HOW TO AVOID KILLING YOUR ESPAR D2 DIESEL HEATER - Usage Tips and Routine Maintenance Procedures
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- Опубліковано 8 кві 2023
- With a lack of knowledge of how to care for this diesel heater, we ended up killing it in just 3 short years of use. Don't make the same mistakes we did, and be sure and care for yours with the maintenance procedures outlined in this video. See list below of tools and supplies needed.
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Some of the things used in this video:
Heater Service Kit: amzn.to/3KdtKp5
Atomizer screen with install tool: amzn.to/3UdQY35
Atomizer screens, 10 pcs: amzn.to/3U8Nlvc
Replacement Igniter (Glow Plug): amzn.to/3nL7vzv
Fuel filter: amzn.to/3zw9jyL
Brake Cleaner: amzn.to/413jneG
Needle nose pliers: amzn.to/3ZCzw9v
Wire brushes: amzn.to/3KcDuzX
Precision picks: amzn.to/3MhPliR
Gasket scraper: amzn.to/40J2QMZ
T-20 Torx Screwdriver: amzn.to/3GjvNXM
T-25 Torx Screwdriver: amzn.to/3MpMdS2
10mm Deep Socket (for removing heater from van): amzn.to/3KnkPl6
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Thanks to a suggestion from one of our viewers, here's a link to another video with good information on this heater. This is where we learned a lot about the annual service procedure: ua-cam.com/video/56HCZ0C0ORk/v-deo.html
Thanks Rozi!
Where did you buy the new filter from?
Links for all replacement parts are in the description.
Links for all replacement parts are in the description.
Links for all replacement parts are in the description.
Sir, this is by far , the best video on how to service a diesel heater. Now I know how to take mine apart. By the way , I have mine installed in my atv cabin. My wife and I enjoy riding on the homestead even a -30 celcius and I think our dog likes it too, especially when his paws are cold !! Take care and happy camping !!
Wow that’s impressive! So glad you enjoyed this and thank you for the comment!! Stay warm!!
I'm a trucker and we have 1 in the semi. I had no idea all the maintenance required for this thing. Thanks for the great video and you just added another sub to your channel!
Right on, glad to help! 👍
Thanks for putting this video together! It was very helpful. Just cleaned/rebuilt my espar heater. Took a 1 night camping trip the next day and wow- I think I had forgotten how my heater was supposed to run. It runs so smooth now!
Oh that's good to hear and so glad we were able to help! It's so nice to have a heater that works correctly. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you so much. Very detailed. Great video. Im a truck driver. And you have the best video ive seen. Safe journey my friends.
Thanks, you too and so glad you liked this!
Stumbled across your video after having problems with my heater in the Rocky Mountains last week just wanted to say your earring is very pretty
Thanks!
Sir, you are very good at explaining things with precision and detail. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge with us. It is very helpful. I'll do exactly what you taught in this video. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the feedback, it really means a lot! Glad you enjoyed this and good luck with yours! 👍❤️
I drive a big truck, this is my third winter with my bunk heater. I had it installed at thermo king in little Rock ar. When I picked my rig up there was no instruction manual, nobody took me out to my truck and showed me anything, they just took my money and said enjoy. Nobody said anything about yearly maintenance or anything. A few weeks ago I woke up and noticed my red light was on and no green light so I turned it off. I read where someone had this problem when they turned it up to high, mine was on 80 that morning so I decided I just had it up to high. Then last week I was outside my truck right at the 10 hour mark and as the unit was cutting off I noticed white smoke oozing out exhaust pipe of heater. This morning when I woke up and cut unit off I noticed my thermostat had maintenance on the screen. So I'm undecided if I'm going to do it or take it back to thermo king and have it done so they can check everything over. I plan to install a battery powered air conditioner this spring by them but I will certainly explain my disappointment in them not giving proper Instruction. After watching this I might just do the maintenance myself. Thanks for the Info.
Wow yeah too bad they don't share more information huh? We wish you good luck fixing it and so glad you found this helpful!
