Diesel Fired Heaters

[cliff]

O.K. The old Eberspacher is ready to go for a swim - terminal illness.

I was looking seriously at Mikuni heaters - cheaper than Eber and none of this "5 missfires and you are locked out" lark but before I finally part with the beer tokens I would be interested in others experiences, particularily of Mikuni heaters. We all read the tales of woe on the forum about Eberspacher problems - are Mikuni as bad? - or are they worse?

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[pvb]

Tales of woe...

It's probably true to say that most of the "tales of woe" about Eberspachers on this forum relate to second-hand units being installed - often badly, and usually without the benefit of detailed installation instructions. Almost all problems with Eberspachers are the result of not installing them in line with the manufacturer's instructions. Properly installed Eberspachers are stunningly reliable. My current boat is 14 years old and the original-fit Eberspacher has been out only once for service. I've had Eberspachers on 2 other boats, with similar excellent service.

Reasons why you hear fewer complaints about Mikuni are: 1) they haven't been around as long and so there are far fewer in service, and 2) there are very few second-hand units in circulation, so most will have been properly installed.

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[brianhumber]

Re: I find the Ebber excellent

Have to say the Ebb on Ronhilda is now 16years old and has only required one glow plug in the eight years I have had her.
The only other problems have been corrosion due to dampness getting into the control panel relays. This was due to how the unit was fitted. The panel was dismantled, cleaned up, and relocated and has worked without problems since.
The manual is excellent for DIY fault finding.

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[Anonymous]

I installed the small Mikuni in my Centaur in 2000. The equipment itself is fine and is built to a high standard. The electronic controller provides fault codes for fault finding but I never used those as the only problem I ever had was getting a good power supply in place. You really do need to put in good direct wiring with low ohms. Beware cheap inline fuse holders which can have high-ish resistance.

Some tips that the Mikuni distributor gave me....

a) Keep the exhaust pipe short and don't bother with the swan neck (though I did put a swan neck in myself).
b) Install a fuel filter, don't rely on the inline strainer
c) Use the heater 'as much as possible'. Mikuni make these for busses and trucks and are a market leader, they claim, but they are designed for heavy use and problems tend to stem from lack of use rather than over-use.
d) The fuel pump ticks so situate it where the noise won't irritate you
e) Recirc/fresh air is your choice - consider arranging the design so that you can vary it according to conditions (on my present boat the recirc inlet is simply a louvred outlet and can be adjusted from full open to shut) - works well, cheap, reliable, easy to understand. On the Centaur I had the heater under the cockpit seat, effectively in the cabin, with 100% recirculated air and this was comfortable in all seasons in that boat but might not suit other boats where some fresh might be better.

Having now experienced the Eberspacher on my new boat for a while I would say that from a user's viewpoint the Mikuni is indistinguishable. But then for me, both work(ed) perfectly anyway.

I've not heard any tales of woe about Mikuni on the various forums that I watch but could it be that they tend to be installed by the user and are therefore used and serviced with more competence and care than is the average Eber?

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[omega2]

we run a butane gas one, it starts up every time even though it is only switched on every Preston Guild, granted we do not live on the boat but it warms quickly when required. Propex is the name.

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[William_H]

Coming from a point of knowing nothing of Eberspacher or any other boat heater except what I have read on this forum I can't help but think that all the problems come from the electronics which sequence the auto start and thermostat facility. So if the metal work is ok I would be looking at going fully manual operation. ie throw away only the electronics. So I am guessing you need some fuel into the burner then stop flow, you need to heat the glow plug until fuel ignites then start fuel flow to get operation. You need to stop flow at start so that the glow plug is not flooded (cooled) by the excess fuel (but there is enough fuel to vaporise and burn)and you need to control the heat by the rate of fuel going in when running. I am guessing it is like an old oil heater I had at home way back. It also sounds a bit like starting a spirit cooker. Please don't you take any notice of my suggestions but if it was me I couldn't resist considering. Unless you feel you must have an auto start heater however you might think about it. Regards will (the crazy tinkerer)

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[longjohnsilver]

I also installed a Mikuni in place of an Ardic, which IMHO was crap! I've had it now for 4 years or so and it has always performed faultlessly. The ticking of the pump is noticeable but I guess all other makes probably have the same pump anyway.

