How to Rebuild an Espar D5 Heater | '18-'20 Winnebago Revel

[@DanielKibler]

My heater stopped working and had to be replaced. Because of your video, I was able to buy a used heater from Rixen and install it myself. It's heating my van right now. Thanks

[@TalonSei]

Glad this helped!

[@shawnbrown557]

As a non-mechanic, I love seeing this type of content. I appreciate how much work it takes to put together a detailed video like this. Thank you. It was just what I needed to be sure to do the job right.

[@ktheodore4012]

EXACTLY the right kind of technical help video! An experienced technician showing all of the “little” details that make the process go smoothly. Thanks for posting. Very helpful

[@TalonSei]

No problem!

[@guidolyons4912]

Thank you Aaron and Talon. Been putting off rebuilding my Espar D5WS for too long. Y'all made it super easy.

[@roam4fun853]

This guy is the REAL deal as a technician! Plus, he’s a decent person.

[@roamrig]

Thank you for the kind comment! I LOVE hearing this because I am, formally, an engineer by training but have been a lifelong technician. It makes me smile to be one of the rare engineers who's actually good with his hands :)

[@roam4fun853]

@@roamrig I’m considering your battery system. Wanted to wait and hear more about the auto start package being attached/part of it.

[@ktheodore4012]

Well, I took a little different approach after viewing this really good video. Given the ease of rebuilding (assuming you have all of the necessary parts on hand) I purchased a new furnace from Rixens with the “upgraded” ignition screen already installed along with another screen + gaskets rebuild kit. Installed the new furnace in 30 minutes, thanks to the “how to” details in this video, and now I have the old furnace on the bench ready to rebuild at my leisure with the added luxury of time if, for instance, I find the combustion chamber cracked and have to order one. Thanks again for posting this very complete and helpful video. One caution to be aware of is the tech’s suggestion to just cut the fuel line free. Make sure there is sufficient excess line length before cutting. Yes, it was a little struggle to pull the line free, but I didn’t have the excess line to cut as suggested. Cutting without checking would have ended with a trip to the auto supply store for new line. Otherwise, perfect!

[@AskDrKing]

Excellent video Talon and Aaron! My espar started blowing white smoke this weekend and will get to cleaning it out this week. My Winnebago dealer can't get me in a for a month, and this vid gives me the confidence to tackle the rebuild. Thank you for the video!

[@parker-rockytopcustoms7534]

As a mechanic, I love seeing this type of content. Thanks Talon! 🤙🏼

[@EvergreenOG]

Guys like Aaron are amazing guys pioneers and dedicated to what they do. I follow him on the Revel forum and he is so helpful to everyone on the forum. Cool guy.

[@roamrig]

Thank you! The Revel community is great! Lots of folks who need help, and I like helping folks who appreciate good advice :)

[@danswanson7399]

Thanks for the great video. Way better than any other videos I have seen on how to do this. I have the '18 Revel with the Espar in the stock location. The worst part of the rebuild is getting it out of the van.

[@roamrig]

Move it to the back of the battery box like the 2020 vans. If you’re in the Facebook group “Winnebago revel 4x4”, I did a short video on an “easy” way to take the heater out from the location where it is on your van. Long story short, you gotta take the driver house battery out to get access to make life easier. Reach out to me [e-mail] and I’m happy to give ya some guidance! Cheers!!

[@toddallen443]

Hey Talon and Aaron thanks for the great info and videos. Looking forward to my April appointment with Aaron for Roam Rig stage 2 to be installed. Talon watched your videos for years.

[@hockeyjock91]

What a trip. I was given your ad for roam rig by KZbin then your video started and I saw the same thing again.

[@cnevle]

Super helpful video! Thanks to both of you for putting this together.

[@TalonSei]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theronboling]

Good vid. Aaron did a good job explaining all the details of the rebuild.

[@bendickinson9173]

I did this today. Took 3 hours. My Espar was filthy. I had 3 pairs a vice grips - medium sized. I’m going to buy 3 new pairs that are bigger and needle nosed. Had a glycol leak. Fuel line sucks. Seems like replacing it and using a clamp would be better. I did the torch cleaning. My “burner” was literally on fire it was so dirty. Van has 39,000 miles. This was first Espar service. I think it has suffered from low voltage resulting it low temps not burning off residue. Anyway. It’s done. Thanks for video!

[@TalonSei]

Glad we could help, thanks for sharing your experience!

[@MMOverlandAdventures]

Excellent, he is the Master! Thank you for a job well done!

[@LEXICOGRAFFER]

Great video....but why no mention of the black plastic dome shaped object under the smaller cover? What's it do? Also: let's say I wish to have the heater out and drive the van. Do the coolant hoses need to be joined to allow flow, or can they simply be plugged/capped ( and yes by a more secure means than the vise grips. Thanks

[@gregorybower9498]

Thank you. Well done, and very helpful. This being a regular maintenance item, has anyone ever deployed, or thought about, adding shutoff valves to the glycol lines?

[@guidolyons4912]

You could, but two pair of needle nose vise-grips does the job.

[@Stefoshark]

Hi from Canada, nice video friend, maybe i miss something, i have just one question: if each time you do the maintenance of the unit and cut each time the fuel line , is it hard to change the fuel line ? but well done job, well explained

[@Stefoshark]

p.s sorry for my writhing im french

[@roamrig]

It is FAR easier to replace the fuel line periodically than it is to struggle to remove it from the unit every time you rebuild. Sometimes it is best to make certain parts like this "disposable" to speed things up and decrease the amount of stress you have :)

[@justinolympia]

Hey dude - thx for the vid.. I actually have same rig as you (2019 revel). Just took it down to Rixen inc last month to have espar relocated and serviced.. So you guys mentioned you leave the furnace running all the time even when driving. Rixen told me not to do that as the fan will pull in all kinds of junk as you are moving.. plus it’s not good for the fan. Just and FYI and thx for all the van tips!