Thanks! My diesel heater was right at the brink of death! Using your video, I was able to save it!😃🙏🏻
Awesome!! So glad to hear that! Glad we were able to help you save some money! Thank you for the awesome Super Thanks - so appreciated! ❤️🚐🤗
Really helpful thank you. I've just managed to mash my atomiser into the chamber below. After seeing this I have the confidence to remove the entire unit from the van and attempt a repair. Cheers - All the best from a not so sunny England
Glad it helped and glad it gave you confidence! Good luck with it and we’re hoping for a happy outcome! Thanks for the comment!
Great thorough description of the maintenance for this heater, thanks Tim!
You're welcome Mike! Hope you have better luck than we did!
Thanks, been watching alot of videos on this recently and this is by far the most in depth. Thank you.
Sweet! So glad it was helpful and thanks for the feedback!
I would suggest you to add a proper inline filter. The filter in the pump is not enough. So you don't have to clean as much and it's much easier to replace. Mine works for years without problem. No cleaning. But your right with altitude kit and let it burn on max. I do it for max 15 min at the time especially if it was running at low power.
Hmmm, good suggestion. Thanks!
I use about 10 to 20% kerosine mixed with the diesel on mine (actually old jet fuel) and it keeps it much cleaner - no high altitude operation though.
I also have a separate automotive fuel filter on the fuel feed upstream of the pump.
Yeah ours feeds right off the van fuel tank so we’re kinda stuck with Highway diesel. But good idea on the fuel filter. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much, that was a very detailed report and much appreciated you do wonderful work, thank you sir
So glad you found it useful! Thanks!
Good info - I did a preemptive tear-down and cleaning at about 18 months. I usually do a 10-minute hot burn before turning off if it has been on low, so my chamber was really clean. But about a month later started having issues as you describe - failed starts/restarts. Ended up being the pulse pump. Even though it was clicking, it wasn't pushing enough fuel. Replaced and good to go now. Ordering another pump as a backup. Thanks for the content 😎👍🏼
You hit yours with a pre-emptive right when we should have hit ours! Glad to hear it's working for you and good idea on having a spare fuel pump! Thanks for the comment!
Thank you, Tim for this very important video and for pointing out the necessity for the frequently required maintenance.
Our Eberspächer (in Germany, Espar elsewhere) S2 unit was already installed on our construction company used 2014 VW Crafter (built compatible with a W906 Sprinter).
When I inspected the van prior to purchasing it, the undercarriage had a uniform brown / tan dust /dirt color - except for that blue fuel line. So it was a recent install and it works without troubles.
I was actually planning on buying a complete chinese diesel heater unit as a cheap backup, but I don't know if the holes and bolt holes will line up one to one. Servicing the unit seems good practice to keep the heater working.
Stay safe and best regards from Germany! 🚐☁🍀
Thanks for the comment. Glad you found this helpful and good luck with your new(used) van!😊
Thanks for putting this video together with such detail. Exact amount of information needed, have had this one saved for a long time. I remember watching this at the end of last winter 😂
Been dreading pulling it out and actually doing the job but…winter is coming! Hope all is well!
Hello and you're welcome! So glad this is helpful for you. Good luck with yours - you got this! 👍
Quick tip in getting that atomizer out easy. Eye hook screw and screw it in and pull it out. I had a loose 90 on the exhaust. It caused the flame being snuffed out & flooding the chamber with diesel. Needless to say i changed a lot of them atomizers. I run kerosene once a year to clean that chamber out. Great video
Thank you - that's a great suggestion for getting the atomizer out! We've tried running kerosene a few times but it doesn't fire up for us.
You mention finding a guy online who does a lot of heater maintenance - maybe link up that fellow's info for others to go peruse as well?
Nice video - in due time I'll have to see how much all of this translates to the Espar S3 hydronic heater. I've yet to install and use it so I expect it'll be some time before I have to worry about maintenance.
Thanks for the suggestion - here's that video: ua-cam.com/video/56HCZ0C0ORk/v-deo.html
Good video well explained
Thank you Rindo - glad you liked it!
I installed ours in 2019 as well. It's telling me to do the service (which I will) but the thing is still working great. I've just been putting it off thinking winter might actually show up again here in the PNW. Looks like know what I'm doing next weekend. Thanks! Also, like someone said below, this is by far the best step by step on the world wide web. I maintain multi million dollar multistage centrifugal compressors for a living so I wasn't worried about it, but it's always nice to have a little insight before hand. Cheers!
