De-coke Mikuni hot air heater.

[Lucy52]

According to the manual, my MY16 heater is in need of a de-coke.

What is the best way to remove the carbon?

Would brake cleaner help? Soak bits in vinegar or Coca-Cola?

How have you done this with your heater?

Thanks.

 

[gardener]

Hi, i was hoping for some answers on this for myself however what i know is
Remove the glow plug and clean, not to rough. And it is important to remove the glow plug boss and clean, if you do not clean the boss then the glow plug will carbon up in no time. Up to now this is all ive been able to find out. I would NOT use brake cleaner or anything to soak with. Just use a wire brush and a s all drill bit in your fingers only to clear out the holes in the boss. Hope this helps

 

[Lucy52]

Thanks gardener that is helpful, I haven't taken mine apart yet but will tomorrow. With a bit of luck an expert will be along to let us know how to do it. Meanwhile I will get along as best I can, I can't be the first person to do this gtiven the trouble people have with these heaters.

 

[alahol2]

I have read in various places (possible fake news warning!) that running a couple of litres of paraffin (kerosene) through the heater has the effect of decoking and cleaning up the burn chamber. I only use paraffin in my (secondhand) D1LC. Although it doesn't get a great deal of use it has now been installed for 17 years and is still running fine with no sign of problems.

 

[Elemental]

I have a Mikuni heater. For years I battled with it - it seldom burned cleanly, or lit reliably. I changed the glow plug, cleared the exhaust and still nothing. The few times I could get it to work it spewed unburned diesel...

I contacted Mikuni UK (MV Heating – Heating for boats, vehicles, cranes, narrow boats - 023 8052 2345) and they were extremely helpful. They suggested that I send the unit back to them for diagnosis and a day or so later they called back - it needed a de-coke. By all accounts, if they're not used for long periods of time and then only for short burns they coke up really quickly. They offered to blast it clean with something (slurry or sand or grit or somesuch) but and the unit was returned having been serviced (new flame detector and something else - I forget). All up cost was about £100, that was five years ago but since then it's been absolutely faultless. Now I run it pretty much every time I arrive on the boat except in warm weather.

So, I'd suggest you give them a call and discuss it with them. They're very knowledgeable.

 

[PlankWalker]

I have no knowledge of the Mikuni, but my Eberspacher greatly appreciates being run on a cupful of quality paraffin for half an hour at full blast.
It seems to burn the coke out.

 

[Lucy52]

Thanks to all. I'm not sure how to run a cup full of paraffin through it but I have heard similar tales about diesel engines. I think I will send it to MV Heating and let them sort it as it sounds like the best solution.

I had thought to swap it out for a more popular make but you hear simmilar stories of them all failing from time to time, so if I can get reliable service from it then I may as well save my money.