

[danfromsyr]

and here's an interesting intake filter/muffler. looks promising for underneath installs. the cheap cylindrical ones mesh is really a joke for keeping anything out of the units intake.. esp bugs/spiders


https://www.ebay.com/itm/25mm-Diesel-Heater-Air-In...4882744290

[vanis13]

for the discrete install location. this is where mine has resided happily for years now.

HEY! some of my images are missing too!

_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[zoti]

[beach_creature]

[zoti]

I decided to mount directly to the floor using the mounting plate that came with the heater.

I cut some of the subfloor then placed the metal plate as a template. Marked and drilled. That was the best location but I will need to shield the exhaust as it will run between the rear hand brake cable to the driver side wheel and the line to the slave clutch cylinder. I will need to protect them both from heat.

What do people use for that?

Test fit upside down just to figure out the location.

And installed in the new cut holes. The air inlet will fit under the ECU and I plan to enclose it all in a box to protect the heater and prevent anything from blocking the airflow.

The hot air will come out just under the latch that opens the rear seat area.

And I will make a vent that will let air in through the old heater vent.

[kguarnotta]

hey zoti - nice pics.

I see the hole appears to be cut on the 2nd rib from the rear. I think I already have a hole in that area from something a previous owner had (maybe a water tank).

Do youh ave any pics from below - ie how is the clearance below?
_________________
-Kevin
Lincoln, MA

'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper

[zoti]

[zoti]

More progress today. Made another plate that will go under then floor and installed the hot air outlet.

If it will be nice weather tomorrow then I will work under the van.

[zoti]

It’s not bolted yet but I did wire most of it and tested that it gets power and turns on.

I’m thinking of installing the pump inside some sort of a weather protected box as it is going to be outside by my diesel tank.

I bought a 3 gal tank that will fit between the frame rails under the sliding door and will be held in place by a bracket.

I will then be able to pull the tank out and lay it on the ground for refill.


Link

[kguarnotta]

Looks like a nice solution - and nice install.
Is that the afterburner controller? Or the one that came with your unit?
_________________
-Kevin
Lincoln, MA

'86 Triple Knob Syncro w/EJ22
'78 Westy
'69 Single Cab
'65 Kombi - EZ-Camper

[zoti]

[KentABQ]

I installed a new Diesel Heater last summer (excellent timing, no?)

And I was living in Florida at the time, so I only tested it in short periods, and it worked great.
However, now that I'm in New Mexico, I've been using it more often. The problem is that it started blowing white smoke out the exhaust, and then would shut off and not restart.

In researching this phenomenon online, it was revealed the white smoke is caused by incomplete combustion, which causes carbon soot build up in the combustion chamber.
So I removed the unit completely, disassembled it and found a huge amount of soot in the chamber. So it got cleaned out well using brushes and carb cleaner.


Reinstalled it and it ran great again! Hooorah! But that was short lived... it's back to blowing huge amounts of white smoke again.

As for causes of the incomplete combustion, I figured either there was an obstruction in the air inlet, or in the exhaust hose or muffler. They both proved to be clear.

So I bought a second heater, thinking maybe there was a defect in the heater.
But the new one has the same problem.

Can anyone give me pointers in what else could be causing this problem?
I love the dry heat when it works, but don't want to disassemble and clean it out after each use.

BTW, I understand the unit has to be run at it's highest setting for about 15 minutes in order to burn out the carbon. I've tried that a couple times, and it didn't eliminate the problem.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Here is where the heater is installed:

I rebuilt the cabinet to fit over it, allowing for good air inlet on the passenger side and heated air to blow out into the walk-thru area.
(The carpet has since been replaced with vinyl flooring.)

_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[zoti]

Check your intake under the car to make sure it is not blocked. Sometimes animals will crawl into it.

[KentABQ]

[fxr]

[danfromsyr]

are you sure you are stopping the CDH fuel priming (manual pump) cycle.
it'll FLOOD the unit if you leave it on full on..
review a few of these and see if that may be why BOTH units you are starting with have the same odd problem.
https://www.google.com/search?q=chinese+diesel+heater+priming

[rmcd]

I recall my instructions indicated that the intake had to be similar length as the exhaust. Maybe something to check?
_________________
VW LT40 build. Like a Vanagon but 30% larger in every direction and 40% slower even in metric.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749359&highlight=

[zoti]

Working on a vent cover to replace the original now that the heater core is gone.

Got so close with my first attempt. Oh well. Making another one.

[zoti]

Finished. Pretty proud of myself.

[peteymedic]

Zoti: That's a really great grill! Nice job!

An Amazon reviewer of these Chinese heaters found using kerosene instead of diesel cured the carbon build up issue. Cleaner fuel for a more complete combustion.
_________________
91 Vanagon Westy Camper

“If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.”
- Thomas Paine