Eberspacher Servicing

[fireball]

Re: Really?

[ QUOTE ]
Recommended Periodic Maintenance
• Remove the glow plug and inspect for carbon build up.
Clean or replace.
• Remove the glow plug screen and inspect for carbon
build up. Clean or replace. If cleaning is required, use
brass brush (Espar part number CA0 05 003).
• Make sure vent hole is open. Espar recommends the
use of non detergent 100% volatile carburetor
cleaner and an air gun will also help. Remove loose
carbon from the glow plug chamber.
• Inspect the ducting, the air intake screen and air outlet
for restriction or blockage.
• Inspect combustion air intake and exhaust for blockage.
• Run your heater and check for proper operation during
regular preventative maintenance throughout the year.
• Maintain your batteries and all electrical connections in
good condition. With insufficient power the heater will
not start. Low and high voltage cutouts will shut the
heater down automatically.
• Use fuel suitable for the climate (see engine manufacturers
recommendations). Blending used engine oil with
diesel fuel is not permitted.

[/ QUOTE ]

For the D1LC No mention of time intervals.... same in the D3LC .... not sure which specific model we're talking about here though.

other manuals available here:
http://www.espar.com/htm/tecmans.htm

 

[alb40]

I dont see what all the fuss is about with eberspachers. If you run with good quality fuel, you shouldn't have to service it at all.

The one in my freeman has run for the last two years without being touched at all.

The only time the need servicing is if they are carboned up. This only happens if the fuel is a bit poor or if the heater runs for long periods on low heat. If they do need taking apart, then they are not sophisticated at all. If you can change a filter on your diesel engine, then you can strip, clean, and reassemble any of the eberspacher machines in about 1 - 2 hours.

Its a myth that they are complicated. They are not, and anyone that has ever taken apart their own one will know. There isnt even anything you can break inside! All you need is a set of gaskets to reassemble. Even at eberspacher prices, they are very expensive.

On my bigger boat, the only time it ever stops is once every 3 months when carbon builds up on the glowplug and renders it inoperative. Put in a new glowplug, and away it goes again. Im a liveaboard, and it runs all day everyday, and hasnt missed a beat since August! (that was just a low battery!)

 

[peteandthira]

Re: Really?

OK, just one more post then - my "Airtronic D2 and D4 Operating Instructions and Service Book", part no 20339 Issue C, dated November 2002 lists monthly, 6 monthly and annual recommended servicing schedules on page 24.

I am not spouting [--word removed--], only that which the manufacturer recommends. However, I do feel suitably "flamed" and am happy to let you guys with stronger opinions just get on with it!

Pops

 

[fluffc]

Not sure what you mean by this comment? I stand by my statement.

 

[fireball]

Re: Really?

OK - I'm not dis-believing you ... but the airtronic manual online (via the link I posted above) doesn't specify a service interval - only to run the heater for at least 20mins each month ... we've got an inconsistency in documentation here /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[ QUOTE ]

Recommended Periodic Maintenance
• Remove the glow pin and inspect for carbon build up.
Clean or replace.
• Remove the glow pin screen and inspect for carbon build
up. Clean or replace.
• Make sure vent hole is open. Espar recommends the use
of non-detergent 100% volatile carburetor cleaner, an air
gun will also help. Remove loose carbon from the glow pin
chamber.
• Inspect the ducting, the air intake screen and air outlet for
restriction or blockage.
• Inspect combustion air intake and exhaust for blockage.
• Operate your heater for a minimum of 20 minutes each
month.
• Maintain your batteries and all electrical connections in
good condition. With insufficient power the heater will not
start. Low and high voltage cutouts will shut the heater
down automatically.
• Use fuel suitable for the climate (see engine manufacturers
recommendations). Blending used engine oil with
diesel fuel is not permitted.


[/ QUOTE ]

Anyway - if you feel you're being flamed then perhaps your Eber needs a service! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[fireball]

It was a quick quip reply ...

you said:
Sophisticated?

I couldn't think of a simpler design.

I said:
He's a simple fellow .... he gets confused when trying to service a ball point pen! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

referring to Pops - totally TIC ... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[temptress]

In the Central south area the exclusive agents are Krueger ltd.

I've had some very good and lots of very bad dealings wiht them - The service staff in Portsmouth are GREAT and the staff at HQ in New Milton are VERY VERY poor.

Numbers:

Portsmouth Service (usually answer phone) - 02392 665005

HQ - Sales & service - 01425 619 869

Good luck...........

 

[Sinbad2222]

Re: Really?

I'm a bit puzzled by all this:-
1 I thought fuel quality was vital - then why is there no mention of cleaning the fuel filter in the servicing schedule?
2 If the fuel take off is taken after the engine fuel separator doesn't a running engine reduce fuel pressure to the Eberspacher pump with disastrous results? Or can you then only run the heater with the engine off?

 

[fireball]

Re: Really?

erm ... ok

1) I don't know - the airtronic has a fuel filter in the fuel pump assembly .. the D1LC doesn't have a fuel filter shown (so you can't change it! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

2) It depends where you have a fuel pump ... if you have the engine and eber fuel pump after the engine fuel separator then as long as the feed pipe to the separator has a big enough bore then I would think there should be no detrimental effect. It would also depend if you T off the pipe or have a separate feed from the seperator - with a separate feed I believe the separator essentially becomes a mini fuel tank fed by vacuum.

