Another Attempt to Fix Diesel Heater E587
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- I believe this is my 4th attempt to repair my diesel heater!
Chinese diesel heater link: amzn.to/2Rlh6JE
Seven Grey is a nomadic minimalist who is wandering the world (traveling internationally part of the year and North American in his step van the other part)
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Japanese 4wd bus from schooliepalosa, running same heater, two years now. This is a job I will do to mine, in the future. When you share this content, it helps us believe, all things are possible. Good hands, great job,thanks
Hello from the high desert of New Mexico USA 🇺🇸. Congrats on fixing your heater. These heaters are very simple and not much can go wrong with them, 90 percent of the problems are caused by poor installation or by running the heater on low for too long , try running it on high for 10 minutes before you turn it off. I hope this helps you out. Keep up the good work and stay safe and charged
I later learned to burn the heater on high mode for several minutes each time I used it. I never had problems after that
Seven I have run them heather for years in my big truck it’s best to run it up on high a few minutes before you shut it down it will burn everything out and run much better
I always run it on high before shutdown (well, except for the very very first time I ran it and didn't know about doing that). but thx for the tip!
@@SevenWanderstheWorld A important place to check is the area around the glow plug. If you unscrew glow plug, you can clean the carbon from the mesh screen and area around fuel inlet.
@@SevenWanderstheWorld I fix these all the time if you want to know all the things I learned to save you time just message me .
Congrats! Great job, you are more skilled than you give yourself credit for.
Thank you so much 😀
Good to hear from you. Great job. You look like you are doing good and are healthy .
Nicely done! Been waiting a long time for this finale,
Happy to hear from you Seven! Great job on the heater!
Thanks!
Seven , seeing your travels in the step van is really inspiring! I had just recently had a grumman/chevy P30 step van offered to me and bought it with the intention to use as a work truck , your build has definitely persuaded me to go a different direction and do a full build out ! Love the videos!
Hi Seven you are doing a great job. With these heaters they are very basic and this is good if you are in the middle of nowhere they can be fixed. Things to keep an eye on is voltage on start up as glow plug pulls a lot of amps and if you have a voltage drop on start up the glow plug will start to soot up and need cleaning more often. (maybe worth keeping a spare in case) amp drop off when up to running temperature. Next is the fuel line if you ever change it keep the I/D of the pipe the same as it works best with the pulse from the pump. And keep an eye on the inline filter between pump and fuel tank. ( there is a few safety points I use myself on fitting. The main one is not to get carried away with thinking of mounting the tank higher than the pump and heater unit. In the event of shutting down the heater if the pump should be worn you could get the fuel syphoning back ie like a dribbling injector which will soot up and cause you problems. And using Diesel fuel is best as cleaner fuels add more ware and tear to the pump the only moving part in the pump is the spring and plunger that is operated by 12V solenoid) having said this these are good heaters once you under stand them and easy to fix. keep up the good videos and stay safe.
Crazy, I’m going on 3 years with my 5Kw with no problems, not even a clean out yet. Either the ones I have installed for other. You have me puzzled with yours! But at any rate, glad you have it working now! Nicely done.
Nice 👍
I have the same problem with mine. Been planning on tearing it down. Thanks for showing it's possible
good luck with your cleaning. actually was much easier than I thought
The alternate way of "cleaning-up" the soot is to blow air into the air inlet until all the white smoke disappers. In this way, you don't have to open them up. I've done it and it works!
I always love your videos Seven and it is great to know that you are safe and doing well. I live in Illinois and I don't think you'll ever really come this far north but if you ever do you're more than welcome to park at my place. Thank you for another great video bless you and thank you.
slight chance I'll be out on east coast next spring
Hey Seven, nice job getting it back up and running and just in the nick of time. I installed one in Gina’s bus a few weeks ago and had the same problem. Just installed the replacement and it’s working well but maybe we’ll open up the first one and see if we can get it working. Hope you’re doing well. 👍✌️
I suspect many of the units sold on eBay are refurbished and others are new... hit and miss if you get a solid one
Ah glad you managed to fix It & hope It stays ok at least for another year.
Congrats on an awesome accomplishment! Stay safe and healthy 🌻👏🏼🤩🤩🤩
thx. u2
Seven, I was getting worried I had not heard from you in a while. Glad to see that you got heat. Great job.
Great Fix .thank you for sharing ,hope to meet you some day ,big hugs from MN
Good Job! I wasn't as successful fixing my heater but you gave me hope and the will to try it again, thanks : )
Good job! I enjoy your videos, I want to get a step-van now that I'm retired. Looking forward to your next installment.
That’s Awesome that you were able to fix it in time for the cold weather season 👍👍
Nice video! Do a double check on the air intake, it might be partially blocked, wasps tend to build nests in most any hole they find. That much soot looks like its running too rich on fuel.
Happy Travels and stay Safe!
you the man seven awesome job. you have to do before winter every year awesome video I am proud of you buddy 👍👍🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦🛠️
Thanks 👍
Good job Seven! Always glad to see your vids. Been missing your posts. I love all things Stepvan related✌🏼🙏🏼.
Awesome! Thank you!
John McK 47 is the best resource on dealing with these heaters. One thing to consider is the fuel pump, which is a "bubble pump". Bubbles rise upward so if the pump is not positioned so that the fuel moves in that direction, the heater is bound to eventually have problems.
This is exactly his problem! The pump must be mounted beneath the heater at 45 ish degrees and the fuel line going upward only to the heater so the bubbles can rise evenly to contribute to a leaner burn.
Hopefully Seven reads this comment.
I have ran my heater for almost a year now with this set up and always do a 5min hot burn before shutting down. Have practically zero carbon build up.
Johns videos are amazing. I've watched most of them and used them as my guide to clean mine out and troubleshoot it
Mine has worked flawlessly for 1 year and now beginning 2nd year with no probs so far inciteful vid and hope the unit works for you and you get many years of use, It is an amazing unit with it's flaws such as no thermostat control but maybe they will figure a way to make it work and we will probably pay the price but would be worth it...thanks Seven....STA
If you've got the digital controller model they do have thermostat control. However by default they're in pump mode and you need a certain key press combination that puts it into temperature mode.
Love when a plan comes together!
me too!
Nice to see a video from you
Hey, thanks
Great job. Run it at full heat for a few hours once a week this will keep it clean I don't use deisel try using kerosene/paraffin it's a lot cleaner .God bless keep safe
Nice to hear from you. Glad you got that heater figured out.
We are facing tropical storms
Weather modification is for the birds. Take care.
tropical storms are better than full on hurricanes, but hope you aren't affected much by it!
@@SevenWanderstheWorld so true just lots and lots of rain. Take care.
3:57 With that much carbon in burn chamber, I'd suspect the exhaust tube and muffler be clogged too. Gotta run the unit on HIGH more often. Is this the 2KW or 5KW unit?
Great job
Look into Espar heaters. Almost all semi trucks have them and parts should be easy to find. Check semi salvage yards for a used one if new is too costly.
I always run mine on high for a few minutes before i shut it down to clear any soot. good luck
I run mine on high before shutdown as well... think it runs 2-3 mins on hight before powering down
@@SevenWanderstheWorld are you turning the temp up and letting it run for a bit or just its shut down cycle
Hey seven did you regular routine maintenance to stop it clogging up turn the unit on full blast for 30 minutes to 45 minutes every month that will help clean the burn chamber out it has to be extremely hot or it clogs up like what you had I did that with my German model Webasto I never had a problem with it clogging up now I have a Chinese version all-in-one diesel heater in my expedite van works great
thx for the tips!
Does an "all in one" heat water as well as air?
No you would have to get a different model model that's a different system altogether
Glad you fixed it, the Air Hole to the Aspirator Round Gauze needs to be fully clean, too rich Diesel will cause the unit to block up quickly & for sure use more fuel 😲
Love these videos!
Do you have a little propane back up while these projects evolve 🤔
Convinced the way to go ?