I would happily buy one again.

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[Cloven]

Get a Mikuni. Easy to intall and run trouble free. Had one for 4 years on a previous boat without the slightest problem.

Now got an Eberspacher due to change of boat and have spent all season & about £500 getting it OK.

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[Steve_N]

What didn't you like about the Ardic? I installed one in my previous boat and it ran faultlessly for years. Beautifully crafted out of stainless steel too. I was well impressed by it.

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[longjohnsilver]

Ardic

What didn't I like about it? The exhaust hose rotted thru for a passtime, the local dealer was nothing but rude and sold me aluminium hose rather than stainless, the cabin always filled up with fumes, could never stop that happening. Well not quite true, it didn't happen most of the time cos the bloody heater usually failed to start! I changed the glow plug, fuel pump and various other assorted bits and still it refused to work. Eventually gave it away!

Someone I know bought one from new and after a season he ripped it out and chucked it over the side! Needless to say neither he or I will be buying one again!

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[ChrisE]

Re: Tales of woe...

You might be right but ours was installed by an Eber engineer in 2004 and has been high maintenance from the off. It hasn't worked for a whole season since it was installed. The three strikes and you're out is a particularly annoying feature that nust have been designed by the Eber post-sales income department. I can understnad why they might put something like this in the system but why it needs an engineer to reset.

We are installing a drip feed diesel heater this year and will use the Eber unitl it goes wrong agian then it will get the bum's rush

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[pvb]

Installed this year?...

If you only had it installed this year, Chris, and it doesn't work, why not just reject it and claim a refund? You shouldn't be out of pocket because of a faulty item less than a year old.

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[ChrisE]

Finger trouble

Sorry meant 2000, I'm no engineer and rely upon Eber agents to maintain and repair and I've been less than impressed by their service so am drawing a line under the whole episode.

My reasoning behind the drip feed heater is that even a enginophobe like me can take it apart and maintain it mysefl with simple tools.

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[moodycruiser]

We have just ridden ourselves of an eberspacher as well and bought a Mikuni - retained all the eber ducting so an easy installation as it uses the eber exhaust as well. Been running great now for 6 weeks and another live aboard in the same marina has had hers for a year with no complaints.
Warm and toasty /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony

 

[cliff]

Looks like I was correct in my first thoughts to fit a Mikuni. NExt question - what size?

1.9kw or 3.5kw - boat is a Sadler 34.

Original Eber looks like a D1L - 60 mm ducting but not against replacing this with 80mm for the bigger unit Opinions gentlemen - sorry gentle persons........

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[Peppermint]

Re:Agreed

I've got six of them in vans and, apart from them eating batteries, we put a dedicated on in at install, they're not much trouble. The service networks good too.

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[longjohnsilver]

Go for the greater heat output, the smaller unit will be ok when it's not too cold, but it would be a bummer to feel chilly on the coldest days. From memory there's not much difference price wise.

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[Robin]

Which Eber model did you have and which Mikuni replaced it please? We have a D3L Eber, came non working with the boat and never bothered with it, it hasn't been used for 9 years now and I'm reluctant to waste time/money on it (control switch was broken, boat in Med so no heater needed). Have thought about buying a new unit but using the existing ductwork, if the exhaust could be used as well that would be a bonus.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[moodycruiser]

Hi, we had the D3l as welll and replaced it with the Mikuni MY30. No problems with the install but suggest you mount the fuel pump for it somewhere reasonably soundproofed or you will hear the tick-tick. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony

 

[longjohnsilver]

I would suggest placing an offcut of neoprene between the pump and whatever you fix it to, this certainly deadens the ticking noise.

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