Noisy Webasto

[Sneaky Pete]

I have a Webasto heating system onboard what I believe to be the pump makes an annoying clicking sound about twice per second at start-up reducing later the pump is covered in a insulating material is this clicking normal for these pumps or is there something wrong with it. The pump is about 30mm diameter and 30mm long as it pulses (pump) it makes this sound.

 

[johnalison]

The pump in my Webasto system is a long way from the heater, actually under the head of the stern cabin berths. It makes a steady clicking noise but is not particularly loud. The speed of the click depends on the heat setting. It hasn't troubled us with the noise as it is not audible in the main cabin and we never sleep with the heater left on.

 

[johnphilip]

I have a Webasto heating system onboard what I believe to be the pump makes an annoying clicking sound about twice per second at start-up reducing later the pump is covered in a insulating material is this clicking normal for these pumps or is there something wrong with it. The pump is about 30mm diameter and 30mm long as it pulses (pump) it makes this sound.

Yes they are noisy, flexibly mounted and covered in a jacket but still noisy. When I fitted one I positioned it adjacent to the tank thinking a short lift would be beneficial. I wish I had placed it as far aft as possible.
You do get used to it eventually.

 

[BlueChip]

I have a Webasto heating system onboard what I believe to be the pump makes an annoying clicking sound about twice per second at start-up reducing later the pump is covered in a insulating material is this clicking normal for these pumps or is there something wrong with it. The pump is about 30mm diameter and 30mm long as it pulses (pump) it makes this sound.

If the pump is bolted to a bulkhead, even using the webasto rubber bushed bracket the bulkhead will act like a sounding board and amplify the ticking noise.
Try running the pump out of the bracket and if the noise in the cabin is reduced thats the cause. We found that mounting the pump on a ply pad insulated with a thick pad of polystyrene made a big difference.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

Well at least the clicking sound is normal I will try to look at ways to insulate the noise as the pump is just below the aft cabin. Thanks all.

 

[dje67]

I have a Webasto heating system onboard what I believe to be the pump makes an annoying clicking sound about twice per second at start-up reducing later the pump is covered in a insulating material is this clicking normal for these pumps or is there something wrong with it. The pump is about 30mm diameter and 30mm long as it pulses (pump) it makes this sound.

My Eber also makes an audible ticking sound. I reckon that some of the noise is due to the thin plastic pipe that runs from the pump to the Eber. This pipe is rigid plastic and, in several places, lies directly on the GRP moulding. This, I think, transfers some of the "pressure pulses" in the pipe to the hull. I've often thought about insulating the pipe, but never got round to it. I don't really notice the ticking tbh.

 

[Ripster]

I have had several Webasto's and they have all ticked! But, not loudly enough to be annoying.

 

[David2452]

The ticking is a function of the pump, they are a solenoid, so, the trick is to prevent the tick being transmitted through the boat. Make sure there is a short length of flexible fuel hose to BS7840 each side of the pump, then remove any existing rubber mount. Then use a 6" length of 22mm closed cell pipe insulation to coverthe pump, tightly tiewrap each end and then tiewrap the whole thing (but not tightly) to either tiewrap saddles screwed to a bulkhead or similar. Note that the expensive fuel pump jackets supplied by Webo are not for sound deadening they are fire jackets though do quieten things down a bit. Also be aware that unusually loud ticking is an indicator of a failing pump or air in the system, as the solenoid has less resistance because of air or failing seals it slams into the magnet rather than being damped by the fluid, in this case diesel, this will, as it gets worse be accompanied by poor starting and running.