Eberspacher - New Owner, Couple of Qs

CaptainBob

CaptainBob

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I'm using my Eberspacher (not sure which one it is. D something) daily and it's been great. Was on the boat when I bought it and I've no idea how long its been here and how much use its had.

As it's working fine, do I get it serviced just in case?

How often should I get it serviced?

When I switch it off, is it correct I should switch to fan only for a while? If I just switch off, the fan speeds up for a period of time anyway.

Mine makes an irregular pulsing sound - sort of like someone blowing over a milk bottle - in another room - once every 2 or 3 seconds. Is that normal?

Thank you!
 
With Ebers, if it ain't broke why fix it? Just turn it off, it goes through a pre-programmed shut-down cycle to cool it down and vent out. Just don't turn off the battery master switch until it has gone quiet. Don't know about the pulsing sound, they all sound like mini jet engines but have quite an array of self-test and diagnosis kit in-built. I'd just carry on and use it until it stops if it ever does.
 
Theoretically they should be decoked and gauze changed every now and then but in practice I would say this is seldom necessary if the unit is used relatively often and not for short periods. A bit like diesel engines really. Run them hot and they like it and don't build up much coke. Short periods (under an hour) on low settings is bad. It might sound silly but when a big heater is on a small boat they don't do so well as the thermostat kicks them down to low too soon. Some times best to open hatches and get them running on high for a while!
 
Agree with all others have said. The sound you mention could be caused by carbon deposits in the combustion chamber air holes. These holes are configured such that the air flow swirls round allowing the correct "shape" for the flame. If these holes get blocked up the flame doesn't burn correctly. This in itself will cause more carbon deposits than usual and will make the situation worse. The next possible thing you will get is either it will fail to start or the flame will "blow out" when the unit is running at slow speed.

Untill you get either of these symptoms, don't do anything. When you do, either pay someone to service it (expensive) or DIY (much cheaper and qite easy). Full workshop manuals are available for most models on the Eber web site ( http://www.espar.com/tech_manuals/ )
 
[ QUOTE ]
Agree with all others have said. The sound you mention could be caused by carbon deposits in the combustion chamber air holes. These holes are configured such that the air flow swirls round allowing the correct "shape" for the flame. If these holes get blocked up the flame doesn't burn correctly. This in itself will cause more carbon deposits than usual and will make the situation worse. The next possible thing you will get is either it will fail to start or the flame will "blow out" when the unit is running at slow speed.

Untill you get either of these symptoms, don't do anything. When you do, either pay someone to service it (expensive) or DIY (much cheaper and qite easy). Full workshop manuals are available for most models on the Eber web site ( http://www.espar.com/tech_manuals/ )

[/ QUOTE ]Or it could be the pump ticking..
 
Nah I can hear the pump clearly as a rhythmic tic tic tic. This is less rhythmic and as I say, more like someone blowing across a milk bottle in the distance.

After reading the above, I cranked it up to full for an hour - now on tickover again, seems to be less milkbottley.

Thanks again!
 
I know nothing about Ebers, except that they make an irritating noise when on nearby boats. However, can I suggest the milk-bottle noise is some sort of flame instability. My Wallas can make a noise something like that. The Finnish derived Handbook calls it "horning". It occurs if the electric supply to the combustion blower is momentarily interrupted, as when I'm fiddling with the wiring. Just a thought.
 
Isn't the ticking simply the fuel being pulsed by the pump at a pre-ordained timing and in very carefully controlled quantities?
 
Would be worth checking your have the surge damper installed in the fuel feed after the ticking pump. If you don't have this, rather than a uniform burn you get a pulsing which would cause a noise from the exhaust a bit like your describe.

Steve
 
Ooo-er Steve.... Surge damper? I might learn something here but I bought and installed a brand new D4 Airtronic three years ago and it works perfectly without surging. There is certainly nothing between the pump and heater. What is a surge damper please and what does it look like?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Isn't the ticking simply the fuel being pulsed by the pump at a pre-ordained timing and in very carefully controlled quantities?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes. It is often said in this forum that the quantity is very carefully controlled yet the system works from 1kW to 5.5kw simply by varying the tick-rate. I can't see why the metering needs to be so terribly accurate or why these pumps need to be so expensive.
 
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