[@TalonSei]

Intake hose is important when it comes to that. Mine is safely tucked up into the engine bay and it has never caused an issue.

[@justinolympia]

Good point.. but you don’t need to run the furnace when driving as you have the heat exchanger. I added that as well

[@TalonSei]

Most people do not have the exchanger which is why I mentioned it. When driving with the furnace on, it should never kick on to run because of the engine heat anyway so there’s no worrying about the intake sucking anything up.

[@roamrig]

You can run it while driving as long as the intake hose is protected and out of the way. I stuff it into one of the holes in the frame.

[@patrickdougan4066]

I'm so loyal to you Talon. I watch the whole video and don't own a revel. 👍

[@carloswa7422]

Nice guide. I am concerned that if you rebuild it 2/year and every time cut the fuel line 1 inch... Then is it easy to replace the entire fuel line (needed eventually).

[@TalonSei]

Yea, you can cut the line 3-4 times and then it is easy to just replace the line. Cutting is much easier than trying to pull the line because you risk bending the fuel intake piece.

[@roamrig]

It is FAR easier to replace the fuel line periodically than it is to struggle to remove it from the unit every time you rebuild. Sometimes it is best to make certain parts like this "disposable" to speed things up and decrease the amount of stress you have :)

[@carloswa7422]

@@TalonSei Thanks, good to know.

[@carloswa7422]

@@roamrig Thanks, good to know.

[@zachredis1237]

Who. The hell. Is disliking Talon’s videos? Reveal yourself.

[@TalonSei]

There will always be haters I guess 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@rickyou812]

Great Video Man . Thank you

[@stevebrown6224]

I performed the same service on the same Espar heater on my 2020 Revel. I lost some of the fluid. The tank says to use a 40/60 mix of DesCool and deionized water. The water is hard to find. Any idea if distilled water is OK? Thanks

[@primetime1329]

Great job both! Following Talon already now will start following Aaron @Roamrig. Can’t wait to see how Aaron will design an upgrade for the 2021 Revel battery system.

[@Belay_OfficialMusic]

Are the needle nose vice grips' 'jaws' smooth? Or do they have teeth? Wondering how you avoid damaging the coolant lines? I've tried the plastic coolant hose pliers and they are terrible!

[@evanfurnish1054]

I was driving on the highway when i saw this exact van. Made me write down the name on the side and i found his KZbin channel. So yeah... pretty crazy.

[@TalonSei]

Welcome to the channel 🤘🏼

[@ploglet]

@Talon Sei -- Stupid question but if you have the unit off and you find that say you need a new burner tube, I presume you cannot drive the van until you get the new part and put the heater back onto the van all complete?

[@TalonSei]

You can drive it if everything is secured in place. This heater has nothing to do with the function of the van itself 👍🏻

[@tahosrfr]

More of this please:)

[@johnlaurin7022]

Excellent. Many thanks.

[@happiknife7716]

Ill never have to do this but nonetheless awesome to watch the process!

[@Jroc06120]

Again in Ct yoooo @Talon we need to chill somewhere bro... huge fan!!! #dopestvloginthegame

[@JesusActual]

Any suggestion on how to activate the heater in a 2006 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 (T1N) I have a rest switch which is for recirculating warm coolant with the engine off, and a switch with bacon (three wavy lines pointing up) to the right of the steering column. There isn't a lot of info from the searching I've done - any information would be helpful! Ideally I would like to rewire it so I can run it pre-starting so it warms the engine coolant up and makes starting easier in the very cold Northeast. Thanks!

[@JesusActual]

The switch to the right is the optional rear window defrost

[@Jasn00sh]

crushed that ad

[@TalonSei]

💪🏼💪🏼

[@Smallbore2wheels]

No van. Just here for the knowledge 🤙🏼

[@sandysanborn6840]

Sonic parts cleaner cleans the inner burn chamber like it never happened

[@va05sti]

The ad before the vid was your ad for roam rig it was like inseption

[@roamrig]

Ha yea I told my marketing guy to stop putting the add on this specific video :)

[@MrBercher]

Outstanding.

[@rolandtaitano9725]

Good job keep it up

[@jasonschern7034]

Are there companies that I can take the van to and have this service performed by a professional (someone with far more experience than I). I feel a bit more confident attempting this myself thanks to your video but would like the option to take it to an expert. Searching online I've not had luck finding espar service centers. Do you know of any companies that will provide a rebuild service?

[@TalonSei]

It is a very niche thing to do. You would be better off trying it yourself. It really isn’t that bad.

[@roamrig]

It is odd that they are so nichey when they are SO easy to repair. Talon and I hope that videos like this can help to remove some of the mystery of these parts so they become more common knowledge.

[@chrisclark5135]

Putting the long one in the wrong hole won't fit. Lord knows that's right! HA! Thanks man, this is not applicable to me, but still very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@smkjumpr]

and whats the service interval?

[@TalonSei]

Recommend to service one a year but it really depends on how much you use it

[@roamrig]

The service interval is do not wait until it breaks! Honestly, it is so easy to rebuild that once you have practice, you should just prophylactically do it once or twice a year.

[@mikemantho9426]

Cool

[@deejaymoore19]

👍🏼

[@lisoliveira]

Roamrig guy could be a surgeon.

[@watbri1801]

😁😁😁😁😁

[@LEXICOGRAFFER]

"This like, square, stubby head"...FYI: "Cap Head".

[@marnices729]

First

[@terryholloway9930]

Too muck work lol