Smelly Wallas heater

[Pelican]

A friend of mine has recently installed a Wallas 3000 DX in his Dufour 34 (1974). It is diesel powered and fed from the main diesel tank. The tank was filled recently. The unit is installed amidships well away from the engine compartment. All pipes including, fuel, inlet/outlet air extraction are new. Every time the unit is fired up a very unplesant smell fills the boat, so much so that the unit is turned off!! Not much good in winter! Could any of you experts out there enlighten us on what the problem could be? Many thanks for any replies.
Pelican

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[pvb]

Depends on the smell...

If it's an exhaust-type smell, the heat exchanger may be faulty, allowing combustion gases to mix with the heated air.

If it's a different sort of smell, it might be from the new ducting. This might go away in time. Or, if the ducting isn't proper high-temperature stuff, the smell might remain.

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[Vara]

Have just installed a wood burning stove(not on a boat)-similar problem was told by maker it was the protective coating on flue,solution was to run unit with windows open until smell burnt off.I did and it did!

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[StugeronSteve]

We had this with our Eberspacher. I was initially suspicious when told that the smell was harmless and would eventually clear. I bought a CO minitor and tested all outlets, whiched proved to be ok. The smell only occured on start up and cleared (unless we had become de-sensitized) after the unit had run for a while. After 2 winters there was no trace whatsoever, so the suggestion that it was due to the heater components "burning in" may well be true.

I have kept the CO monitor on board as a permanent fixture.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Talbot]

Had this with my eberspacher. Open all the hatches, turn the thermostat right up and leave the boat for about an hour. let it all cool down and air out, and then try again, and most of the smell will have gone. I did this a couple of times, and have no smell at all now.

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[Sea Devil]

Why does everyone install expensive smelly heaters in their boats when so few night sail in winter or go on anchorage - just park up in marinas? A small blow heater will not trip the marina breaker on the dock and warms up a lot of boat a real treat - and will not kill you with dodgy fumes!

<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time please visit my web site -
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>

 

[paulburton44]

I moor in a cheap sailing club with no electric hook up.
in the spring, april and may are still cold months.
I sail with my young kids and wife and spend quite a bit of time sleeping on the boat.

my eber. is a life saver.

Even used it in aug when the kids and dog are soaking wet and it is bucketing it down out side.

We don't all sail on the south coast with marinas.......

thats why we fit expensive heaters on our boats

<hr width=100% size=1>www.withamsailingclub.co.uk

 

[mhouse]

Have you checked that the fuel return to the maintank is not blocked or has an air lock ?

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[philmarks]

Have had this problem, and noticed that it disappeared after I had coincidentally dosed my fuel with anti bug treatment. I'm not claiming they are related, just an observation!

Be careful whatever, and install a carbon monoxide detector.

Phil

<hr width=100% size=1>Rgds
Phil

 

[catmandoo]

I have one fuelled by parffin . I get a smell if the deck vent is not open . Iie screwed down to prevent water ingress when washing deck . Check the vent . Mine opens by teisting anticlocwise

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[graham]

Have they tried running it for a few hours on full blast with the hatches open.You sometimes need to do that with gas heaters(dont know if the same applies to diesel heaters).Apparently oil used in the manufacturing process gets on bits it shouldnt .


Its worth having a CO detector even if it stops smelling.Apparently its a very pleasant way to go.