Dear Steven:
Am a Long Time Gypsy / Nomad, living and Traveling in 4 different Chevy step vans one of which had a Morgan Olson body.this was in the mid to End of the 1980s.
My paternal grandparents were from Hungry.
Am now a poet, writer, photographer, artist, Simpleton and SAGE in Training.
For the last 6 years have been Living in the Chicagoland NW Indiana / Michigan City Area in 2 different class A motor homes the first a Fiberglass 1991 Sterling 24’ on a I ton Dodge 360 Chasis the current one a 1986 Winnebago 27’ Sun Flyer on a 454 Chevy P30 Chassis with 85,ooo miles .both are named:
“ SERENDIPITY “.
Am heading To Lititz PA for my Daughter Diana’s wedding on Halloween!
Then plan on wending my way South along the Atlantic coast to Florida. Have lived on and Cruised south Florida, Miami, Ft. Myers & The Keys in two sail boats. “ Free Spirit “ & Simple Gifts “
And stayed in Key West in one of my step vans.
Am a former Navy fighter Pilot who Took my Officer Training and early flight Training in Pensacola. FL THEN Advanced TRAINING in Meridian MS and Outside CORPUS CHRISTY TEX. Ending up Flying out of Andrews Air Force -
Base Wash. D C.
Used to be a Ford Tractor & Construction Equipment dealer in Chicagoland with 5-6 mechanics.
My Chilean Mechanic RENATO would be able to make it work for you, he was a mechanical Artist!
I Used to race outboard boats & have done a fair amount of Mechanical work.
I suggest Two things:
1) see if some one can “ print the Seal for you using a 3 dimensional Printer. Talk to the “ MAKE “ community.
Maker Media, Inc. In June 2019, Make: magazine's parent company, Maker Media, abruptly shut down the bimonthly magazine due to lack of financial resources. ... As of June 10, 2019, it was reorganized and had since started publishing new quarterly issues, with volume 70 having shipped in October 2019.
The Maker movement “treats children as though they are competent.” Empowering students to realize their own powerful ideas and bring these ideas to life is a transformational learning experience, and the sort of connections from abstract to reality that will be necessary for students in tomorrow's world.Sep 15, 2014.
2) find an Experienced
“ Old School “ Truck Shop / mechanic like RENATO that can fabricate a common other Brand power Steering pump & Pully to fit your engine.
Keep up your good work.
Good Luck !
My Best,
Michael
Michael Egnatz
717.990.9545
AmericanAltarBoy@gmail.com
You need to regularly burn the heater on full at least once a month for 15min or more to keep soot from building up. Soot builds up by burning it on low and not getting it hot enough to burn it off.
I am still running my first unit which has been going for a full year untouched, living full time with it in oregon, but it has dust buildup making the fan loud for the last 6mo.
I bought two of the cheapest models as backup parts for 75 ea, but havent needed them yet. Awesome heaters, but easily affected by soot and dust accumulation.
Do you have your return air duct at floor level?
@@chapter4travels Yes and its sucking up all the dust from the floor.
@@jimbob3030 I guess you have no room to move that duct up? I'm planning on having my return about 4 ft. off the floor and the supply at floor level.
@@chapter4travels My stepvan is not fully insulated yet, cold air floods in at floor level and I have to pick that air up to make it comfy or my feet are cold. When I was using a propane heater the bottom of the van feels cool, the air at the top hot but it doesnt mix.
guess I should do another video to explain why I had all the soot... you'll never figure out how it happened LOL
hi seven hope your doing well . on my diesel heater i used oven cleaner to clean it it now works well :P i used mr muscle oven cleaner the foaming type
Did you clean the little hole out at the side of the glow plug as this hole sucks in air to vaporize the diesel.
Hi, watched you last video attempting to fix your heater, the glow plug should be tighter than 'finger tight'. you might find that your glow plug is sucking in air around the threads, this will most definitely cause sooting, as it does with diesel cars. Cleaning it may temporarily cure the issue, but it will come back. Also, lack of air supplied to the unit will cause this.