I don't know how the eber pump would behave if a vacuum is created by another pump on the raw fuel side of it - worse case scenario is that fuel will be drawn back down through the pump and into the line - which ultimately could result in air being drawn into the fuel line to the engine. As I have this concern I am running the eber fuel pump off an independent feed (and probably fuel tank - but that is down to convenience).

I'd like to hear how others have the fuel installed and if it is T'd off the fuel line to the engine - have there been any problems with air bubbles etc etc ... have you had to use one way valves or is it just a straight T? (how can you have a straight T ... ?!)

 

[peteandthira]

Re: Really?

"As I have this concern I am running the eber fuel pump off an independent feed (and probably fuel tank - but that is down to convenience).

I'd like to hear how others have the fuel installed and if it is T'd off the fuel line to the engine - have there been any problems with air bubbles etc etc"

I know I said only one last post from me, but I feel the need to add a quote from the bloke who fitted mine, whom I came to trust. He said on no account to use a T-off from your engine fuel line. The risk of air entering your engine fuel system is very high, especially at max power when you really need it to keep going!

I dunno how likely that is, but it scared me off it.

He also was of the opinion that you shouldn't put any other filters in the eberspacher line, since it will interfere with the metering pump.

I recall others doing this successfully, I only mention it here 'cos that's what I was told.

What isn't mentioned anywhere, even in the "workshop" manual, is to check down the bottom (back?) of the burner "pot" to make sure the channels are free of carbon. This stopped mine altogether eventually, as a result of cloudy fuel (described in another post a while back). That took ages to clean out, even soaking in caustic stuff and coca-cola.

I think you might be right in the documentation inconsistency - perhaps it's just that different models need different servicing.

OK, now I'll shut it!

 

[Pye_End]

Re: Really?

Mine comes off the separator with no problems experienced so far. Did it this way mainly because of practicalities of drilling a new hole in the top of my tank, which would have been my preferance.

I think that the fuel flow rates both for the Eber and the engine are so slow in comparison with the capability of the pipework that this is fairly irrelevant. I take the point about adding a new invitation to add air into the system, but don't see it as a significant increase in risk.

 

[fireball]

Re: Really?

Thanks Pops ... I haven't even bought the bits to attach the fuel line yet - so the choice is still wide open ... even possibly manufacturing a separate fuel tank (approx 3L).

Not sure about the extra filters - it depends on what restriction they would place on the fuel flow - the feed line is only 1.5mm into the unit with an option of 6mm or 2mm feed into the pump - so we're not talking huge volumes, but it does rely on the pump being able to create enough vacuum to draw the fuel through the filter.....

Pye_end - your's is drawn off the separator - is this a T off the fuel line to the engine or a different output from the separator?

Unfortunately that method isn't an option for me - or rather I'd have to route the fuel line half way round the boat ... and as the eber is currently within 4' of the main fuel tank it seems rather pointless!!

 

[Pye_End]

Re: Really?

My separator has 2 ins and 2 outs.


See your point.

Filters - I don't think that when they talk about good fuel that it is just particulate that is being discussed. If your tank is ok, and you are buying from a decent place then I would have thought that the ships supply will be fine with the mesh that comes with the Eber. Hope so since most people probably have this set-up.

 

[pvb]

Straight from the tank...

Mine's fed straight from the main tank, using the standard Eberspacher fuel pickup kit. This is easy to install and works fine. I think it's advisable to have the bottom end of the Eberspacher fuel pickup pipe at a level a few inches above the engine pickup, so that using the heater won't let you inadvertently run out of diesel for the engine.

It's possible to take the Eberspacher fuel straight from the primary filter, or from the engine fuel feed pipe. In most cases, there won't be enough vacuum in the system to cause problems. However, with very large engines, or when the primary filter starts to get blocked, vacuum might increase enough to pull air in. Incidentally, I have a vacuum gauge on my primary filter, and can see that the filter has to be quite blocked before the vacuum builds significantly (and that's with a keel tank too).

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: Really?

I attempted to run my Eber up at the back end of September and it wouldn't fire. Having checked all the simple stuff I dropped it in to the local agent for a service. It turned out to be an electrical fault which required a new board to cure. They advised me that a service wouldn't be necessary, despite the heater being nearly four years old.

 

[fireball]

Re: Straight from the tank...

[ QUOTE ]
Mine's fed straight from the main tank, using the standard Eberspacher fuel pickup kit. This is easy to install and works fine.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree - but the logistics in actually fitting a separate fuel pickup for my main tank means that it may well be easier running from an independent tank - I cannot get to the top of my plastic tank with a drill and then I'd have to think about trying to get a good seal on the pipe - so I'd probably have to remove the large inspection hatch that hosts the other pickup/fill & level gauge - and modify that ... whilst the boat is still in the water ... I'm actually considering just modifying a new cap for our spare 20L can that we carry - we keep that full of fuel and in a fixed location that is quite convenient....

[ QUOTE ]
It's possible to take the Eberspacher fuel straight from the primary filter, or from the engine fuel feed pipe. In most cases, there won't be enough vacuum in the system to cause problems.

[/ QUOTE ] Any pump will pull from the path of least resistance ... I'd rather that wasn't via my eber fuel pump - and I'd prefer to be certain that it didn't happen!!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[steve28]

I really wanted to add my bit in to the already overladen post, the d1lc has a filter on the inlet spigot of the fuel pump, hope this enlightens anyone who wants to look.


steve

 

[fireball]

Oo ... another bit not shown in the manual ... ... ta! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif