Eberspacher and paraffin

jimi

jimi

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Currently on the boat running paraffin through the eber to decoke it. The eber is a lot warmer when I do so and I think it'd be a good idea to install a small paraffin tank with a two way switch before the pump so I can switch between diesel and paraffin. Anyone done this and if so what did they do (use)?
 
jimi said:
Currently on the boat running paraffin through the eber to decoke it. The eber is a lot warmer when I do so and I think it'd be a good idea to install a small paraffin tank with a two way switch before the pump so I can switch between diesel and paraffin. Anyone done this and if so what did they do (use)?
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When I was in Holyhead I used to stop in Carrog on the way and buy 20 ltrs of kerosene, that was what he called it, basically 28 sec heating oil. I tok off the suction pipe from the tick tick pump and put it in the bidon and fired her up. Worked fine, also cleaned the carbon out according to the US Espar site at the time.
Stu
 
Daverw said:
I understood that they don’t recommend doing this anymore
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Who is they? The UK lot got the ump when I did an article for PBO. Said Eber never recommended it so I got the link to Espar and a copy of the advice to prove they did. Im going on the hunt via google now.
Stu
 
Daverw said:
I understood that they don’t recommend doing this anymore
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I'd be interested to know who "they" are, and do you have a link to this.
The reason for asking is that my fuel supplier still only does high sulfur diesel, and this gave me a lot of trouble with my Eber. For a long time, I was reduced to burning white diesel, at great expense! I have now found a reliable and cheap source of kerosene, and have established that it is "K1", low sulfur. I've been running the Eber on that for most of this year, and it's been fine.

I installed a separate tank with a two-way cock, so that I could revert to the main tank if needed.
 
I understood that “they” were eber US and only recommended for a short time, this was the story when I asked our local eber guy about it. My D3 has only ever had deisel through it and when check last year was clean.
 
jimi said:
Currently on the boat running paraffin through the eber to decoke it. The eber is a lot warmer when I do so and I think it'd be a good idea to install a small paraffin tank with a two way switch before the pump so I can switch between diesel and paraffin. Anyone done this and if so what did they do (use)?
Click to expand...

You may have read my other reply, but to answer your questions directly: yes I installed a 20 litre plastic container, secured into a cage-like structure made of 6mm stainless rod, with a standard Eber tank top fitting. I piped it with 1/8" copper tube to a two-way cock next to the pump, so that if I wanted, I could revert to drawing from the main tank. Initially, the tank was to let me use ULSD white diesel, as the high sulfur red diesel that I had been using was giving coking problems with the Eber.
Paraffin prices are ludicrous. I have seen paraffin for sale at £8.50 for 4 litres, but I am now getting K1 (low sulfur) kero for between 60 to 70 pence per litre.
 
I ran my Eber D4 on the last boat solely on kerosene from new and it ran sweet and never coughed once. Paraffin I understand no longer exists as a proper product, and is kerosene.

I am thinking about installing a Planar, not sure what Owen has to say about kerosene rather than diesel.
 
savageseadog said:
Any hardware shop
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The trouble is that the pre pack stuff they sell bears no relation to the stuff we used to use, Esso Blue? Both in price and smell! Thats why the garage near us that I mentioned sells 28sec heating oil and calls it kerosene. at around 30-40p a litre a lot cheaper than diesel and as mine and others experience on here shows it burns ok, also cleans the combustion chamberand doesnt do any harm.
Stu
 
savageseadog said:
Any hardware shop
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None I’ve tried.

At first I asked for paraffin. None suggested kerosene. I’ve now called two regarding kerosene. No sir.

I’ve tried B&Q ... only 4 litre containers of paraffin , Homebase neither product, even Toolstation and Screwfix don’t stock it.

Neither is either product listed on 3 chandlery sites.

I do try before I ask :)


P.S. How silly of me. Although it’s made from the PUREST paraffin it’s not called paraffin :nonchalance:

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/oil-lubricants/oil/lamp-oil
 
Last edited:
Bav34 said:
None I’ve tried.

At first I asked for paraffin. None suggested kerosene. I’ve now called two regarding kerosene. No sir.

I’ve tried B&Q ... only 4 litre containers of paraffin , Homebase neither product, even Toolstation and Screwfix don’t stock it.

Neither is either product listed on 3 chandlery sites.

I do try before I ask :)


P.S. How silly of me. Although it’s made from the PUREST paraffin it’s not called paraffin :nonchalance:

http://www.marinesuperstore.com/oil-lubricants/oil/lamp-oil
Click to expand...

Need to find a proper "old fashioned" hardware store that has a tank of the stuff (probably heating oil) out back. I can take a gallon container into one near me and they fill it up.

Not yet run my planner heater on it though - a question for Owen on it's suitability but I can't see it being a major problem as they are so similar to Weber/spatchers.
 
SailSouth said:
Not yet run my planner heater on it though - a question for Owen on it's suitability but I can't see it being a major problem as they are so similar to Weber/spatchers.
Click to expand...

Not similar at all. I have asked Owen and he tells me it is a definite NO. Planar heaters run a lot hotter than the others and will be damaged by running on kerosene/paraffin. But thanks to this temperature difference they do not soot up like the others, so there is no benefit in trying.
 
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