Chinese Diesel Air Heater 1500 hours Inspection - Strip Down, Service and Repair. Was It Worth It?

Full service of my 5Kw Chinese Diesel Air Heater. After 1500 hours of running over 3 years, it was time to fully strip the heater down for inspection and a complete full service.
These diesel heaters are normally very good and will run constantly and efficiently if installed correctly.
Using good, clean diesel fuel and the occasional fuel additive will give a lifetime of efficient running and constant heat.
The service kit seen in the video can be bought from Amazon here:
Heater service kit:
amzn.to/46b25ia
Replacement fuel hose kit:
amzn.to/3sVRXvc
Time Stamps:
00:00 - 01:30 Introduction to diesel heater service and cleaning
00:31 - 02:00 Removal of the diesel heater
02:01 - 03:20 Outside inspection of diesel heater
03:21 - 03:44 Removing air heater from casing
03:45 - 12:37 Strip down and inspection of Chinese diesel heater
12:38 - 17:10 Assembly and service of diesel air heater
17:11 - 18:38 Replacing the heater fuel line
18:39 - 20:46 re-installing the heater and testing.
Thanks for watching,
Steve
#dieselheater #chinesedieselheater #fulltimemotorhome
Information About The Wrinkly Nomads:
We are Steve & Margot, a retired couple who sold up and bought a 20 year old motorhome to live and travel in, full time.
Having escaped the rat race we go in search of memories and adventure suited to an older couple.
Based in the UK, we travel to Europe and beyond.
Our travel videos are here:
• Homeless - Full Time T...
Our off grid modification videos are here:
• Off Grid Motorhome Pro...

[@stevem3534]

You always do such easy understandable videos THANKS

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Glad you like it Steve. Thanks for watching 👍

[@kchoudri]

Thank you for sharing, this is very useful and needed service. You have explained very clearly each part of the heater which is super helpful.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi and thanks for watching, glad it was helpful 👍

[@paulbrown521]

Very well explained , Thank you .

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Paul, Glad it was helpful 👍

[@dwalsh3469]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Glad you enjoyed it. and thanks for watching 👍

[@raykeogh1972]

Brilliant thanks again for sharing this, RAY K UK 🇬🇧 YNWA.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Your welcome Ray, Mine needed servicing after all those hours so I thought it a good opportunity to film the procedure. Dead simple job though.. ATB, Steve

[@NoMissOutdoors]

Nice vid mate! Cheers!

[@acidheadarnieric]

Lovely little strip down and rebuild with attention to detail 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Ric and thanks for watching 👍

[@sidofmidd]

Great video thanks for putting it together

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thanks for watching Glenn, Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@leeevans1874]

Clean as a whistle 👌

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Definitely was nice n clean Lee... I do add a bit of diesel cleaner additive each fill up and I'm thinking that's making a massive difference 👍

[@acidheadarnieric]

Definitely running well

[@philmundy1012]

Very well explained 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you and thanks for watching 👍🏼

[@888EAT888]

Great video! I just bought one for my boat and this gives a lot of info on how it actually works! Very handy.. Thanks!

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you, Glad it was helpful...👍

[@daviscrt]

Great informational video. Thanks for sharing Don

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Glad you enjoyed it Don, Runs like new now 👍

[@rorymax8233]

Nice informative video, thank you 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@Paul-ly9ed]

Always enjoy your video’s . Well explained and informative. Thanks P

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Paul 👍

[@SEXYTECH1000]

AWESOME VIDEO THANK YOU FOR SHARING ,

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you and thanks for watching..👍

[@minicity9378]

Great video thanks, mines due a service

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you and thanks for watching, glad it helped.👍

[@stevecarlisle3323]

There are a few videos that show you how to change out motor bearings, and install ceramic ball bearings, super quite. The gauze inside the burn chamber cannot be serviced, so it maybe good value on a heater with huge hours, to spend the 15 bucks and get a new one. These heaters seem to foul up quickly on settings below 3. Another great video, thanks

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Your quite right. In hindsight I should of replaced the bearings while I had it stripped down. However, I’m thinking of replacing the whole unit with newer Bluetooth one. When the time comes service that one I’ll do it 👍🏼

[@dannybaines4529]

Thank you for your video really helpful thanks again 👍👍👍👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Danny Thanks for watching and Glad it was helpful 👍

[@dannybaines4529]

@@TheWrinklyNomads it was and thanks again 👍 👍 👍

[@rexsmith5984]

Not sure if anyone said it but there is a hole right next to the glow plug that the pick is used to clean out.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Rex, Yes, that hole is to provide air into the atomizer to give pre ignition before the burner. Definitely has to be clear. Those little picks are ideal for that..👍

[@edwardjanowiak]

Nice detail provided, thank you. Was obtaining the replacement parts difficult?

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Ed, Thank you and thanks for watching 👍 Parts were easy to obtain via Amazon. Details of the service kit seen in the video here: Heater service kit: amzn.to/46b25ia Replacement fuel hose kit: amzn.to/3sVRXvc Hope this helps, ATB, Steve

[@PainterD54]

The glow plug don't get "bad". They either work or they don't. Put 12 volts to them and see if they glow or not. If they don't, they're shot and you need a new one. If they glow, you may have to just get a new atomizer screen is all.

[@stevecarlisle3323]

Not entirely accurate, if you look closely you may see cracking, and eventually chunks will chip off.

[@PreparednessVeteran]

Good to see inside those units, they are great for the cost and output. So you didn't have any problems with initialising the unit after completely draining it? I fiddled around when I first unboxed and fired my one up.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

I just hooked it all back up and away it went... No problems with fuel priming or anything! Runs like new now....👍

[@michaelarulanantham8833]

Great and informative video, many thanks. What is the temperature at the exhaust? Any idea of overall efficiency, % wise, please?

[@glyngibbs9489]

Excellent vid as usual, thanks for sharing. I'm wondering if anyone has run one if these on kerocene and what their thoughts/ findings are, i ask because its much cheaper than diesel.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you Glyn, I've always use diesel with a drop of fuel additive, but I've seen that as soon as you deviate from only using diesel these units tend to coke up to a varying degree. Red diesel is a cheaper option if you can get your ands on some...!

[@garytango]

👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thanks Gary 👍

[@biomechanique6874]

Good instructional video! I have years of experience with these beasties and while you had it apart it would have been prudent to replace the fan/motor unit - cost around £25 from eBay as of September '23. It has the beginnings of bearing rumble and it has a lot of hours on it. It would seem that there may inevitably be another video on this heater soon. 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi and thank you for your comment.👍 Yes, your quite right, I realised after the event that I should of renewed the bearings. I've looked into upgrading the bearing as well to the 605-2RS Deep Groove Ball Bearings, apparently there very good. Every days a school days eh..😂 ATB, Steve

[@biomechanique6874]

@@TheWrinklyNomads the 2RS bearings are definitely the way to go. I have one on the bench right now with standard Z sheilded bearings that have got really crunchy. Not sure if you mis-typed the bearing size but they are 625RS (5x16x5) rubber sealed. Keep up the good work 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

@@biomechanique6874 … oops, typo! Should have been 625-2RS, 10-Pack is £8.49 on Amazon. Bargain eh👍🏼 Thanks for your help, it’s appreciated.

[@cic-jakevanddalgeemyers.2739]

Thank you, papa..

[@stevecarlisle3323]

The bearings that come in the heater are poor quality, buying a new one may not be valuable

[@examplerkey]

Someone recommended that a bit of high temp exhaust sealant be used on the exhaust outlet before the exhaust pipe is fitted onto it, to prevent exhaust leakage. I don't know it's a good idea or not.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

When I installed the exhaust I did actually put exhaust paste on the joint, maybe not enough...?

[@stevecarlisle3323]

I use stove pipe cement, works well, and comes apart easy.

[@Dirt-Diggler]

Yeah thats a pretty clean burn, although i have to point out your tester was showing RED at 37ppm ! that's because the reading is over the recommended max of 35ppm BUT that is over an 8 hour period. I think it would be better to put your statement into context rather than just saying " that's clean" . Chinese heaters can be great just not consistently great, of the 19 heaters I've had to repair this yrar 17 were Chinese, only 2 were webasto, and of thst i had to tune 8 of the Chinese ones to run clean (emissions) and stop them sooting up again, total lack of QC on 80% of Chinese products, sometimes you get luck, sometimes you don't. If pushed i only recommend lavana pro or autoterm for thier consistent quality, they actually seem to have a QC department 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi, Yes, I agree, there's a definite lack of QC for these Chinese heaters, but they do seem to be getting a bit better in build consistency. And, wow, you've repaired 19 this year.👍 I appreciate you comments, I'm only on 3..!!! ATB, Steve

