How to replace the atomizer screen in an Espar D2 diesel heater DIY

[@PSYCHOFERNA]

Man your video needs much more exposure im getting ready to do this to me heater on my semi truck and this is by far the best explanation of process thank you so much

[@SeeSaw99]

I was dreading servicing my unit before I watched your video. Extremely helpful is an understatement. Thanks.

[@vasquezalfred]

ALFRED should be purchasing the kit for an awesome idea and maintaining your bunk heater. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@erwannjousselin3670]

Nice video. Well explained. Tremendous help for me, I will change my filter screen asap.

[@NormCobbJrTourLife]

Glad I watched this video. I replaced mine but dismantled it much further than you did. I totally removed my heater from under the bunk of my truck and replaced the two gaskets and the glow pin and glow pin screen. It cost me $252.00 USD for the parts and I consider it a business expense for my federal tax return. After seeing how you did yours I will in the future try your way instead of tearing it down on the bench. Thanks for the great video!

[@sprinterdiscovery]

Thanks for your comment! I've done the same with my Espar several times, but less so lately. The most important thing is to start up the vehicle first before starting the heater. This way the glow pin gets the right amount of amps (10A) coming from the alternator. After a few years of trying this, my glow plug and screen seem very clean and it still hasn't smoked. I do change out the screen and clean the glow plug and ream the air intake hole. It keeps the heater running in very good shape, especially this time of year in the northern hemisphere. Best of luck to you and your heater! Stay warm!!

[@whidbeymark]

I have three of these and have run them several thousand hours. I don't do any maintenance at all. I set it up properly at the start using a carbon monoxide tester to get the air fuel ratio correct. Once every 24 hours I make sure it is run it on high for 10 or 15 minutes. I have never had any soot or carbon issues or clogged screens. What fails first every time are the bearings in the motor. I wait until those fail, that's what kills them. That's when I rebuild. The glow plug is usually fine and the atomizer screen is usually fine but I replace the screen anyway when the bearings fail and reuse the glow plug. There's usually only about a tablespoon of soot after the bearings fail. The parts needed at the time of rebuild are usually limited to the two bearings for the motor, a gasket set, and a new screen, that's it. Then I run it untill till the bearings fail again. If it ain't broke don't fix it. ; ).

[@sprinterdiscovery]

That's great to hear. I've been running mine lately for more than 1,000 hours without any maintenance too. The biggest thing is to make sure the source battery is fully charged and able to supply the full 10A required for the start up process. In my Sprinter van the Espar is connected directly to the starter battery. I first start the vehicle engine, and the alternator then supplies power to the battery. I then start my Espar. I've found that this sequence supplies the high amps required, nearly eliminating the carbon build up on the screen. Thanks for the tips... Running the heater on high is definitely a good thing to do regularly.

[@muzamilahmed6237]

Very helpful video thank you so much

[@notanotherusername]

this was very helpful and easy to understand thanks to your great camera angles. You mentioned a little bit about the air hole, but didn't discuss much about cleaning it out. I suspect mine might be clogged because I'm getting a ton of white smoke on startup and it's *kind of* unreliable. working on getting myself one of those sockets. i'm determined lol

[@sprinterdiscovery]

Yeah the air hole is difficult to clean, but if you can find a small pick and keep picking at it, you'll eventually clean all the carbon out. Make sure your electricity is capable of at least 10A during startup - everything will work very well for a very long time

[@user-pz1ve1jb5s]

Thanks, I think you are one of the few people who does maintenance on these heaters. I joined a FB group and most people who commented on my question thinks maintenance on this heater is a joke. I left.the group since that was the main reason

[@sprinterdiscovery]

Hi J, thanks very much for watching and for your kind words! It's definitely worth maintaining since we like to have reliable heat when we travel. I try to change the atomizer screen every 500 hours or so, being proactive helps reduce the need to change the other gaskets and pull the heater from the van. I still have to do it, but less frequent. Not sure if you already saw my website where I have much more detail and photos on the Espar heater maintenance. sprinterdiscovery.com/heater/ It's also my way of record keeping for this heater. Atomizer screens from eBay are dirt cheap (link in my page), and worth changing out proactively. Your welcome to subscribe, and when I do my next major maintenance I'll upload the video here too. Thanks so much for watching and commenting - it really helps out my channel! Have a great day ahead!

[@tkaald]

Thanks for interesting video. I always get the screen out unharmed. I use either a coach screw or eraser end of a pencil to wiggle screen out. Has so far worked fine. I then clean screen with compressed air followed if necessary by heating it with propane torch. Therefore after four years I am still running on original screen and have no issues with my heater.

[@sprinterdiscovery]

That's great - thanks for sharing! I'll have to give it a try next time I service the heater.

[@oojimmyflip]

I ue a 7mm thread cutting bit to pull the old screen out it just screws in and pulls the screen out efficiently it will destroy the old screen by cutting into the inside but it works well.

[@giorgioestrada7716]

Professional video,, thanks

[@sprinterdiscovery]

Glad you liked it!

[@ZerHour]

Very clear and details very good video 👍

[@sprinterdiscovery]

ZeroHour - thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated. And thank you for watching!

[@mikelarin8037]

Does the screen need to be lower than the flame front hole that you pointed out? I can't seem to get mine to seat low enough to clear that hole and no matter what I do the thing won't start. Glow plug is good. I've cleaned up the whole unit and it just smokes

[@talusranch990]

Nice gloves

[@jaroslavhruska7391]

Isn't it easier to put the strainer on the glow plug and insert,

[@sprinterdiscovery]

Espar provides a tool to set the strainer in the correct position.

[@donkirk5433]

How often should you replace the glow plug please.

[@sprinterdiscovery]

In 6 years I haven't replaced the glow plug. Keep it very clean during service, and it should last you many many years. Have one on hand during the winter in case yours dies. Just in case. Super easy to replace.

[@roland2683]

How many hours do you have on the unit with doing this maintance?

[@sprinterdiscovery]

About 500 hours. Recently I've done much longer, about 1500 hours and counting since my last service without any smoke at all. I've found if I turn on my van first, or have a battery charger attached to the starter battery (the D2 is connected to it), and then turn on the D2, there is much less carbon buildup especially when it's really cold outside.

[@chipper7711]

When placed at correct depth, does the atomizer screen overlap the small air intake hole? Or is the atomizer screen set deep enough that its top edge does NOT overlap the air intake hole? I know to use the plastic insertion tool. But still would like to know. Thx!

[@sprinterdiscovery]

Hi! The atomizer screen is set so that the top edge is not overlapping the air intake hole. Just below the hole is the fuel port, and that is where the actual ignition occurs. If the welds on the screen are up against that port, it can cause slow or incomplete ignition over time due to the slight blockage and cause more carbon. I reviewed my video and I should have said "fuel port" rather than "air port". Thanks very much for your question, and thanks for watching! Hope it helped a bit! :-)

[@vasquezalfred]

Why question to anyone that can answer it is my heater in working one time only in my 2023. Freightliner has not worked since failure to sense heat. So what would cause that is my question.

[@tivonablaydes-lewis2093]

Your glow plug may need to be replaced.

[@franktremblay4860]

Walk away just Walk away