Diesel Heater FAQ (5kW Heaters)

 1 - What size should I choose?

Consider the items below to help you to determine your need for a more or less powerful heater (2KW or 5KW).

  • Do you intend to spend a lot of time in cold locations? If you plan to stay in snowy locations, a more powerful heater is recommended.
  • What is the size of your vehicle? If your rv or caravan is closer to bus-size, a 5KW heater will heat up your space quicker
  • Does your caravan have many large windows? a lot of energy is lost through window glass. The more windows you have the larger the heat loss.

If you are unsure, we recommend to oversize the heater choice, hence the 5kW is the the most popular. If you are concerned the 5kW is too large for you, keep in mind you can operate the heater on lower settings and open the windows to bring the temperature to ideal. They are very efficient in fuel and power.

2 - Will the heating have a smell?

If set up correctly, diesel heaters should have very little odor. The combustion process should be very efficient, therefore it should not emit a noticeable smell.

If you there is a burn rubber smell, check the rubber or silicone gasket under the diesel heater. Replace gasket if needed (see tip below).

3 - How much power does the heater use?

On startup and shutdown the heater takes about 10 amps for a couple minutes. On low power draws approximately 1 amp per hour, on medium power 1.8 amps and on high power 3.7 amps.

On average, you can expect the heater to consume around 12Ah overnight. 

4 - How much fuel does the heater use?

The fuel consumption depends on what setting it is on (high/low etc). It consumes approximately 0.10 liters of diesel per hour on the low setting. Therefore, you could get up to 10 hours of heating from a litre of fuel.
 

5 - Can I always run the diesel heater on low setting?

The diesel heater can run on low, but if on low settings for a prolonged period and multiple uses, you may get carbon built up on the glow plug.

To keep the glow plug in good operating order, it's recommended to run it on high for at least 15 minutes, once per month before switching it off. 

6 - How to pair the remote with the LCD controller?

 To pair the remote control, follow the instructions below:
  1. Check if the remote battery is fitted correctly. It uses one A27 12V battery.
  2. Turn on the power only (do not turn on the heater itself)
  3. Press and hold the "UP" button at the same time as the "OK" button (in the LCD controller)
  4. Wait until "HFA" comes up on the  screen
  5. Press one of the buttons of the remote control pointing at the LCD screen

7 - The LCD doesn't turn on, what should I do?

To check possible causes for no power to the LCD, please follow the instructions below:
  1. Reconnect the cables to the battery
  2. Double-check that you have a good electrical connection - look for cables that may be short-circuited
  3. Check if the fuse is intact and measure the voltage on both sides of the fuse
  4. Measure voltage at the heater side of the main connector plug in the loom
  5. Check if the connection lugs are pushed back in any of the connector plugs in the wiring loom

8 - What is the rubber gasket for and how to properly seal the diesel heater?

The gasket helps to insulate the heating unit, prevent exhaust fumes from coming in and also to reduce vibrations. If you would like to improve the installation or if you need a replacement, here are some alternatives:

1. Use a temperature silicone sealant
2. Replace the rubber with a silicone sheet, cut to size
3. Use liquid gasket (i.e  gasketing Permatex)

9 - Can I get spare parts for my diesel heater? 

Yes, we sell a range of spare parts for your diesel heater. Please check this page for spare parts. Contact us if you can't find the part you need. 

10 - What is the level noise rating? 

The noise rating is 60-80dB about a meter from the muffler, depending on pump setting. 

11 - Can I replace the fuel line with a different material and diameter? 

 The standard rigid white nylon pile (1.5mm or 2mm ID and 4mm OD) should be used as a fuel line. You can cover it with rubber tubing for additional protection. If you're using a different diameter or material the heater may not work properly.

 The standard black joining pipe (3.5mm Inner Diameter and 10mm Outer Diameter) is to ensure a snug fit with no leaks between each part.

The fuel pump is a dosage pump and the fuel line from it to the heater needs hard walls so the dosage is delivered correctly. If the inner diameter of the fuel line is larger then the fuel pump has to work much harder to fill the fuel hose and transport the fuel to the heater. There is also the chance that the air bubbles created by the pump when pushing the fuel forward will merge into one big air bubble that reduces or even stops the fuel supply. With the white thinner nylon hose this does not happen, because the air bubbles are transported to the heater together with the fuel,  providing extra oxygen, therefore, benefiting the combustion.
Replacing the fuel line with a different diameter or material than the one provided, will void your warranty.

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If you have any issues with your diesel heater, please check our information page. If you need any further assistance,  please send a detailed video and photos of your installation so we can assist you further. Please show us:

  • The position of your diesel heater, fuel pump, fuel tank, etc.
  • The battery voltage measured at the terminals
  • Any error code, smoke or unusual behavior

Please send the information above to info@ontrackoutdoor.com.au.