Circulation Heating System

[qayqayt]

I found a 1500 watt circulation pump in the engine compartment of our bus.  It has an electrical plug, much like a block heater.  It looks like it circulates coolant through the bus heating system and through the engine.  If I was to plug this in, what does it do?  Does it act like a block heater? 

The bus still has the over the road heating system and it works really well.  Other than that the interior is only heated with a propane furnace.

Bryan
Vancouver BC

[Iver]

I have one of those heaters.  I was going to install it as a block heater but my new engine has a block heater already installed.  I've heard they work fine as an engine pre-heat.
             Iver

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Bryan,

It sounds like the pump was part of an auxuallry system like a Proheat or Webasto.

It also could have been a booster pump for the heater system.

Good Luck
Nick-

[FloridaCliff]

Bryan,

It may be related to the pump switch, located by the fill door for your cooling system surge tank.

May be used to help burp the system or ?......haven't really looked into it!  Just throwing an idea out.

Check to see if you have that switch.

Cliff

[WEC4104]

My guess is that the pump provides a means to heat the interior of the bus when it has been parked after being driven.  Under normal conditions, when the engine stops, the water pump stops, and all the residual heat is left sitting in the engine compartment.  Perhaps your electric pump provides a means to move this heat to the bus interior.  By any chance, do you have a 110VAC fan also hooked to your heater inside?   You might think of it as an anti-engine block heater.

Edit:  Reading this again (more carefully), I see that he menions it is 1500 watt, so it must have heating capability in addition to being just a pump.  Oooops.

[bobofthenorth]

It sounds like you have a 1500 watt recirculating block heater.  They are common on industrial and farm equipment in the great white north.  I'd be surprised if they were much use for heating the coach - after all they are only 1500 watts - but they work great to warm the block up for starting on frosty mornings.

[busshawg]

They WON"T work to heat you bus interior but work very well as a stand alone or in conjunction with your block heater to preheat your engine.  I have used them on several diesel operated farm tractors as Bob mentioned. They can be used at the same time as your block heater, they do work well. They have nothing to do with any other heating system as far as I know. They will heat your motor quicker and better than a block heater , at least from my experience.

Grant

[qayqayt]

Thanks for the quick replies.  I was going to install a block heater, but it looks like this will do the job.  I'll plug her in and see what happens.

Bryan

[JohnEd]

Brian,

Don't rule out "misadventures" on the part of a PO.  As installed, it may not function.  It sounds as though it is not in there correctly.  Try looking up the mfr and see what the variables are for installation.  If the pump is really in line with the defroster and interior heat I should think that the pump itself would "block" the flow of coolant to the bus.  If it is a pump/heater combo it will do precious little in the way of heating the interior of the bus....I agree with Bob and The Hawg.

HTH,

John

[Paso One]

Thanks for the quick replies.  I was going to install a block heater, but it looks like this will do the job.  I'll plug her in and see what happens.

Bryan

This will work way better than the block heater. I have one on the bus it's been on for years as well as I have a truck with one.

[Gary '79 5C]

These work well for heating the block, and not much more.

They are a great retro fit to an older diesel that needs a preheat and you can not find your 6' cheater bar/pipe to remove the frozen block heater plug.

Quite common in MB diesels with the problem of frozen block plugs.

[Marcus]

Nick, I have been trying to get in contact with you through your emails in your profile and your website with no success. Here is my email address : marcschlabach@yahoo.com. I am interested in split air conditioners. Thanks, marc