Chinese Diesel Air Heater Part 15 Seals, Gaskets, Safety
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- In this video I hope to give viewers some understanding of the two seals and the two gaskets installed in these little diesel air heaters.
From new, these heaters give very little trouble if installed correctly, operated correctly, and maintained correctly.
However, because these Chinese copy heaters are now so cheap, they have opened up a whole new market that was previously closed due to the cost of the genuine item.
This has led to a lot of owner install and owner maintenance of these Chinese copies, whereas the genuine manufactures of these heaters insist on professional install and maintenance.
It is uninformed owner install and incorrect owner maintenance that has given these cheap copy diesel air heaters a bad name.
My goal in doing this series of videos was to try and bring knowledge and understanding to those of you who will do owner install and owner maintenance.
As I tried to show in this video, incorrect owner maintenance can lead to low level CO poisoning. It is tempting for owner maintainers to reinstall damaged gaskets, rather than install new gaskets, and to incorrectly reinstall the two seals.
As I have tried to show and demonstrate here, it is generally not just one issue causing serious problems but a combination of issues, just like airplane crashes.
Just a broken gasket will not cause CO levels in your accommodation, but a leaking gasket AND a wrongly inserted seal, (or cracked seal) taken together WILL cause CO poisoning.
SAFETY -
If you install any appliance in an accommodation area that burns any type of fossil fuel, be it a wood fire, diesel heater, gas stove, gas space heater etc. Or you have some form of central heating or furnace that burns fossil fuel and delivers hot air into an accommodation area, you really should install a carbon monoxide alarm, and have some form of external ventilation. This may be as simple as one window left a little open, or as complex as some fancy fan driven fresh air ventilation.
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM -
If you install one of these domestic CO alarms I suggest you purchase one with a screen that will tell you actual CO levels, even if subject to a delay, rather than one with just an alarm. A CO meter with a level indicator readout can warn you of low level CO poisoning even if the alarm itself is not triggered.
Of course, to be effective the alarm must be in a proper position and somewhere where you can easily see the screen.
Low level CO Poisoning is a serious issue and not well understood. It is very hard for doctors to diagnose and is often wrongly treated.
If you have a burning appliance in an accommodation area, or one that directs air into an accommodation area, be it home, caravan, workshop, shed etc, I would suggest you do some basic research so as to have some understanding of this low level CO poison affliction, and how to recognise the symptoms.
BACK DRAFT -
On shutdown the ECU shuts off the fuel, turns on the glow plug to burn off unburnt fuel, and runs the fan until the heat exchanger cools down. There is no sensor for unburnt fuel, and the heater turns off when the heat exchanger is cool, not when all the unburnt fuel is expelled.
Once the fan stops turning any remaining unburnt fuel goes out the exhaust and also comes back through the burner inlet air vents and into the front chamber, here it then escapes out through the burner air inlet pipe.
However, if either of the two seals are damaged or not installed correctly, this fuel air mix can escape into the accommodation area.
Also if the combustion air inlet pipe is in the accommodation area, rather than outside, or its inlet is close to the burner fresh air inlet, you can also have a fuel smell on shutdown.
If there is a lot of carbon deposits in the burner it holds excessive fuel and can contribute to back draft issues.
Also if the heater is installed in a cold environment, (eg, under the van) the heater will cool very quickly and the ECU will shut the fan off before all the unburnt fuel is expelled out the exhaust.
With a properly operating heater there should be no fuel smell in the accommodation area.
CONCLUSION
This is my last video in this series as tonight I fly out for three months sailing on my sailboat in the Med. I hope that some of you were able to increase your knowledge and understanding of these great little heaters, and I have given you some hints on proper install, proper operation, and proper maintenance of these heaters.
Thank you to those who gave me positive feedback and a thumbs up in this series. I did not ask for any thumbs up, but I am very grateful to receive them.
As always I will do my best to answer any questions and reply to your comments as soon as I can, but please be aware that internet connection is intermittent on a sailing boat, and safe boat operation takes precedent when we do have a connection.
I will strive to catch up on all questions and correspondence when in port.
Once again thank you for watching. JMcK - Auta a dopravní prostředky
A very informative series, John. You'll never know how many of us you've educated. Thanks & Cheers.
Wow! Thanks 19Ken49 for the positive comments. JMcK
Watched every one of your Cheap Chinese Diesel Heater video series in just two days and have to say you put a massive amount of work into them all, this is the new standard for judging CZcams DIY videos, and the final video was a possibly life saving capstone of this whole series. Well done! Please enjoy your Greek island vacation. You deserve it sir. And thank you.
