installing an Airtronic diesel heater - fuel supply Q?

duncan

duncan

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It's that time of year when I tink I really ought to fit one of these to the boat.
I don't have shore power or other heating, have the space to fit it easily just where it should go, space for ducting and exhaust - it's all too perfect...........
However, how do I go about connecting it to the main fuel tank?
I assume that taking a T from the main engine fuel pickup is a no no.
Do I have to go drilling a new hole in the tank and fit a new pick up? My fears are getting shards of aluminum in the tank - suppose I could drill close to the guage sender and hold a cloth on the inside as I drill?
Other options? Recomendations?
 
Try here instead...

The main Eberspacher site doesn't have much technical info, but you can download an Airtronic installation manual from the US site - try this link instead.

It's generally thought to be good practice to have the fuel supplied from a separate pick-up pipe, and it's easy to install. Your idea of drilling close to the gauge sender would seem to be fine. Any small bits of metal in the tank shouldn't cause any problems (you do have a primary filter, don't you?!).
 
There is much BS talked about this subject and I mean real BS, so to clarify the situation a little.....

With the imminent removal of the derogation on RED Diesel I would consider fitting a separate tank of maybe 5 gallons capacity which can be filled with paraffin which your heater will run on quite happily if you cannot get any cheap Red.

Failing that, a separate pickup/stand pipe in your main tank is an option.

Or my favourite is a "tee" piece in the main fuel line down stream of your primary filter/water separator. The is concern from some quarters that this option can lead to fuel starvation of either the heater or the engine. - this is the way mine is installed and I have never had a problem. I also have an additional in-line filter between the "Tee" and the eber metering pump.

The installation manual will give you details of height differences and exhaust and inlet runs.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
thanks to all.

I had already picked up an installation pdf but it was more geared to mobile home / lorry installation! Additionally the instructions focus on fitting a new pick up to the tank.

Teeing from the existing fuel pipe between the primary and pump has so much going for it that it would be my preference if I had some 'professional' comfort (cliff please don't feel insulted but with 1 engine, no sails and a history of fuel problems I don't need to create my own!) At 240hp the engine is pulling a fair amount of fuel through at times!

thanks again for the links etc
 
Ah, now the facts come out - 240hp oil guzzler - nope, Change of thinking here I'm afraid, either fit a seperate tank (would be my chioce if room permits) or an additional standpipe from the main tank.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
I don't hide the facts Cliff - avatur and profile are real!

So you would agree the seperate pick up then, will aim to have the pick up to about 3/4 down the tank so that (1) it keeps it generally clear of the crap at the bottom (from time to time only of course!) and have a small filter inline prior to the pump.

I (probably) stupidly think this is the big job of the installation but I think I will go for this year anyway!
 
Also consider getting....

I'd strongly recommend you consider getting an Eberspacher process air silencer, which fits in the ducting next to the heater and dramatically reduces the fan noise reaching the cabin vents.

Although you could certainly fit a small filter in the fuel line before the pump, bear in mind that the pump already has a small mesh strainer in it, so an extra filter really isn't necessary.
 
Re: Also consider getting....

thanks for the hu on that - does sound a bit like overkill on a single outlet to base of cuddy though! No one will hear the fan over the exhaust noise and my snoring anyway!
I'm assuming the Eber D2 airtronic is the right unit in all this of course!
 
can you not tee into the diesel return line going back to tank from the engine? This way you are not interfering with any fuel going to engine,you are not introducing a potential air /bleed problem. the only thing is the fuel may be a little warm itself
 
Re: Also consider getting....

[ QUOTE ]
Although you could certainly fit a small filter in the fuel line before the pump, bear in mind that the pump already has a small mesh strainer in it, so an extra filter really isn't necessary.

[/ QUOTE ]Much easier to chuck away the inline filter than faff about cleaning the metering pump inline filter, also one can see if there is any crud in the additional inline filter.

