Smoking diesel heater

J

julianspurr

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Hi
Recently my Eberspacher heater has started to give off a lot of smoke from the exhaust when initially starting and sometimes requires 2 attempts to start. It smells like unburnt diesel fuel It appears to be fine when it is running but I am wondering if it needs a service or if there is another problem with it.
Any thoughts on the cause / solution would be welcome.

It hasn't been serviced in 5 years (maybe not even before this) so maybe this makes it blindingly obvious what the problem is. I get the engine regularly serviced but never thought about the heater.

Thanks

Julian.
 
How is the exhaust routed? I had a webasto in my old boat and the exhaust had a dip in it, severe rain on the outlet side would fill it up making it splutter and steam/smoke next time it was used, the skin fitting was straight not the proper downhill type.
 
ignoring the double start...

what is too much smoke? mine smokes a little as it fires but then clears the moment it lights. I have never timed it but I would say as I have just counted in my head and imagined the heater starting, maybe 10 seconds or so.

I don't wish to pull the heater apart, especially in winter for little gain.

p.s. Do you have any spare plugs and gauzes you might flog onto me Stu?
 
Not all Ebers have a glow plug guaze, ie, the D3L doesent have one, but the glow plug has a spiral winding element as opposed to a single pin, make sure it is clean, as with the combustion chamber, if there is a build up of carbon, this carbon gets wetted with fuel on shut down and results in excess fuel to be burned on start up, I would also advice renewing or at least checking the Wick if there is one fitted.

Apoligies, hit the reply button at the bottom instead of the top.
 
Jools
Ive got a gauze somewhere for a D1LC, will dig it out, the glow plugs either work or they dont, wouldnt change it unless it was open circuit. Am in the marina 6B6 berth this weekend, Friday evening on, 07967313792
Stu
 
Thanks everyone for your advice. The heater is a DL3 and I will look at the glow plug. Only problems is that it is (like many other systems on the boat ) very difficult to access. She is a Jeanneau 36.2 and fond as I am of her it makes me realise the importance the boat reviews place on easy access of systems
When I say smoking it is a billowing of smoke for up to a couple of minutes when I start the heater so not just an initial burst. It was minus 5 the evening that the heater initially failed to start so I was very pleased when it started the second time.
Also I have searched the forum now and there are a few threads about this so it does look like the glow plug.

I have to say that I am so impressed by the speed of the response - I hope that I am able to help someone someday with an answser to a question. I will let you know the outcome.
 
Its not the glow plug! if it starts, the glow plug is working, it is in all probability the glow plug screen
Stu
 
Hi Julian,

I have exactly the same thing with my 9 yr old Dl3. This started at the end of last season.
I plan to dismount the whole unit shortly to have it serviced as it has run flawlessly since fitting by Kruger and probably needs a service by now! The service people at Kruger reckon on about £100 including changing all the filters, screens, cleaning the heat exchanger etc. and said the bits to buy to DIY would be about £50 from them.

I'll find out in a few weeks!

Cheers
 
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