Thanks for the nice comments Dell. JMcK
Binged it
Hi John, real nice video’s you made! I have a question. I have run a new diesel heater a couple of times and a little smell comes out of the hot air outlet. Smell like hot/melted plastic. First I thought it was because it was new. But it doesn’t go away. Do you have any idea what it could be? Just wanted to ask before I take the whole heater apart
“I’m not an artist so you’ll just have to suck it up if you don’t like the drawing.” Lol I love the drawings! My friend your hand drawn sketches are clearer and more detailed than most of the engineering diagrams I work with.
As many have said, thank you for sharing your knowledge and making this video series.
John, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you for making these videos. I bought a Russian-made version of this heater and how it worked (and didn't) has been a mystery. Now I understand, and your video helped me fix a problem with the fuel pump. Guess what? The instructions I received said to mount the fuel pump horizontally! Thanks to your videos, I've fixed a few other install problems as well. I was so very frustrated with my heater, and now I understand what I need to do to keep it running properly. Again, thank you.
Hi SL, pleased you found the videos helpful. Keep warm. JMcK
Thank you Mr. John. I can almost guarantee you’ve saved lives and have educated me to the level I strive to learn on all my mechanical endeavors.
Hi Dirtyface, thanks for the positive feedback..JMcK
Hey John, I’ve just watched all 15 of your videos making pointer notes from all of them. I just wanted to say thank you and say how much I appreciate you time, effort, level of detail and professionalism. You’re a wealth of knowledge in which all of us are better off having watched these. Many thanks from our team in the Canadian Arctic.
Wow Scott! Thanks for the positive feedback.
On another note, you being in the arctic, are you able to answer a practical question for me?
Most of us know that the tilt of the earth is increasing more and more every year, moving the arctic circle further north every year. Theory says your summers will become warmer, and your winters colder. Do you find this true in practice up there?
Keep warm. JMcK
Thank you John, this information could save lives... great series on diesel heaters 👏👍
Thanks for the feedback Marky. JMcK
John thank you for your videos on the Diesel heaters. Where can I purchase online the replacement parts for the 5kw Chinese heater. Also the combustion air filters you show on your videos. Thanks again.
These videos are excellent, I'm in the UK and recently installed one of these, as you know the instructions aren't great and there isnt really any aftercare from most sellers of these heaters, however,
Your videos are well presented informative and essential really for anyone who has one of these. Thanks for your effort in making the series I'm sure loads of people will have great use of your videos
Your welcome Sam. JMcK
Wow SOS, thank you for your kind comments, and pleased you found the series helpful. JMcK
Four years later, thank you for your videos. 👍
👍😁
Wonderful breakdown of safety and seal concerns. Thank you!
Edit: Thank you very very much for creating this extensive series about these heaters!
I hope if people understand what can go wrong, they can mitigate the consequences. Low level CO poisoning can be very serious. JMcK
Awesome series. Very detailed and informative. Thank you. 👍
Thanks Robert. JMcK
Excellent series of Videos!!
Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Your welcome Susanne. JMcK
I really enjoyed this series of videos. Thx John
Your welcome Richard
Absolute wealth of information in these videos! Thank you so much!
Thanks for the positive feedback Derek. JMcK
Thanks John for all the information and enjoy your break away .
👍
Thanks to these series of videos I'm able to troubleshoot my own installation and to make sure my family is safe inside the campervan, so in name of my whole family, we thank you!
Hi Mr G,
Thanks for your positive comments.
Pleased I was able to be of some help.
Regards. JMcK
All the information you have given on diesel heaters is priceless for me. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into this series.
Hi Brenda, pleased you found the videos helpful. JMcK
Excellent session on safety, nice job John
You did a fantastic job with these videos. Thank you so much.
Thank you. JMcK
This series is so great.
I was linked through a comment on Amazon.
Thanks for the positive feedback John. JMcK
great series thanks a lot.. I learned a lot by watching these
Your welcome Sunnylandcamper.
Thanks, John. Best video series about how something works ever
Thanks for the positive comments Jesse. JMcK
john you make the most thorough tutorials thankyou .
Thanks Marcus, pleased you liked them. JMcK
Thank you John, wishing you well.
😀
Absolutely fantastic series. Hope you enjoyed the Med.
Thank you L of A. Pleased you liked the series. JMcK
Absolutely priceless information.
Thank you.
Pleased you found the video helpful David. JMcK
On ya John !! A very informative series of videos . Has helped me to get a better understanding of how these heaters operate . Many thanks.
Your welcome Syd. JMcK
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge John, hope you have a great getaway. Cheers
Your welcome Peter, and I hope so.
John your are good man. Really appreciate what you have done here. God bless you.
Your welcome Gus. JMcK
YOU are best....
And you doing a hard but great job.
Wishing you all the best.
Thanks Mr Turcin
This was great John, I really appreciate that you took the time to make this ❤
Pleased you found it helpful Jeff. JMcK
Thanks for the scientific rigour, I'm about to install one of these, so I'm very appreciative.
Your welcome GW. JMcK
this is beyond useful i have no words actually. Thank you.
Well thank you AH. I am pleased you found them helpful. JMcK
Thanks for all your hard work on these very informative videos, appreciated.
Your welcome. JMcK
Invaluable information, Top bloke. Thanks for taking the time to post
Glad to be of help DMC. JMcK
That was a great tour in 15 parts. This last safety episode I think is the most important. Thanks for setting all this up !!!
Glad to be of help Ray. JMcK
Thank you for this series, Sir.
Your welcome MOMO. JMcK
Thank you Mr. John McK 47 for posting this serial of very usefull videos. Greetings from Serbia.
Your welcome Momcilo.. JMcK
Thanks. I really appreciate your thoroughness and attention to detail.
Have a fantastic time in Greece.
Thanks Richard. JMcK
Excellent video series. Thank you very much. I bought a all-in-one heater while back. I just finished installing the heater in an ammo box. The plan is to install it back door of a van.
Thank you very much for putting all thse videos. I appreciate it very much. Quite educational, now I am ready to install mine in my Town and Country minivan
Thanks for the positive feedback Dragon. JMcK
Just finished you series, and followed along, gathering maintenence tools and buying spares as I use my camper (4x4) van in remote wild places so this info is essential for me. Hope you enjoyed your sailing John and thanks again for taking the time and effort to put your experience of these little heaters online for all to enjoy, forever! Great job
Thanks for the nice feedback Kaylem. JMcK
Great series John. A to Z of diesel heaters in simple, informative and interesting format. Well done mate!
Thanks for the positive feedback Peter. JMcK
Great job, John, thank you very, very much !
Your welcome Hans. JMcK
Hello John , I have just completed watching your series of videos , I am really glad I came across them as they are very helpful and informative , thank you for doing them.
Your welcome Shaun
Fantastic job, God-bless you sir 😊❤🙏
Pleased you found it helpful RG. JMcK
I have followed all your films on these heaters I am very grateful for your energy and thank you from the bottom of my heart thank you again Piet.
Thank you for your kind words Pieter. JMcK
Thank you for the wonderful video!
It was a reference for maintenance.
Hi M, pleased you found it useful. JMcK
This video series is a real gift, John. Thanks for your sharing your knowledge and experience with such clarity, thoroughness, and attention to detail. Here's to you!
Wow Dan!
Thanks for the positive comments. Pleased you found the videos helpful. JMcK
Great video! My heater is running rich and is filling my camper with fumes I’m going to take apart and have a look.
THANK YOU, Sir for these GREAT Video's on the Service and Repair of, and What to look for when thing's go wrong with them.
I sure appreciate your Hard Work on these video's. Thank's Again.
Hi Mr ExLaw, it is the positive feedback I get from guys like you that make the effort really worthwhile. Thank you. JMcK
Simply excellent series of videos. You should be very proud and thank you. First time I've ever left a comment.
Thanks for the positive feedback Me Dino. JMcK
An extremely useful and helpful series of videos, thank you, John. Your efforts are very much appreciated. I'm receiving my new heater later today, and will no doubt be referring back to your videos again in the future. Thank you again !!!
Thank you for the positive feedback peoplepassion. JMcK
Exceptionally helpful videos!! I've watched several today and find your videos very informative. Thank you for posting the series.
Pleased they were helpful Aaron. JMcK
Excellent video, I will be sourcing the spare parts for maintenance before I fit mine. Thanks.
👍
What a great contribution to all of us who are heading down the diesel heater path for the first time. So much information, thanks John, your videos are great!
Hi Shane,
Thanks for the positive feedback.
We must be distant cousins. Same spelling.
Cheers, JMcK
Thank you from the USA
Your welcome Ken. JMcK
You deserve a lot of credit. I will be spreading the word about your videos.
Thank you for your kind comments GW. JMcK
Hi John, I am so grateful for your videos. You put tremendous effort in explaining the working of these little but fairly complex machines to the benefit of all of us. Thx 1000 👌
Hi Bart,
Thanks for the positive feedback. I am pleased you found them useful.
Cheers. JMcK
Thanx for these informative vids,huge effort.
Pleased you found the videos helpful. JMcK
Thanks for the effort you put into making these videos John, I have just installed a heater into my caravan and you sharing your knowledge made the job so much easier, thanks again mate
Your welcome Mick. JMcK
Excellent information maybe even life saving. Been watching your videos on these diesel heaters very interesting. You're a proper engineer that is very clear. 👍
Thanks for the positive feedback D. JMcK
Best info I've found on all of CZcams. Thank you so much mate!!!! Enjoy that sailboat...I'm still building mine.
Pleased you found the video helpful Brent.
Going back to Boat in Med early May for 8 weeks sailing. JMcK
Wonderful explanation. Thanks John for preventing many casualties .... you are a good teacher 🙂
Hi Ton, pleased you found the video helpful. JMcK
Thanks a million. Your videos are so helpful. Without them I’d have a list of dos and donts but I wouldn’t have a true understanding of the heater.
Thank you for the positive feedback. Glad I was able to be of some help. JMcK
Hi John, thanks for taking the time and effort in making these videos. I’m waiting for mine to arrive and plan on installing it in my boat, and your series of videos are invaluable. I’m on Ireland’s west (wet) coast and a warm/dry boat will be nice over the winter 😁
Thanks for the positive feedback David. Safe boating. JMcK
Congratulations John, a terrific series of videos full of great information. I now feel confident that I can safely install and maintain a diesel heater in my caravan. Thanks for a very informative video series. Best regards, Paul.
Thanks for the positive feedback Paul. JMcK
thanks so much for these videos. i left a string of questions and comments in the previous videos in this series, hopefully someone can answer some of them, but either way thanks again
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the feedback.
I try and answer as many questions as I can, but I do miss some.
If you have questions that I missed, please ask them again.
JMcK
Excellent series of videos. Should be required watching for anyone with a diesel heater. Thank you for the time and expertise you put into this
Thanks for the feedback Michael. Pleased you found them helpful. JMcK
thank you for all your hard work , have grate day
Your welcome Sodbuster.
Great series of videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them. I am in the process of installing a 5000 watt unit in my sailboat. You have given me a lot of good information to help with that installation.
Tim
S.V. Away
Thanks for the feedback Tim. JMcK
I too have watched all your videos - before installing one for a friend - please let me second everything Dell has said. The series is so well put together and organised it could easily be a TAFE course.
Well, thank you for those comments Ross. I am pleased you found the series helpful. JMcK
I am about to purchase one of these heaters, I came across your videos 2 days ago and watched all 15 of them.
I want to say that I have learned so much from you and would like to express my appreciation for producing these valuable assets for anyone thinking of buying or owning a Chinese Diesel Heater.
Thank You.
Well thank you rorymax for your kind comments. Glad I was of some help. JMcK
I will revisit all your videos to give thumbs up... I generally forget to do that. But I never forget to subscribe when I am faced with good and thorough info! Thank you so much!
👍
John, a fantastic series and so useful. Thanks for your great work and I hope COVID-19 hasn't cramped your sailing this year!
Thanks for the feedback Peter. Sadly, no sailing for me in the Med this year due to Covid issues. JMcK
Great series! I am compelled to become a heater tech. All I was looking for in the beginning was basic maintenance. You made it easy for me. Thank you.
Hi MTA, Pleased you found the series helpful. JMcK
You deserve a medal for the essentially life saving advice your research knowledge and expertise given to your watchers. Many sincere thanks. Hope by now you have had a safe journey to you on your trip to Greece.
Thanks for the positive feedback Kevin. JMcK
Thank you sir for sharing your thoughts with us
Your welcome SS. Hope they were of some benefit. JMcK
Thank You So Much For ALL YOUR Time & Trouble To Do ALL Of Your Videos , & To Probably Save Lives or Sickness or Be Real Mad & Miserable, So God Bless & TOTALY ENJOY Your Sailing Vacation & I'll be Looking For Your Next Videos Rich & Terrie From Grand Junction Colorado
HAVE A Great Safe Trip
Every single Chinese diesel heater manufacture should be paying you commission. Really informative series, watched every video. Thank you so much for taking the time to do these.
