Mikuni heater problems

[TimfromMersea]

Problem with our Mikuni MY16 heater. Turned it on today (middle of May! but it was bitter out there…..) and it wouldn’t fire up, just white smoke from the exhaust with the heater blowing cold. Then it shut itself down and it won’t turn on again.

We’re on a swinging mooring at West Mersea but I seem to recall there’s a marine heating specialist who is either based at, or travels to, Bradwell Marina, which of course is no problem for us, we could just pop across one day. If they are on here, or if anyone knows their contact details, I’d be very grateful - or is there anyone else that Forumites can recommend?

 

[Clunk]

I had an issue with my mikuni heater in February, they were really helpful when I called them mv heating ( 023 8052 2345) based in Southampton. Do you have the digital controller which flashes various times indicating the problem?

 

[TimfromMersea]

I had an issue with my mikuni heater in February, they were really helpful when I called them mv heating ( 023 8052 2345) based in Southampton. Do you have the digital controller which flashes various times indicating the problem?

Just an on off switch and thermostat, with a yellow light on the right and a red light on the left. The red light was flashing before it shut down

 

[TimfromMersea]

Just an on off switch and thermostat, with a yellow light on the right and a red light on the left. The red light was flashing before it shut down

 

[Clunk]

Do you have the manual, not sure but maybe the amount of times it flashes will narrow the problem down. Mine related to low voltage, I had to cut around 10 cm of the cable out close to the battery because it was restricting voltage.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Instruction manual here

https://www.melloronline.co.uk/product_uploads/14374765981.pdf

 

[Bigplumbs]

Before you spend loads of money on it think about replacing it with a Chinese diesel heater they are about £150 now

 

[Bigplumbs]

There you go

diesel heater for sale | eBay

 

[rwt]

I find it hard to believe that a £150 heater can actually be any good - I've always thought people fit them not to use but to justify getting their diesel on a 60/40 split (not that there seems to be any way of policing the rule). Happy to be proved wrong though.

 

[xyachtdave]

I find it hard to believe that a £150 heater can actually be any good - I've always thought people fit them not to use but to justify getting their diesel on a 60/40 split (not that there seems to be any way of policing the rule). Happy to be proved wrong though.

I've only heard good things about Planar heaters, is a Webasto made 10 x better? Judging by the hassle I've had with mine I'd suggest not.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I find it hard to believe that a £150 heater can actually be any good - I've always thought people fit them not to use but to justify getting their diesel on a 60/40 split (not that there seems to be any way of policing the rule). Happy to be proved wrong though.

I fitted a Chinese heater 2yrs ago, and it's fine. Had a couple of issues first thing and the greatest cost was fitting the 'proper' exhaust tubing, exhaust outlet and all the hot air ducting - more than the initial heater cost. I tested it every time on the boat over winter and always worked. I'm going to our boat on Thursday and will test after 4 weeks on the mooring. I don't expect any problems as I have solar panels which keeps the batteries fully charged. Considerably cheaper than the Eberspacher/Webasto heaters. Planar I understand are about halfway between Chinese & Eber/Webasto in price and have UK back-up.

 

[Brooksie89]

I have the same heater and it let me down last weekend. It seems if you aren't plugged in to shore power, or the batteries aren't 100 per cent charged, it won't sustain a flame and give an error e 1.

I think the glow plug/combustion chamber must get fouled up over time, as once the flame is going, you can disconnect the shore power and it will run for days according to the battery monitor. The issue, in my case, is the power needed to get it hot enough to start burning. My battery bank is pretty good, so I can only guess it's to do with the glow plug.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I find it hard to believe that a £150 heater can actually be any good - I've always thought people fit them not to use but to justify getting their diesel on a 60/40 split (not that there seems to be any way of policing the rule). Happy to be proved wrong though.

Webasto and Uber were fined a huge sum for price fixing. That is why they are so expensive. The Chinese ones are excellent. I have several in different applications. Never be fooled by the reassuringly expensive belief. Try one you will be impressed.

 

[sailorman]

I had an issue with my mikuni heater in February, they were really helpful when I called them mv heating ( 023 8052 2345) based in Southampton. Do you have the digital controller which flashes various times indicating the problem?mikuni soton very helpfull, to me it sounds like lack of power at the gloplug. Try starting with ebgine running. Hooe u get sorted

 

[sailorman]

Problem with our Mikuni MY16 heater. Turned it on today (middle of May! but it was bitter out there…..) and it wouldn’t fire up, just white smoke from the exhaust with the heater blowing cold. Then it shut itself down and it won’t turn on again.

We’re on a swinging mooring at West Mersea but I seem to recall there’s a marine heating specialist who is either based at, or travels to, Bradwell Marina, which of course is no problem for us, we could just pop across one day. If they are on here, or if anyone knows their contact details, I’d be very grateful - or is there anyone else that Forumites can recommend?i had the my3far more relible either eber or webasto i have reviously had the misfortune to own

 

[TimfromMersea]

Problem with our Mikuni MY16 heater. Turned it on today (middle of May! but it was bitter out there…..) and it wouldn’t fire up, just white smoke from the exhaust with the heater blowing cold. Then it shut itself down and it won’t turn on again.

We’re on a swinging mooring at West Mersea but I seem to recall there’s a marine heating specialist who is either based at, or travels to, Bradwell Marina, which of course is no problem for us, we could just pop across one day. If they are on here, or if anyone knows their contact details, I’d be very grateful - or is there anyone else that Forumites can recommend?

Heater update! I took it off the boat myself and have it at home now.

No one handles Mikuni servicing any more. MV Heating, the company in Southampton, haven’t done them for over a year as they say that Mikuni are no longer sold in the UK and so spares are unobtainable.

The people at Bradwell say all they do is take them out and send them to Colchester Fuel Injection. I’ve called Colchester Fuel Injection and they don’t do heaters any more.

A helpful man from a company in Yorkshire says that he used to service Mikuni heaters, they’re bomb proof and last for ever if they’re serviced, but he doesn’t do them any more - as he can’t get any parts…..he said it was probably just the glow plug needs cleaning, with a wire brush and some carburettor cleaner. However the manual does not show where the glow plug is or how to remove it…..!

The manual says it’s a user service item, to be cleaned every year, and shows a drawing of a man holding what looks like a spark plug and cleaning it with a wire brush, but doesn’t tell you where the ***** thing is or how you might get it out……

Nothing on YouTube seems relevant.

Any advice, or contractor recommendations welcome. Thanks.

 

[Clunk]

Mv heating serviced mine a couple of months ago, I still have the invoice for the service and gauze filters that they replaced plus 2 hours labour charge and postage. They were really helpful, I don't understand why they would say that.

 

[TimfromMersea]

Mv heating serviced mine a couple of months ago, I still have the invoice for the service and gauze filters that they replaced plus 2 hours labour charge and postage. They were really helpful, I don't understand why they would say that.

That’s what they told me on the phone today. Maybe I’ll call tomorrow and see if I can get someone else…….

 

[Clunk]

Not 100% but I think it was Steve I was dealing with.

 

[ash2020]

All diesel heaters of this type are basically exactly the same. They are so easy to dismantle and clean. It would probably benefit from cleaning the chamber and replacing the glow plug. Just start on it and take everything to bits, maybe photograph along the way. Clean everything and re-assemble. There is absolutely no mystery to them. You might need a set of gaskets. There are also several very friendly and helpful groups on Facebook. Just search for Chinese Diesel Heaters. BTW, I've had two of the cheapies and they are just as good as the Eber-Web ones, probably come out of the same factory.