Glen is correct. A few minutes ran on high temp before shutting down will do a lot to keep that soot burned off. Was that an E08 code? I found a diesel leak which allowed air in the line. Anyhow, ya got it.
I didn't watch your install but you need to run the hard small fuel line or you will lose your pressure at heater and fuel will dribble into heater instead of squirting into chamber to be ignited. Will clog combustion screen. Good vid John Mck 47 vid # 11
I don't know what settings you've got your pump on but mine's been fine when did this after 2-years just to be inquisitive and there was nothing in mine just some discolouration
I had the same problem. I had installed a 6'5" exhaust pipe and it wouldnt work right, lots of white unburned diesel smoke . The issue was the pipe. Anything over the length of pipe that comes with the unit makes the intake struggle and allot of fuel just gets vaporized instead of burnt.
Dunno where you’re at but i have a beautiful rv spot near fairplay on my property
fairplay? I'd love to check it out. please use the contact form on my website by same name and I'll try to visit!
Congratulations! You underestimate the mechanical skills you’ve developed!
Wow, thank you!
It is not common to have consistent failures like this. Soot is a SYMPTOM...not the PROBLEM. You will likely continue having this problem if you don't change something. bad fuel ? What is the Power Level set on your glow plug (PF)? Try it on 5 or 6. At high altitudes you will run rich. If you are running the standard 22mL fuel pump, try the 18mL pump. I suspect that is your issue. You are running at heater at high altitudes so it is not getting enough air. I recommend you get a pump with a slightly smaller delivery rate for high altitudes. Before you do that, you could try setting the altitude on your LCD controller. I think this might only be available on the Blue and Red LCD controllers. It's probably set near sea level. Set it to your altitude.
Good job! Now you can come work on my AguaHot. :)
OK . I have NEVER worked on a vehicle diesel heater .. But I HAVE BITD worked on many Fuel Oil fired furnaces and boilers . You have one of a few problems . The combustion air is not correct , the fuel nozzle or fuel filter is restricted . Is the LENGTH of run for the INTAKE & OUTPUT hoses within spec's / both clear ?! If this thing has a FIXED orifice , but the PUMP delivers different VOLUMES , the COMBUSTION air HAS to change CFM's to have PROPER combustion . Further . I don't know what they are using as a Flame Safeguard , but I question how well it detects !! In honest truth , whereas I hope the filter / screen did the job . It should not have sooted up that bad , that quickly !! Water in F/O diesel can cause these problems . Hope it works sterling for you thru the winter . Oh BTW , have s son who lives in Broomfield and he told me about the temp change day .. ATB .. gubs .. P.S during Pre-purge during the start up cycle " IF" it shows when the Pre- purge is done and has a idiot light to show power to the HSI / Glow coil . You can check if it is working right with AMP meter . IDK what that one pulls , but 3.1 or so is common on a lot ... bg
I know you have a history of not posting a reply but here goes ~ was all that soot from using off-road diesel or debris going in your air intake (or both)?
I do not know how Seven uses that heater, but even with good quality fuel it will be full of soot if it is always used low power. Different models can also cope better or worse with soot, I have seen heaters that use vegetable oil without problem and also heaters that need cleaning more than once in a year with same diesel as car is using.
actually it was caused by my own doing... a couple years ago two different mechanics told me that for my 96 older diesel that after an oil change I could dump my old gunky oil in my fuel tank. so, I did that not realizing the heater unit was going to be pulling from the same tank and although the engine eats the oil right up, the heater filled with soot and didn't take long before it died. now I know not to do that (should have mentioned that in the video... guess need to do a follow-up video eh?)
YOU'RE BACK!!! YAY S EV E N
Yo - 7 . you and i were near Buena Vista at same time . i was at my usual spot. where were you ?
didn't see you. in June I was down at Northrop where we camped before for 2 wks. I looked for you but didn't see you around (note: didn't go to the south spot you mentioned you would try following yrs)
missed you by few days . i there or nearby, 8 july for a cupl months. maybe nxt yr. hang in there.
if it builds up like that have spray can of carb cleaner spray it in to it it will clean up easly
Cheap dirty heat (diesel fuel) high maintenance...how many months between cleaning?