[@Dirt-Diggler]

​@@TheWrinklyNomads I service boats, mainly narrow boats in an around London, usually the lower end of the market, you know river pikeys 😂

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

@@Dirt-Diggler 😂🥴😂….👍🏼

[@88CBAUGH]

6:31 When removing the screen, a M8 coach bolt screw or a pick can be used (a M6 coach bolt screw worked for me). Please do yourself a favour when refiiting a new mesh strainer, use the proper tool - 25.2069.10.0102.2e. This will enable you to seat it properly without damaging it. Important: when fitting, orientate the strainer so that the small spot welds are furthest away from the air hole. If you are servicing the heater for the first time, look at the strainer as you remove it and you'll see what I mean.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Chris, Yes, I've seen a few different methods to get that screen out a sit can be a right pain at times... I shall look into that particular insert tool, although the insert tool supplied with the service kit worked very well. Again, thank you for the strainer air hole information, makes a lot of sense and I shall definitely ensure the orientation is correct, thank you. ATB, Steve

[@kan815k]

Fans can be removed, bearings can be replaced and the brushes.

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi, Yes, I will replace and upgrade to the 605-2RS Deep Groove Bearings if they start to cause any issues. But that's for a future service 👍

[@kan815k]

@TheWrinklyNomads Try to use seal type bearings. This will stop dust going into bearings and last longer. I wonder if they sell brushless motors.

[@NordicDan]

@@kan815k If there ends up being a brushless fan motor upgrade available, I'd be all for it!

[@kan815k]

@NordicDan if you find a brushless motor, let me know please.

[@NordicDan]

@@kan815k Most definitely. I honestly don't expect to see an upgrade like that, but it'd sure be nice if I'm proven wrong lol

[@Statewidecarpet]

I bought one in January and used it maybe 50 hours and it started smoking bad and stopped working. I took it apart today and it was full of soot. Did I get bad diesel or was it because sometimes I ran it on low? I hear some people run them on kerosene too. I cleaned it up today and now it runs good but I need to figure out why it sooted up so fast.

[@FWCaptain-kv6sm]

Run it at 1.1 and 2.8 Hz and clean that burner out thoroughly it’ll run like a watch

[@adamganjaman2275]

Lots of reasons fuel if using waste oil it will very quickly. An overly long exhaust is another running on low alot will too.

[@Tom-Travels]

Mein Gott! Did du arbeit fur RoyllsRoyce ? Wonderbar!

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

No, not Rolls Royce, however, I am an Electro-Mechanical Engineer by trade which definitely helps.... But these heaters are quite simple and a good, solid unit to work on which also makes thing much easier....

[@Timetraveller1010]

Nice Vid. What's the name of the kit ?

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi, You can find the heater service kit here: amzn.to/46b25ia And the replacement fuel hose kit here: amzn.to/3sVRXvc Cheers, Hope that helps you 👍🏼

[@LockStoppageSandwich]

Nice one 👍

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Thank you 👍

[@shaneroper5470]

How many gallons of desiel you figure you've gone through in that time?

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi Shane, I didn't keep a record but It must be a big amount.! There's a few winters in that as well, so it ran pretty constant. If it helps, I do have a video of 'how to accurately calculate fuel burn' that I made a while ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGm2nH53obR0rrc ATB, Steve

[@TheSmudgley]

Why don't you put some exhaust putty on the exhaust pipe 🤔

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

Hi David, I did exactly that on the original installation. You can see me doing it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnmtkoOGZ9p_fKM The heater has been in over two years now and somehow that paste has has degraded and allowed the gasses through, luckily they are all outside.... Anyway its all good now👍 ATB, Steve

[@Enzo200500]

“A quick CO2 test”?!😂

[@TheWrinklyNomads]

I could of bored you with a longer C02 test if you'd prefer....?

[@Enzo200500]

No thanks, you would most likely give out more wrong information. You should learn the difference between Carbon Dioxide, CO2, and the gas you are trying to test, Carbon Monoxide CO. If you are still struggling with that, it’s written on the front of your cheap tester! 😂