Eberspacher D4 question to the panel

peteandthira

peteandthira

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 Jan 2005
Messages
786
Location
On boat
Visit site
Dear Eberspachers

I would like to fit a filter in the fuel line before the little metering pump. My "installer" says it might not work and the metering pump might not pull the critical amounts of fuel required, and also adds that Eberspacher don't do it.

Has anyone out there done such a thing with any degree of success or failure?

Pops
 
The only problem I can see is the initial bleeding after you install the filter. The metering pump probably won't generate enough vacuum in the comparatively large volume of the fuel filter to pull the fuel into it. You would need to manually get all the air out of the line and ensure its full of fuel before starting the D4. The other problem may be in just getting the filter connected to the very small bore plastic fuel line.

Incidentally, I have a D2 and have never used a pre-filter. The stand-pipe runs down in my main fuel tank to about 4 or 5 inches above the bottom. I've never had a problem but I do change the filter in the metering pump annually even though it always looks clean!

Cheers,

Jerry
 
I was warned that taking the feed from your engine separator could cause an air lockout of your engine, should any air get into the heater supply line. Obviously not a huge problem then if yours has worked ok.

Thanks so far

Pops
 
Totally separate stand-pipe.

I was more worried about the engine starving the D2 of fuel rather than vice versa.

The supply to the D2 is totally seperate from the main engine supply. I used the stand-pipe supplied in the D2 kit and drilled a new hole in my main fuel tank. The tank take-off for the engine supply is lower in the tank than the D2 so this will stop before the engine!

Cheers,

Jerry
 
I fitted an inline filter on my setup just before the tick-tick pump. Bleeding the line was easy, just held the filter "upside down" inlet at the bottom and waited for the diesel to flow out the top (outlet then couplped onto the pump. Absolutley no problem with the heater and, as the filter is made of clear plastic, I can see if there is any dirt or water present.
----------
hammer.thumb.gif
“Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”
Skype id:cliffillupo
 
The eber already has a small filter just before the inline pump. I was advised when I fitted mine that I should not fit another larger filter as there was a good chance that it would overload the pump. I draw fuel directly from the tank for the eber, so it is seperate from engine line. I filter all my fuel through a "smart" funnel when I take it onboard. This stops water and filters down very nearly as much as the standard engine pre-filter. I also use Fuel Set. I have not had any problem with my fuel (touch wood) so far, and it certainly looks beautifully clear and clean.
 
Talbot

That sound like a similar story to that of my fitter. However, the pump filter can hardly be called a filter! My fuel is slightly cloudy following a bit of diesel bug some months ago. I now use Soltron , but the remnants of the problem seem to be still there. Eberspacher say Soltron is OK. Also Fuel Set, but NO others.

I am planning to shorten the lift line so it can't suck from the bottom of the tank. None of this was ever a problem for the engine, even at the height of my bug problem. This is a new boat too, and the Eberspacher has been out 3 times now. Doing my head in!

Pops
 
I started with a new tank so I knew that everything that was in it was OK. My fuel was initially cloudy, and the fuel set took a long time to clear it. I understand that soltron is faster, but 2 years ago only Fuel Set was supported by Eber.

Some people never manage to clear the problem and end up with a dedicated header tank of filtered fuel for the eberspacher. If they still have trouble, the best answer is to use paraffin instead of diesel in the ebers dedicated tank.

If your fuel is still cloudy a month after adding the soltron, I suspect that you must have had a lot of glop in the bottom of the tank. I would have used at least a double helping of soltron to start with. But you might be better off either going with a temporary dedicated tank route for a while, and if you do, then use parrafin for a while as it will help to clear the system.
 
Talbot

All sounds like good sense to me, although I have no room for a dedicated parrafin tank. Staff solution is to get a hatch put into diesel tank, clean it out, filter all the fuel back into it. shorten the lift line, monitor for a few months and pray. Hopefully it will all work ok for this coming winter! If not, look out around the Clyde estuary for a used eberspacher with an axe through it!
 
No room for a tank? dont believe that - you are thinking about a tank suitable for the main engine. Your D4 will only use just over a gallon a day at full power continuous, and you might find that a tad warm. Thus the tank could be as small as a gallon and it could also be in the engine compartment. I would be amazed if a boat the size of yours does not have the room, although you will have to consider the best method for filling.
 
Talbot

Well yes, there is room technically, but it would be under our double bed and would need a whole proper job doing with filler pipe, breather, the lot, and I thought that a bit OTT. I assume the Eber is perfectly OK on paraffin then, plus able to go back to diesel if you can't get paraffin?
 
It would seem that it works better (not so much of a soot problem) with parrafin. I do not have personal experience cause mine works fine from the main tank - but as I said before, I started with a new yank and have closely filtered everything that goes into the tank.
 
Talbot

I too filter everything that goes in, but still not enough. Next hols in Sep are going to be largely spent stamping on my fuel problem once and for all, so hopefully will not need to fit an extra tank. Thanks for your tips

Pops
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top