Chinese Diesel Heater Install

Scott & Heather · January 11, 2021, 04:09:28 AM

Haven't been on here much lately. Just trying to survive a complete collapse of my career thanks to lockdowns which appear to have done nothing at all to stop the virus but have most definitely destroyed all of the momentum in my 12 year music career. Ok enough about that.

We are in Michigan this winter where I have at least some work. I've always heated the coach with a few space heaters and tossed one in the plumbing bay too so pipes wouldn't freeze. This works but results in a huge monthly electric bill and honestly managing three or four space heaters with kids turning them up and me turning them down...it just became pesky. So I finally drank the kool aid and bought a Chinese Diesel Heater. Took me a solid day to install in my front luggage bay, and ducted it throughout the coach. I've been running it for about a week now with zero issues and wonderful dry even heat. It keeps us at 75°F when the temp is 19°F. But I do have a feeling that it won't keep up once temps fall to the single digits. Thinking of buying a second unit to add some BTU. But for anyone wanting to do this, it's worked for me. Time will tell on the longevity of these cheapo units. But I could buy ten of them before I was out the money for one Webasto or Eberspacher.

dtcerrato · January 11, 2021, 07:16:24 AM

@Scott&Heather
Sorry about your misfortune. I have followed your posts and am confident you will make a comeback. IMO
10-4 on the Chinese Diesel Heater install.
I know several avid busnuts who use them with great results and for the prices they sell for - why not?
We just bid on two identical units so one can keep the other running in emergency.
Keep us posted as yours is in real needed action!
Good luck and keep the faith...

lostagain · January 11, 2021, 07:22:44 AM

Up here around Calgary, you often see diesel boiler heaters on Market place. I bought a used Webasto Thermo Top C, 17,000 btu. They are used in transport trucks for cab and engine pre-heat. I plumbed it inline with the coolant hose to the front driver defroster. It heats my baggage bays, the dash heat, and the engine. Works like a hot damn. It just needed a good clean and a tune up. And reliable too...

luvrbus · January 11, 2021, 07:26:25 AM

Quote from: Scott & Heather on January 11, 2021, 04:09:28 AM
Haven't been on here much lately. Just trying to survive a complete collapse of my career thanks to lockdowns which appear to have done nothing at all to stop the virus but have most definitely destroyed all of the momentum in my 12 year music career. Ok enough about that.

We are in Michigan this winter where I have at least some work. I've always heated the coach with a few space heaters and tossed one in the plumbing bay too so pipes wouldn't freeze. This works but results in a huge monthly electric bill and honestly managing three or four space heaters with kids turning them up and me turning them down...it just became pesky. So I finally drank the kool aid and bought a Chinese Diesel Heater. Took me a solid day to install in my front luggage bay, and ducted it throughout the coach. I've been running it for about a week now with zero issues and wonderful dry even heat. It keeps us at 75°F when the temp is 19°F. But I do have a feeling that it won't keep up once temps fall to the single digits. Thinking of buying a second unit to add some BTU. But for anyone wanting to do this, it's worked for me. Time will tell on the longevity of these cheapo units. But I could buy ten of them before I was out the money for one Webasto or Eberspacher.

They are a low cost alternative and you are right you can replace 10 of those for the price of a new major brand boiler plus they are made to throw away went they fail,they cost less than you can have a tune up done on a AquaHot,I saw those for under 75 bucks in Texas the guy would take 50 bucks if you purchased a lot of 5

richard5933 · January 11, 2021, 07:45:31 AM

The only concern I'd have with those units is safety. Things like proper insulation, spacing, etc.

Are you able to compare to an Espar in that regard? I watched a video from a truck guy comparing them but he didn't get into the safety aspect.

luvrbus · January 11, 2021, 07:53:43 AM

Scott installed in the bay I wouldn't install one in a confined space or inside the bus like I saw people do

dtcerrato · January 11, 2021, 09:12:11 AM

One can build a safety net around it the way it's contained or mounted.
At least they're combustible fired & not flammable.
I get nervous when I see the word gasoline in their literature!

richard5933 · January 11, 2021, 11:19:03 AM

Here's a side-by-side comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cIWUD-OM4A&t=3s

The Chinese one he's got is supposed to be a gasoline model, but apparently it only runs on diesel.

windtrader · January 11, 2021, 07:41:18 PM

I'd add a few extra toxic fume alarms. Easy to think that cheap crap could easily leak out diesel related fumes into the cabin.

dtcerrato · January 11, 2021, 09:50:48 PM

The same author of that video has another on one of the 1st Chinese air/water heater. In the UK sells for $350. Don't see them on line here yet. Then he has another video of a place in UK that has an attachment that goes on the hot air out on the cheap air heater to heat & pump hot water. Pretty cool stuff for really cheap.

neoneddy · January 11, 2021, 10:30:04 PM

I bought 2, installed one. Keeping the second as a hot spare. In my poorly insulated coach, nothing like yours, our single one has kept it 60+ into the single digits. My family seems to prefer to sleep cold so it's no issue.

Jim Eh. · January 14, 2021, 07:47:49 AM

I run one in my race trailer. Works great (when I actrually get to use the trailer) and ordered another one for the bus. 2 caveates ...
the controlers are not very good but spares controller panels are available separately

and

I run mine on kerosene when in a group - less smoke/fumes - cleaner burning. If you utilize the tank that comes with it, run a gallon of lerosene through it one in a while to clean out the burner chamber.

windtrader · January 14, 2021, 09:29:16 AM

Quote from: lostagain on January 11, 2021, 07:22:44 AM
Up here around Calgary, you often see diesel boiler heaters on Market place. I bought a used Webasto Thermo Top C, 17,000 btu. ...

I'd be inclined to shop at a large truck wrecking yard and harvest something like this. Sure used but first grade quality used is a better deal than the cheapo china units.

chessie4905 · January 14, 2021, 10:26:12 AM

Maybe, but those Webastos are a major pita from all the posts with issues over the years. And expensive. At the price, even I might consider one or a few instead of propane.

Jim Blackwood · January 14, 2021, 11:13:47 AM

The Eiberspacher in my 102DL3 is rated over 80,000 btu and came with the bus as OEM equipment. Pretty common for any northern D series of that era so they should be available. I know of at least one person scrapping out a bus that has one. Mine fired right up and works fine, is clean inside. I can't see it costing all that much to buy one in good condition.

Jim