How Safe is a Cheap Chinese Diesel Heater?

I bought this Diesel heater last winter after the natural gas heater in my garage died. I keep some things in the garage that can’t be frozen and wanted an emergency backup heater. The internet is full of people acting like almost any use of these is certain death. Let’s see how likely you are to die of carbon monoxide poisoning if the heater is even slightly less than vented properly.
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[@Erated78]

Hi Bruce - thanks for this,an excellent and well thought out test with pretty good results! Better to be safe than sorry and we all know winter is coming lol - cheers

[@BruceLyeg]

@@Erated78 it’s officially fall now. Ugghh

[@TheGreasyShopRag]

Good stuff.

[@BruceLyeg]

@@TheGreasyShopRag thanks

[@bdogjr7779]

Our Pilots always keep a fresh self adhesive Carbon monoxide detector stuck on a empty spot on the instrument panel in the Piston powered aircraft. Whether it's a combustion heater or a Heater Muff it's susceptible to wear & tear pin holes & such but we inspect them every 100 hours of flight time. I think Kerosene fumes are less toxic than 100 low lead Avgas fumes◇¿.

[@BruceLyeg]

Probably not a good idea to get too sleepy while flying

[@SteveRobReviews]

Nice one 👍 KZbin seems to bring out the panic police for everything that could cut you or fumes that will kill you forsure 😅😂 Bruce I don't see the heater links in the description box yet .

[@BruceLyeg]

@@SteveRobReviews I’m all for safety and stuff but ya, people online always assume the worst

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's she goin'? This was an interesting test. When I run my 'diesel' heater I can smell it, but my CO detector never goes off. Good to know eh!! Take 'er easy!!

[@BruceLyeg]

The burn chamber is completely separate from the air output on these, so if you run the exhaust pipe outside there's no smell and no moisture put into the air. I'd rather have your heat pump though!

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

@@BruceLyeg Ha Ha Ha!!

[@Vibe77Guy]

I wonder if you can add a Peltier device power source to supply the 12vdc to keep the unit running completely self sustained.

[@BruceLyeg]

@@Vibe77Guy good question. It takes about 11 amps during start up though

[@Vibe77Guy]

@@BruceLyeg I understand that. What is it drawing while running? Some of the more expensive types do have self contained batteries. Was thinking that the use while running would be minimal though.

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Not a fan of kerosene. We had a space heater that we used in our Quonset hut and you could taste the kero when it was running. Maybe because I worked for a few home heating fuel companies when I got out of high school. I like propane better but the best heat we had was our Army space heater wood stove. It gave a great heat and had a fantastic smell especially if you burned apple or cherry wood. If you don't get a taste in your mouth from it than that's a pretty clean burning machine. Goes to show you that fossil fuel can burn clean. Good video. Happy Motoring.

[@BruceLyeg]

@@mostlymoparih5682 if you run the exhaust pipe outside with these there’s zero kerosene odor at all. The combustion chamber is separated by an air exchanger. It sucks in fresh air and blows it over the heat exchanger. I do love wood heat though, nothing is more soothing and warming than nice wood heat

[@mostlymoparih5682]

@@BruceLyeg that sounds good and great description of wood heat.

[@denissuldac4418]

So, if I put the heater outside and the ventilation in my room, I would't be able to die?

[@BruceLyeg]

Depends. How big is the room? Ice fishing shack or a gymnasium? I suppose it would also depend on how air tight the room was and if there was any additional ventilation

[@thinkford]

How much is a jug of kerosene now? Wonder does it burn longer then diesel?

[@BruceLyeg]

I'm not sure, I've been using the same five gallon bucket I've had for a long time. If I remember correctly, kerosene has more BTU's than Diesel. Also the additives in Diesel supposedly soot up the burn chamber in these. I can't speak from experience though, I've only ever ran kerosene. When the cheap Diesel heaters flooded the market a few years ago people were trying to run them on everything. Cooking oil, used motor oil, bio fuels, they all clogged up the burn chamber or cause issues with the different sensors

[@DIYVariety]

I think its fine but like you said common sense right good for short periods

[@BruceLyeg]

@@DIYVariety either that or run the exhaust tube outside.

[@hsd7958]

Kerosene burnt my glow plug out, never had a problem with normal diesal

[@BruceLyeg]

I haven't had a problem but I'll keep that in mind

[@404notfound.....]

We had a kerosene heater in our old garage. Have to say it did the job but I wasn't the biggest fan u could feel it..

[@BruceLyeg]

@@404notfound..... unvented they definitely give off an odor and humidity.

[@joeroyalgarage7995]

Growing up my parents used mostly kerosene heat. I turned out most ok…. Ish

[@BruceLyeg]

@@joeroyalgarage7995 hahahahaha only minor brain damage