Well thanks, that’s quite a compliment coming from someone with your background! Glad you found this helpful and thanks for the feedback!
I've had mine in my semi for 9 years. I drive across Northern USA, so it gets used every night during the winter. A month ago I opened it up for the first time. I didn't get enough carbon to fill a thimble. I keep it set for 70 degrees and once a month, I run straight kerosene thru it set on high for about an hour.
Yeah we’ve tried kerosene a few times but could never get it to start up on kerosene 😢.
@@TimAndShannonLTD i normally run it diesel fuel so I'm guessing that when I run it on the kerosene, its starting on the fuel in the line before the kero gets there. I've got probably 4 foot of fuel line between the heater and the pump.
@@donmunro144yeah our situation is very similar but we have tried about 3 different times and no luck 🤨
Running it on kerosene once a year is key. And crank the temp up while burning kerosene. I’m 11 years and never had to open it up yet. Long haul trucker and I use it in my 130” double eagle sleeper. Keeps me nice and toasty.
Great video!
i wish it was this easy to remove it from the sleeper of my truck
great video,great explanation,thank you...
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed this and yeah I guess they can be installed in some tight spots, right?
Thanks!
You are so welcome - Glad this was helpful to you and hope you have better luck with yours than we did with our first one! Cheers!
The title should say Chinese brand Vevor and the new kid on the block Hcalory killed Espar.
My 5 year old Vevor is still working. I did replace the fuel pump with the new ultra quiet pump. It made a huge difference.
The Vevor and the Hcalory are the attack. The prices are down to 60 to 90 dollars at Walmart, eBay, Amazon, and Home Depot. I'm expecting to see them at my local Costco soon.
These heaters are awesome.
I made a true all in one very portable heater
I took a Ridgid medium size box. I added a Vevor heater, 20ah LFP battery, solar controller, cooling fan, USB, AC to DC charger. Fully rain proof.
Wow good to know lol! Maybe in our next build!
I have the Gasoline fuel model with High Altitude auto adjustment built into the model (M B4L). Hopefully this model will require much less fuss and maintenance than you have experienced.
Yes that would be nice!
There are replacement parts for everything on those so in the long run you can just rebuild them if you fail to do proper maintenance annually. Or save some money in the long run and just buy two of them to use one for replacement parts!
Seems kind of expensive for “just in case” but that’s just my opinion. Thanks for the comment.
good idea with the screwdriver bit to plug the fuel hose -- i've been using golf tees
Cool! I guess that would work too but I’m guessing not as tight of a fit and maybe some leakage?
@@TimAndShannonLTD it works pretty well but it requires some extra scrounging in my golf bag when the bit are already there
I bought the rebuild kit that you recommended.....it must be for an older model. My espar has a rubber gasket along with a green fiber gasket. The glow plug electrical connection is also different. My glow plug looked good so I won't need to replace it this time.
Oh wow sorry to hear that. Is yours an Espar D2? or something else? Glad the plug looked good anyway!
It's an S2 D2L that I bought and installed in 2020. I probably should have torn it apart before I ordered the parts. After realizing this I went online and found different rebuild kits that include a rubber gasket and a fiber gasket and a glow plug that doesn't have the quick connect..... just the wire ends where you need a special tool to install them into the wire harness. I could cut and splice the new one I received and make it work but I don't think I need it this time. I enjoyed the video....very informative. Just an FYI for other Espar owners.
@@TimAndShannonLTD
@@gstephenson7391 OK, well I'm so glad yours isn't a D2 and that our links are not going to a wrong product! And of course, also happy that the video was helpful to you. Thanks for this comment!
Thanks for your the video, What was the the failure of the unit and what error codes did you got?
We were never certain what the final failure was other than 2 yrs worth of carbon buildup. We guessed it was the Electronic Control Module. Never saw any error codes other than ERR which was only temporary when it wasn’t working properly.
Tim, two questions, please:
- At 10:40 you instruct us to "take the tool that came with the igniter". My heater is part of a Sprinter van that I purchased used, and I don't have that tool. Can you provide a link to purchase it as a separate item, please?
- What is the best way to determine whether I have the D2 or a different model?
Thanks; a very well-crafted video. I subscribed.