As for standpipe height of the bottom of the main tank - 2~3 " is enough - same height as your engine pickup pipe.

I would still look at a seperate tank giving you a "dual fuel" option and keeping your go-go juice seperate from you comfort juice.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Re: Also consider getting....

[ QUOTE ]
Much easier to chuck away the inline filter than faff about cleaning the metering pump inline filter

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure you're right, but unless your fuel is very dirty I'd still query the necessity. I haven't cleaned the strainer on my Eberspacher pump in over 10 years! And with the boat in the water 12 months, my Eberspacher gets a fair bit of use.
 
Same height?....

[ QUOTE ]
As for standpipe height of the bottom of the main tank - 2~3 " is enough - same height as your engine pickup pipe.

[/ QUOTE ]

Eberspacher pickup pipe should normally be shorter than the engine pickup pipe - this is so you can't accidentally run out of fuel through extended use of the heater. How much "reserve" is needed is down to individual circumstances; my preference is to have the Eberspacher pickup at a level which leaves me about 3 hours engine running time after the Eberspacher runs out of fuel.
 
Re: Same height?....

Good point - I am still thinking of a sail boat where fuel consumption is not an issue. As I said my eber is tapped off the main fuel line downstream of the primary filter seperator /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif but there again 25 gallons would do me all season not just a couple of hours /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

An even stronger reason to fit a seperate tank for the heater.

Another way to look at is the wee eber will drink 0.25lph or there abouts like a gallon every 16~18 hours - is that so critical on a mobo? What you are suggesting is leave maybe 30 gallons reserve for the engine. Now look at the scenario that you are at anchor somewhere with the heater running at 1 gallon every 16 hours and you hit reserve level - no heating but if you keep the inlets level you could sit at anchor for another 480 hours (20days) before you ran out of fuel - to run the heater another 16 hours until you get to a fuel berth is not an issue 29 gallons vs 30 gallons - just drop a few 00 rpm.
Face it, MoBos do not tend to stay out of marinas or away from fuel jetties for extended periods unlike sail boats

I would suggest anyone, MobO or raggie that ran their fuel tank that low (that a gallon or two made the difference between making it back or not)should not be out on the water.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
Re: Same height?....

that was my thinking too

3inches above the bottom for the main pick up would have me 'out of fuel' with about 15 gallons left - surely it's pretty close to the bottom (which is why i get the crap from the tank on the filters too!)
will check this weekend as I am hoovering the bottom of the tank out then anyway.
 
Re: Same height?....

Yes, you're right, the engine pickup pipe will be very close to the bottom. If you're messing about in the tank, might be worth checking the engine pickup pipe - some of them have a mesh filter on the bottom which can get clogged up with crud.

Good luck with your eventual Eberspacher installation. There is much BS talked about this subject and I mean real BS.
 
Re: Also consider getting....

[ QUOTE ]
I'm sure you're right, but unless your fuel is very dirty I'd still query the necessity. I haven't cleaned the strainer on my Eberspacher pump in over 10 years! And with the boat in the water 12 months, my Eberspacher gets a fair bit of use.

[/ QUOTE ]Well that makes two of us then, although I probably burn more diesel on heating than I do on running the engine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I always check the fuel level before going out though just to be sure I have enough for the heater and a couple of hours engine running
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
quite
a lot of bs talked especially from people who think they have to reply to everything.

use a tank cutter, smear plenty of grease on the teeth (to catch the swarf) and then fit a stack pipe, use the eber one obtainable from the nearest dealer. then you dont have probs with putting a potential inlet into your fuel pipe to the engine.
stu
 
[ QUOTE ]
can you not tee into the diesel return line going back to tank from the engine? This way you are not interfering with any fuel going to engine,you are not introducing a potential air /bleed problem. the only thing is the fuel may be a little warm itself

[/ QUOTE ]That would mean the engine would have to be running to supply fuel to the heater /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
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