Well thank you OF for the nice comments. Pleased you found the videos helpful. JMcK
My heater came with the screws of the combustion chamber loose. I could smell a light exhaust gas smell, which got worse over time.
it also leaked through the exhaust connection into the heater cabinet.
I changed the clamp for a better heavy Duty one, and used exhaust sealant.
Thanks for the great video, helped a lot!
Best Regards from Brazil!
Hi MSP,
Thanks for that info. I will file that away as a possible cause of smell from a heater.
Pleased the videos were of help.
Cheers, JMcK
Easily one of the best and most important pieces of information regarding diesel heaters! Thanks a lot mate, awesome work!
Also I really like the calm and focused style of explaining.
Pleased you liked the video Marius. JMcK
Thank you what else can I say brilliant video
Thanks for the positive feedback Alan. JMcK
Really useful info thanks!
excellent video, thannk you for your hard work here on this Sir, hats off to you.
Your welcome SE. Thanks for the positive feedback. JMcK
Another helpful video John. thx a bunch
Your welcome Mr Nelson. JMcK
After having watched all the series, I feel like I would just have been a course for a technician. Thank you. Should be able to sort my self out if I run into some challenges....
👍
Thanks for the videos ... your videos are best explanation regarding how this heater works, and the role of each part, and and what to be caution when repair your heater ... I have to watch all the series
Thanks for the positive feedback 2891. JMcK
Very informative thanks iv learnt a lot just runing one in the Uk
Thank you for the feedback. JMcK
After the first run which went great on the 2nd run my heater started leaking fuel from the unit itself. I figured it was an internal gasket issue but before I cracked it open I did some yee ol' youtube research and found this video linked by another creator. This was a great help mate, thanks!
Also while CO is a big concern and precautions should be taken diesel engines (which I know this is NOT) produce far less CO than gasoline engines. My buddy told me a story how they left a diesel truck running overnight on purpose in a warehouse to kill bats and rats that had infested the structure. All the buggers were still alive the next morning, not one dead bat or rat. They then did the same thing the following night with a gasoline engine and the CO produced by that killed all the bats and rats stone dead. In any regards having some CO detectors in the occupied area the heater is warming up is a must.
Hi 420,
Thanks for the info and feedback. JMcK
What can I say? brilliant presentation as always. I'm getting an excellent understanding of these complicated machines thanks to your easy to understand instruction. Many thanks once again.
Thanks for the positive feedback John. JMcK
Great video thank you
The handwriting is a give away! This man was an architect/engineer of some sort professionally.
Thanks much for the helpful info!
Pleased to be of some help Jimmy. JMcK
Well explained in words I can understand, no bullshit. Thank u, cheers
Your welcome Bob. JMcK
John Thank You SO Much For ALLYour Tips & Especially Your SAFTY Tips & The EXCENT Demos You Do To Try To Help People Be as Safe As Possible & I Wish Everybody That Uses Any of These Heaters Would Watch ALLOf Your Videos , I Tell Everyone That I Think Might Even Be Thinking About Getting One Tk W SAtch Your Videos & I'm Going To Do Your SAFTY Measure Befor I Ever Use Mine To Include Get New Extra Gaskets & Use A Larger Intake Hose, Thank You JOHN Again & God Bless You Always & I Hope You Have A Fantastic Time On Your Trip ,Rich From G.J. Colorado 👍👍👍
Sure wish i had found your site before i even bought my heater, let alone installed it John. Would of saved me a few bob, that's for sure.Looked at about ten sites before i installed it, not one mentioned about the type and size of the fuel line and only one or two mentioned about tilting the pump. Have not yet fitted my new pump and line yet, but shall be following your instructions. I am most impressed with your presentations. Thanks very much.
Thanks for the positive feedback Kevin. JMcK
Thank you John for your amazing Videos. Best regards from Germany, Felix :)
Thanks for the nice feedback Felix. JMcK
Enjoy your break away on your boat John and thank you
👍
Hi John! Thank you so much for this video, once again, It´s perfect. And it has helped me to understand much better about how this heaters work and to diagnose problems. Yesterday I´ve finished to instal my heater in my van and I´ve found that this chinnese unit is defective, it has started to blow lots of smoke inside the van, and now i understand why. Most probably has a leaked inner gasket and another from the plug or fuel one. And it makes exactly the same strange sound of a rich combustion, like the one you´ve shown on this video. It´ a brand new heater... it makes me wonder the quality of this heaters. Maybe I was unlucky, but either way, i rather spend a bit more money in a better one because I don´t want to take any risks. I am going to unmount everything and return it. Thank you so much once again!!!