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dieseltdi Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 7:43 pm Post subject: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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Anyone use their Chinese diesel heater while actually driving to provide the heat in their Vanagon? Just wondering about the logistics and practicality of this. Especially seeing as I already have the Diesel engine (TDI) and access to the fuel. Thoughts? |
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elizer Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2016 Posts: 1450 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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yes if its really cold out until the cabin warms up. Or because its already running and I drive off. |
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rlevans Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2006 Posts: 193
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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Yep all the time, until cabin warms up and then I shut it off w/ the remote.
Works great. |
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Gnarlodious Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013 Posts: 2311 Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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I do if its very cold. My diesel doesn’t make much waste heat so the additional heater really helps. I have the intake mounted perpendicular to the airflow so air doesn’t get rammed in. Also my combustion air comes in perpendicular for the same reason. I also have an intake filter because New Mexico winter dust. _________________ Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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dieseltdi Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2006 Posts: 537 Location: Grapevine, Texas
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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Thanks, I live in N. Texas where it doesn't get too cold too often (last February not withstanding) and was thinking about disconnecting the front heater in my Westy and just using a diesel heater. This would eliminate the long heater hoses from the TDI engine and potentially allow it to maintain operating temperature better in Cold weather. obviously there is a problem with defrost to deal with so.... just thinking out loud. |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3081 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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Gnarlodious wrote: |
. I have the intake mounted perpendicular to the airflow so air doesn’t get rammed in. Also my combustion air comes in perpendicular for the same reason. |
Fwiw, my espar instructions indicate in/out combustion hoses face the rear of the vehicle. Mine so and I drive with it. No issues.
I could see perpendicular across could vacuum the intake. _________________ 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 |
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3081 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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Gnarlodious wrote: |
. I have the intake mounted perpendicular to the airflow so air doesn’t get rammed in. Also my combustion air comes in perpendicular for the same reason. |
Fwiw, my espar instructions indicate in/out combustion hoses face the rear of the vehicle. Mine so and I drive with it. No issues.
I could see perpendicular across could vacuum the intake. _________________ 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 |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16473 Location: Brookeville, MD
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15129 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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just food for thought that the vanagons that came with a factory under floor heater.
it was plumbed into the front heater box.
it would be a bit of work to DIY something similar but it was a factory configuration.
but really in Texas winter, you shouldn't have any real temperature operating issues with the front heater core.
the way the system is (should be) plumbed is that the heater loop has a constant flow.. so it gets all available heated water. and that the T-stat will only open for the radiator chilled coolant if the heater cores return water is too warm. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3786 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 6:34 am Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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I use mine all the time while driving. It gets hot quick with 3 heaters going /flex _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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chrismsnt Samba Member
Joined: March 06, 2018 Posts: 247 Location: Cumming, GA
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 7:42 am Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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I had mine plumbed right into my diesel engine tank. No muss, no fuss! _________________ Chris
1989 T3 Vanagon 16" Syncro
1967 Squareback
https://vwvandiesel.com
Instagram @VW_VanDiesel |
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valvecovergasket Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018 Posts: 1491 Location: pnw
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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dieseltdi wrote: |
Thanks, I live in N. Texas where it doesn't get too cold too often (last February not withstanding) and was thinking about disconnecting the front heater in my Westy and just using a diesel heater. This would eliminate the long heater hoses from the TDI engine and potentially allow it to maintain operating temperature better in Cold weather. obviously there is a problem with defrost to deal with so.... just thinking out loud. |
your tdi should have no problem maintaining temperature even with the heater core wide open if everything is plumbed properly.
with an egr delete and colder weather, that may have it taking a bit longer to warm up but thats going to happen whether or not youve got a heater core... but once up to temperature itll stay there fine. if its cooling off while youre going down the road thats a different problem
chrismsnt wrote: |
I had mine plumbed right into my diesel engine tank. No muss, no fuss! |
same
i just used it the other morning to preheat the van for the first time, hadnt tried driving with it before either so thought id give that a whirl.
ive got a webasto so it doesnt have the fancy remote i think you can get with some of the CDH setups.
but i ran out a bit before i was planning to leave, cranked the heater, and came out to a warm van. left it on driving in to work and the rear heater had the back of the van defrosted while the dash heater did the windshield. _________________ MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3786 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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I have the Afterburner controller where I can turn on and control temperature from my smart phone _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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valvecovergasket Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018 Posts: 1491 Location: pnw
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 10:52 am Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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shagginwagon83 wrote: |
I have the Afterburner controller where I can turn on and control temperature from my smart phone |
jealous! the ideal remote start setup _________________ MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3786 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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Yes...it has the capability of connecting to your home wifi. It supports MQTT - so you could essentially start it from your phone or any computer in your house. Also if you commuted in the van for work - you can schedule it to automatically pre heat the van on weekday.
"Hey Alexa, start the heater in the van" - is definitely achievable.
This is the only reason I am still with a diesel heater instead of a petrol unit. _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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old_man Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2018 Posts: 1381 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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valvecovergasket wrote: |
your tdi should have no problem maintaining temperature even with the heater core wide open if everything is plumbed properly.
with an egr delete and colder weather, that may have it taking a bit longer to warm up but thats going to happen whether or not youve got a heater core... but once up to temperature itll stay there fine. if its cooling off while youre going down the road thats a different problem
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My TDI does. It's not an issue on the highway where there is a decent load on it but slow driving around town it will not keep up to temp. If the heater is off the temp needle goes to 12' but as soon as the heater valve is opened the temp gauge will drop and not come back. All stock plumbing and went through a few different thermostats. TDIs and winter I tell ya...... |
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valvecovergasket Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018 Posts: 1491 Location: pnw
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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old_man wrote: |
All stock plumbing and went through a few different thermostats. TDIs and winter I tell ya...... |
fair enough, i guess where youre at its properly cold during winter!
his winter temps in TX are likely a good bit warmer than even the relatively mild pnw winter here _________________ MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
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old_man Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2018 Posts: 1381 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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valvecovergasket wrote: |
old_man wrote: |
All stock plumbing and went through a few different thermostats. TDIs and winter I tell ya...... |
fair enough, i guess where youre at its properly cold during winter!
his winter temps in TX are likely a good bit warmer than even the relatively mild pnw winter here |
Ya, my sinka is my winter wheels. Honestly, I think it's a combination of the following
1) light load in slow driving
2) very efficient TDI
3) heater core acts like a small rad
4) about 20+ feet of heater hose pumping coolant into cold air flow
5) no belly pan to keep some engine heat in.
I did install a chinese heater though. It sort of helps but that thing takes time as well to warm up. The other thing that will help is blocking off fresh airflow through the nose vent. |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3260 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 6:40 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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I concur with posters above who discourage removing or disabling the front heater box. Defrosting is necessary and you can't install the CDH under the dash where the factory heater box is, if that was contemplated.
Since the TDi engines are quite cold-hearted, a radiator block might be a good idea for winter driving, especially in low-load/low speed driving. An electric coolant circulation pump can really help get the hot coolant to the heater core:
VAG # 034-965-561-C _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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calo1956 Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2011 Posts: 683 Location: long Island new york
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2021 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese diesel heater for on the road driving? |
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I wasnt sure if you could either, but now run it often on the road, I have no issues running with it at highway speeds, as far as im concerned its a game changer for my air cooled Westi. I still cant get my factory heater booster to work, so this is awesome, not to mention when Im camping here in the North East I have a reliable and clean seat source. _________________ Enjoy the ride....
72 bug
80 westfalia |
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