I will buy the wave 8 don’t want to clean, lazy me.
Lots and lots of people are using these heaters without issues. When they are installed properly, they run very clean. Propane produces a lot of moisture which can create problems in small spaces, also propane is far more dangerous than diesel.
Greg White Aw good to know! Wonder what Seven did wrong?
@@DVtxtradeforvanlife I don't know but I linked a facebook page dedicated to troubleshooting these heaters in another comment. Maybe they can help. The root cause is that the instructions that come with the heaters are terrible Chinese translations.
I need to explain what I did (user error) to cause the soot. nothing to blame in the rig or heater... totally my fault...
Seven Wanders the World
oh ok can’t wait for that video 🙂
The issue is the fuel to air ratio. Too much fuel and the smoke is black, not enough fuel and the smoke is white. Either condition will can cause the heater to fail to ignite. One is due to the heater not getting hot enough, white smoke, and the other is the amount of unburnt fuel, black smoke, clogging the whole thing up as you have shown. To complicate matters the air flow across the unit at low and high speed can cause the chamber to be too hot or too cold? To fix the underlying issue you need to run the unit and observe the smoke, black, white or none. The goal is to get no smoke at all. There are some charts out there with “recommended” settings, for different altitudes, but the smoke is the real tell. In short, you need to go into the service menu and fix the issue or it will just happen again.
Long time no see of Seven!
I've been reclusive due to covid self isolation and cautious social distancing (and not inspired to do any videos)
I thought about getting a cheap one too , now not so sure lol 🤔.
If you run it on low battery power it will soot up a lot quicker.
Sounds to me that these units are utter crap. If you are clogging the combustion chamber, that is a big sign of a very inefficient combustion. This does two things, you are wasting fuel and creating smog.
Sounds to me like you need less fuel or more air.
It would be interesting to hook up an exaust gas analyzer while it is running to see how bad it is.
Do your self a favor. get some foam panels and cover that glass when it is cold. you have a giant thermal window causing you to try and "run uphill" to try and stay warm replacing the heat you are losing.
disagree. I believe it is a very very efficient heater
@@SevenWanderstheWorld
My position is based upon the evidence that your combustion chamber was clogged with soot. To me that is a clear sign of incomplete signing of your fuel. ( i.e. inefficient combustion.)
Yet, you disagree. Why so?
@@SevenWanderstheWorld I am afraid that you really do not understand efficiency when it comes to this kind of heaters, yes they use little fuel and generate great heat, but when they sod there is a mismatch in fuel/air ratio and that is the same as a low efficiency because with the right fuel/air ratio (and air flow and temperature in the burning chamber) you get the highest efficiency.
If the heater have different modes like low/middle/high you know it is shit because this kind of heaters have only one real mode and that is maximum what ever that will be, and that is the level where it is most efficient and make the lowest level of air pollution, so with different levels you just get bad operation conditions for the heater and bad efficiency and high pollution of the outside air, sorry.
The best thing when it comes to efficiency is to have a heater that heats water and have a sufficient amount of water to circulate to the places where you need heating, they can operate with two levels: full blast and off, this is ok for water heating because the water is a heat buffer, for a air heating system the full blast and then off operation is not that comfortable.
If you use additive on you diesel tank .? You will have build up on you unit. Please install the tank it came with and use fresh diesel with no additives. Use it and save headache.
Pos breaks just when you really need it
Please listen to everyone....on high to start on high to stop....same as woodstove creosote...hot hot hot burns off carbon.
Replace the glow plug
This facebook page is dedicated to troubleshooting issues with these heaters, that group may be able to help you so it doesn't just soot up again. facebook.com/groups/146837062640024
wow thanks for the link!
Try kerosene
Run a fifty-fifty mix of diesel fuel and kerosene every couple of months to keep it running clean as a whistle!!!!!!!!!!
I saw that in a video from Aussie John. however, mine is hooked directly to my main diesel tank
@@SevenWanderstheWorld
You could fit Y fitting just before the pump and draw a mixture from there !!