Bleeding Eberspacher system

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martin

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and I mean bleeding system!

Brand new Hydronic installation with about a mile of water pipes and 5 cabin blowers ...7 months old.

Clapped out a few months ago (just as it got cold), works intermittently, could be air in pipes as burner seems to burn and pipes seem hot to touch. But who knows could be a pump or something, diagnostic codes should be renamed enigma codes. Clearly product designers live in their own little world and have never met an actual "user/customer".

Spoke to installer (wont say who)...hmm could be this, could be that, no "as fitted" documentation at their end, none that I can find on board.. unable to explain how to bleed the system on the phone !!!

Scoured the net for instructions or hints tips or clues...no joy but loads (and loads) of unhappy people..... Spoke to Eberspacher head office this morning, still no joy.

Have purchased several silent, simple, electric radiators and plugged them into mains.. because.... I am clearly far too incompetent to own and run a modern diesel heating system fitted by some very clever engineers.

So ......has anybody got any simple instructions anywhere, that may help a stupid, inconvenient, annoying customer like me, bleed his very expensive and totally useless heating system, shortly to be ripped out and dumped in the sea...when it gets warmer or course!
 
I have a similar but smaller system on our boat, installed it myself. Each of the matrix units (at least on my system) have bleed screws on both inlet and outlet pipes. I fitted "balancing" valves so that water couldn't circulate around the "ring main", the idea being that I could close the valves to force water through the matrices. So, fire up the system, open the bleed screws (have a container to catch the liquid as it escapes) and keep open until there are no bubbles, just liquid, being expelled. If not enough liquid being expelled then partly close balance valve. Continue bleeding. You need a mate to watch the header tank and replace liquid as it is drained via the bleed screws. Move on to next matrix. Once done it works a treat and produces much more heat than our blown air system. Perservere with it is my advice.
 
If you have a system with a hopper, change it to a pressure system with an accumulator and a Spirovent, I never use the hopper method anymore and don't have any issues with getting rid of air and being called back to bleed as I frequently used to.
I do have a marine install manual which is quite comprehensive and though it is Webasto the principles are identical, if you PM me an email address I will send you a copy, I'm sure it will help.
As a get you started method you could try a major purge by starting the pump and removing the outlet hose for a second, heat exchanger air locks are quite common and this gets rid of them effectively.
 
Thanks for the tips

Thanks for taking the time to try and explain the tips guys ...it still doesn't work and still no reply from manufacture..

I have decided to scrap the whole system and move on, meanwhile have got the leccy heaters in each cabin...which are frankly easier to live with.

Next year the boat is moving to the med anyway so will get the whole system replaced with air con (that also heats) from a company with good customer service and support.

Its my second boat with Eberspacher heating and my second bad experience, so I wont be making this mistake again..
 
Hold on a minute! I've just woken up to the fact this thing and it's install are only 7 months old, I assume it was installed by an official Eber marine dealer, if so then you have an on board warranty and they should be round to fix it PDQ, I know I would be out of embarrassment if nought else. Even if not, both the product and install should be under the installers warranty. This sort of thing gets the industry a bad name and it makes me quite angry.
 
precisely

David2452 said:
Hold on a minute! I've just woken up to the fact this thing and it's install are only 7 months old, I assume it was installed by an official Eber marine dealer, if so then you have an on board warranty and they should be round to fix it PDQ, I know I would be out of embarrassment if nought else. Even if not, both the product and install should be under the installers warranty. This sort of thing gets the industry a bad name and it makes me quite angry.
Click to expand...

me too... shame on them..
 
I've had a similar problem with after sales on an Eberspacher system from a dealer further West than London. Paid a lot of money for a full marine install and within a year we started to experience issues with gargling in the exhaust and the unit failing to start. After closer inspection it turned out that the original installer had put a very shallow swan neck on the exhaust and every time we went through lumpy seas the exhaust would take in water through the skin fitting. The dealer eventually sent someone out (after I cornered them at the boat show in front of the Eberspacher head honcho and pointed out the safety concern!) and agreed that it was an installation fault. That was early September, now end of December and loads of emails and phone calls later I still can't get them out to resolve. (Apologies Mr.Cross, we will be in touch in the week or Apologies Mr.Cross, the latest batch of exhausts we received were faulty... just some of the excuses).

I'll be forwarding on the ridiculous email chain on to head office in the new year and following up with a phone call.

I'm with Paul, Webasto for me next time!
 
Webasto, Eberspacher, Mukuni, Wallas et. al. will make no real material difference, it's all about the quality of the install and the after sales service from the installer, not the kit, that is all decent stuff. I would never take an Eber dealership, but that's more about other stuff than the quality of the kit.


crossy said:
I've had a similar problem with after sales on an Eberspacher system from a dealer further West than London. Paid a lot of money for a full marine install and within a year we started to experience issues with gargling in the exhaust and the unit failing to start. After closer inspection it turned out that the original installer had put a very shallow swan neck on the exhaust and every time we went through lumpy seas the exhaust would take in water through the skin fitting. The dealer eventually sent someone out (after I cornered them at the boat show in front of the Eberspacher head honcho and pointed out the safety concern!) and agreed that it was an installation fault. That was early September, now end of December and loads of emails and phone calls later I still can't get them out to resolve. (Apologies Mr.Cross, we will be in touch in the week or Apologies Mr.Cross, the latest batch of exhausts we received were faulty... just some of the excuses).

I'll be forwarding on the ridiculous email chain on to head office in the new year and following up with a phone call.

I'm with Paul, Webasto for me next time!
Click to expand...
 
David2452 said:
Webasto, Eberspacher, Mukuni, Wallas et. al. will make no real material difference, it's all about the quality of the install and the after sales service from the installer, not the kit, that is all decent stuff. I would never take an Eber dealership, but that's more about other stuff than the quality of the kit.
Click to expand...

I installed my own Eberspacher (Airtronic D4). I had a problem with the burning tube, but having replaced that, and changed the fuel to low sulphur, I haven't had any trouble with it at all. In fact, very pleased with it, and it's on a lot.
 
Eberspacher Head office !

Crossy, I have similar issues. Gave up speaking to the installer in the end. Pointless as they wont even let you finish a sentence most of the time before talking over the top of you. Always a sign of being on the back foot. Guy from central office - Cust Services pledged to sort it out ..but never heard another thing from him. Not even a meaningless promise, just silence.
 
martin said:
Crossy, I have similar issues. Gave up speaking to the installer in the end. Pointless as they wont even let you finish a sentence most of the time before talking over the top of you. Always a sign of being on the back foot. Guy from central office - Cust Services pledged to sort it out ..but never heard another thing from him. Not even a meaningless promise, just silence.
Click to expand...

Martin I'd be naming the installing dealer on here , this isn't good service.
A friend , think I mentioned him when we did sea trial bought a p54, he had two Webasto units fitted, turned out a shocking fit out to the point fumes were present inside the boat due to a poor exhaust installation.
Your not on your own here I can assure you.
 
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