Blasted Eberspacher struggles to start in the cold!

Cardo

Cardo

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Our Eberspacher D2 is a temperamental sod and often takes at least 2 or 3 goes to start. I recently serviced it as it had got to the point where it point blank refused to start. Inside looked like it hadn't been serviced in quite a long time.

However, what I've noticed now is the colder the outside temperature is, the more false starts it goes through. This morning, it took 7 goes to get it running. Ironically, it finally fired up as I started typing this.

Anyone know what might be the cause of this behaviour?
 
Poor starting is often a voltage issue. You might try checking the actual voltage at the heater during the starting phase, which is when it draws a large current.
 
Several start attempts before ignition is a high indication of fuel supply issues, how is it if you run it for fifteen minutes, turn off and start again? When I say fuel issues I mean incorrect fuel supply, fuel tube too big a bore, fuel not taken directly from the tank with a proper standpipe, air being pulled in from loose joints downstream of the pump etc. so check those are correct. After a while fuel runs back to the tank if anything over 2mm bore tube is used, meaning that effectively you are bleeding the fuel through when trying to start, if there is no appreciable smoke when it does fire up it reinforces that diagnosis. If there is a load of smoke which clears within a few seconds then it becomes less likely.
 
Our D3LC keeps having senior moments when it won't start without either the engine running or charger on. I suspect there's an intermittent bad connection somewhere but I'm bu**ered if I can find it so will have to get around to renewing all cable terminations/joints.
 
On my (ancient) D1L I eventually worked out that the glow-plug relay had developed significant resistance (significant at the 20A drawn by the glow plug).

I modified it so that the existing relay drives a heftier external relay supplying the glow plug. Now starts with no trouble without running the engine :)
 
VicMallows said:
On my (ancient) D1L I eventually worked out that the glow-plug relay had developed significant resistance (significant at the 20A drawn by the glow plug).

I modified it so that the existing relay drives a heftier external relay supplying the glow plug. Now starts with no trouble without running the engine :)
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+1 My D5W needed the same solution.

Volts lost in the original wiring etc ..
Used the glow plug connection to (only) operate a Heavy duty relay, with a good 6mm2 cable -fused but direct from the battery -thence to the glowplug.
No further misbehaving since. :)
 
I dunno. Mine has always been like that. For years. Kind of par for the course is that it will start on the second attempt. Lately it has amazed me by starting on the first try, a number of times in a row.

As long as you can eventually get it started, I don't think you need to waste any money on service. Count your blessings.
 
Tomahawk said:
Buy a Webasto.....


Nuff sayd
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I think that's a bit over the top, being an offical dealer and service agent for Webo, Mikuni & Wallas but not Eber I would still never denigrate them, all have their problems and one is no more or less reliable than the other, as I have said before and I'm sure folks are tired of hearing it most faults are down to poor installation and or lack of service, they are not fit and forget and nobody would treat their boiler at home with the same disregard I'll venture to suggest.
 
I'm thinking it may potentially be a wiring problem. Fuel supply is fine, I can see the fuel pumping up to the unit pretty quickly, and I've only just serviced the bugger so I know it has fresh parts in it.

Ah well, another job added to the list!
 
David2452 said:
I think that's a bit over the top, being an offical dealer and service agent for Webo, Mikuni & Wallas but not Eber I would still never denigrate them, all have their problems and one is no more or less reliable than the other, as I have said before and I'm sure folks are tired of hearing it most faults are down to poor installation and or lack of service, they are not fit and forget and nobody would treat their boiler at home with the same disregard I'll venture to suggest.
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From what I understand, all of these units are slightly unsuited to marine use anyway.

First of all, they are not designed to run on high sulfur red diesel. Some people run them a few hours every month of two on paraffin -- it's supposed to help clear out all the deposits which result from burning red diesel.

Secondly, they are not really designed for continuous use. They are made for trucks, after all.

Might be worth considering a separate fuel tank for paraffin or white diesel.

But in general, I am more or less satisfied with mine. It's not a big deal to start it a second time. I try not to run mine continuously - I use electric heat when I have shore power. And shut it down when I go to sleep at anchor (you don't want it sucking down your batteries all night anyway).
 
Dockhead said:
Secondly, they are not really designed for continuous use. They are made for trucks, after all.
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With due respect, thats rubbish, the best thing that can be done with an eberspacher is to run for 12 or 18 hours continuously regularly. That will keep the combustion chamber clean. Stopping, starting when only using for short periods is what clogs them up.
 
jimi said:
With due respect, thats rubbish, the best thing that can be done with an eberspacher is to run for 12 or 18 hours continuously regularly. That will keep the combustion chamber clean. Stopping, starting when only using for short periods is what clogs them up.
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I have heard differently, but I do not claim to be an expert.

In any case, I generally run mine for 4 to 6 hours if I use it at all. I don't really see how 12 to 18 hours would be better. They reach full op temp within a few minutes. More hours is more grammes of sulfur and other **** through it.

Like that, I get reasonably good service out of mine, with some years between expensive service. I know others who have to have their combustion chambers cleaned and/or glow plug changed every year or even more often.
 
My ancient (second hand) D1Lc always needs the engine running to start. But given that, it does always start first time. Even ashore for the winter I remove the engine impellor and run for the 2 minutes it needs. I'm fairly sure the volt killer on mine is the big black fuse holder. One day I'll get round to removing/changing it. Mine runs permanently on paraffin and hasn't been serviced since fitting about 5 years ago.
 
jimi said:
With due respect, thats rubbish, the best thing that can be done with an eberspacher is to run for 12 or 18 hours continuously regularly. That will keep the combustion chamber clean. Stopping, starting when only using for short periods is what clogs them up.
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Indeed that particular argument holds no water, though they are designed for trucks and plant which also used to run on high sulphur diesel (no need for any marina to still sell that by the way), trucks run them for very long periods overnight, cranes operating 24/7, and it is the best thing for them bearings aside. Modern marine versions do have subtle differences to vehicle models too. The Wallas was of course designed for marine use from day one and operates on an entirely different principle but even they have their drawbacks, not the least of which is price and the fact that many owners see them as fit and forget.
 
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