Hi Allan, thanks so much for your comments and the sub! If you buy from either of these links, note that we will get a small commission at no extra charge to you. This first one is the replacement igniter we used and it comes with the tool included: amzn.to/3nL7vzv
This link to a tool only (no igniter) also looks like it would work, but I have no direct experience with it: amzn.to/3RcbZeH
If you want to make your own, you can take a 12mm Deep, 6-Point Socket and cut a slot into one of the sides to accommodate the wire but really no point if you're buying the replacement anyway.
To determine if your Heater is a D2 or not, look at the label on the top or side of the heater, there should be an indication there I think. (our label says "D2" in one of the fields).
Hope this is helpful!
Very usfull coments. Thanks
You are welcome. Glad it was helpful!
I fix mine also...can you reuse the burn chamber? I was told to replace when doing maintenance. Thank you
Hmmm I don’t know for sure but I think if it’s not all gunked up it should be fine with no reason to replace the burn chamber. In the other video I refer to in the description, the guy shows how to clean the chamber with Brake clean if I remember correctly.
@@TimAndShannonLTD I soak mine in my buddies parts been washer fluid for a week and then I clean out the Crustaceans that are deep down inside that burner seems to help a lot. Then I'm able to reuse them when I do my maintenance.
Thanks for this video. Cant you do something to get the heater running again? Cant you replace some parts. Those are expensive heaters, I just paid over a grand for mine. 🥴 Did you try getting it going again?
Well yeah we did get it running again, but the motor wasn't running right and we feared it would fail again (probably when we needed it most). Like I said at 22:49, we had raun it on low voltage for too long, and I think that messed up the electronic control module, and we didn't want to gamble $350 replacing that only to find it was something else. We'd already had enough headaches with that thing for 2 years and decided that for peace of mind, rather than continue beating a dead horse, it was worth replacing it, knowing that with proper care and maintenance, we could have a reliable heater. So yeah - super costly lesson there, but now we know better! Thanks for the comment and be sure to maintain your heater and service it regularly!
Where we get repair kit pls explain
All the parts we used are linked in the description below the video. Hope this helps. Thanks -
Even though this runs of diesel, it can still kill your batteries over time?
If you’re referring of my mention of low battery voltage, that was because we were in the van in winter in Washington State with not much sun at all for solar panels, and we did not drive much (to recharge house batteries) nor did we plug in to shore power for about a 2 week period. All that lack of charging combined with still living in the van and continuously using power, dropped our state of charge and voltage. So yeah, the heater fan motor played a part in that but it had a lot of help from everything else. Hope this helps!
when you indicated at the beginning of the video that the previous unit died was it beyond repair? if so, what components failed to such an extent?
We were never sure if it was beyond repair or not but we were certainly tired of dealing with it and wanted a sure-fire fix during the cold weather last winter. As mentioned later in the video, we thought maybe the electronic control module was bad but we didn’t want to gamble $350 on a replacement only to find out it was something else. Ultimately it was our lack of proper care that caused all the problems - we will take much better care of this new one!
@TimAndShannonLTD thank you for your report of the problem, as far as you could determine. I guess another question would be is whether you PREFER a diesel type heater to the more common (typical in RV) propane furnace. and if so, why. thanks again for your note.
Hi again, @@drcoolit . We prefer diesel in this build because it draws off of the same fuel tank as the van's engine and also because we don't have propane plumbed in (we cook mostly with electricity except for occasional outdoor use of our propane camp stove. Another plus is diesel is not explosive, so it seems much safer to us.
@@TimAndShannonLTD outstanding info. I'm DEFINITELY looking into a diesel heater for my Avion! thanks again.
Isn’t Brakleen just Acetone in a spray can?
I honestly don’t know Glenn, but it seemed to work for us.
It's your battery voltage was not up Your glow plug would not be able to get hot enough.. you'll have white smoke.
I guess that could be the problem in some cases but we definitely also had trouble when we had a good battery charge as well. Thanks for the comment!
Just read the manual it’s all in there.
Not interested in one of these units now. What a hassle. I have a large bank of batteries. I’ll just run an area heater
Well you might just save yourself a lot of trouble.
Operator error.
Yep
You telling me these things run off the ⛽🫠 man I thought it was electric heat
Lol. Diesel my friend, diesel.