Diesel Heating

[Kappy]

Not sure where this belong?

Just fitted my recently purchased eBay diesel parking heater.

Boy does this get the bus nice and toasty.

Very economical outlay.

Not as quite inside as I expected(fan), something I can live with for the comfort, when TV is on hardly noticed.

However as the unit builds up to operating temp, feel the exhaust, which is under the Bus is quite noisy, could be an issue around others, CVP etc.

Seeking some clue to reduce noise, anyone have one and their experience, Please.

[wayneP]

Hi Kappy, The diesel heater issue is a bit like the litho battery thing: everyone has an opinion and like to you to stick it where the sun doesn't shine blah blah blah. I have been in situations where outside its 1 or 2 degrees and inside the 11 mtr bus you have to decide
A: do I turn the heater down and put more clothes on than the T shirt and shorts,(normally the radio/Tv footy, sports car racing etc is on so the heater noise is only a issue when everything is off. Or in our early days we put the bus into caravan parks because we didn't have power backup.( And used a plug in 240 volt heater which created the same noise)
B; do I turn it down because I THINK its noisy and I don't want to disturb the close campers.
Yes it's great to look out windows etc but the word "insulation" is very important. We found by making or using the car sun screens/blockout (bubble wrap etc) on all windows and between the main door and blocking any holes. We found this stopped or helped the heater after it had built up to operating temp. Yes it would throttle back to a pleasant pace/ noise level.
As for the exhaust, I ran it from the left side of bus to right side with a muffler half way. The noise to me and others is only in the unit when it is starting or NO "I don't want to put jeans and a jumper on" shorts only thanks!!!
PS NO were we have stayed and length of time a gas heater would not have suited us!!! Please no arguments "horses for courses" they are both great units!
Insulation is a major factor !!!
Hope that helps a bit Kappy
Regards

[jon_d]

Hi Kappy,

Just a good exhaust pipe and decent muffler

Have a look at small motorbike muffles, large ride one mover mufflers or generator mufflers.

And, when the heater is running full stream, you'll always get the turbo/jet whine.


This is a small generator muffler.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MUFFLER-EXH ... 3307685782?

jd

[Noggins]

I've found that fitting 2 mufflers on greatly reduced the noise of our 5Kw heater


Ron

[Kappy]

Thanks everyone,

I'm really only concerned about the exhaust noise.

Got it running ATM , maintaining 27C and exhaust is OK.

Only at startup & increasing temp is when it seems loud.

May just add extra length of pipe and an extra muffler.

This guy is a wealth of knowledge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj8da4WQaac

[jon_d]

Excellent. Just remember to keep everything 'facing' down hill so any moisture drains.

[SteveW]

Thanks everyone,

I'm really only concerned about the exhaust noise.

Got it running ATM , maintaining 27C and exhaust is OK.

Only at startup & increasing temp is when it seems loud.

May just add extra length of pipe and an extra muffler.

This guy is a wealth of knowledge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj8da4WQaac

Too long exhaust (from the manufacturer in my case) can add resistance to the flow of exhaust gas resulting in sooting and eventual breakdown - from someone who knows and had to have it rectified at great expense.

[Kappy]

Too long exhaust (from the manufacturer in my case) can add resistance to the flow of exhaust gas resulting in sooting and eventual breakdown - from someone who knows and had to have it rectified at great expense.
[/quote]
Agreed, I believe the max is 2 metres, was considering 2 lengths of the standard, plus 2 mufflers.

Maybe just try 2 of the straight mufflers to start with.

[Peter and Sandra]

If you watch that blokes video's then keep exhaust as short as possible and two mufflers is the go.
If you want it longer then increase the diameter to reduce the restriction.
Also the mufflers are not created equal, straight through cuts the noise better than the offset one and doesn't increase restriction.
Same goes for the intake, if fitting an actual filter then increase the tubing size to reduce resistance to airflow. The intake "mufflers" supplied with many heater do bugger all except increase intake resistance and reduce airflow.
Watching his videos I've learnt quite a lot despite already having disassembled a heater to decoke it previously.

[T1 Terry]

I'm looking at doing the complete opposite, so we will see what happens. I plan to add a length of aluminium tube to get the exhaust above the roof, then put a bend on it. Gets the smell and noise up and out of the way and maybe the heat rising thing will create a draw on the exhaust gases rather than back pressure.
As for the air intake silencer, I've stuffed one of those wound stainless steel scrubber pad into the front part and down inside the foam filled bit. Might help to keep the rocks out and maybe redirect the sound waves a bit and break them up. If that doesn't work I'll just build on of the silencers with a Victa lawn mower air filter in it out of bits of PVC pipe and fitting from Bunnings, I know that works.

T1 Terry