Circulating heater install

[Manitoba Delica]

Hello folks, I have had troubles with the crappy lower rad hose heater... It has crapped out just when the temps here are -25-35 for the past two weeks. NEedless to say, It's been a bitch starting it everyday.. I bought a circulating heater, which are supposed to be quite good, but, I'm having trouble finding a good spot to intall it. IT needs to be low on the system, and simply splices into a 5/8 heater hose.... Has anyone got a good spot for me to look?? I'm really hoping for an accesible spot so I can keep an eye on it for leaks, maintenance, etc..... Thanks for any advice. I am wondering if my thermostat has gone too. Is there a way to test it?? Can anyone tell me where it is located/what it looks like?? I'm wondering if the lower rad hose heater has damaged it, when it burnt out.......... thanks

MAtthew

[twisted]

Hey I am going to install the same type of heater this week. I will take picts and post as soon as i can.

[konadog]

Does the project described in this thread involve the same kind of heater ? http://www.delica.ca/forum/how-to-insta ... -4260.html Gnarly (tedious, anyway) job on an auto trans. deli, but I hear it works a treat! Good luck with your projects guys - hope it warms up soon too

[Manitoba Delica]

Well, so far the best I can come up with is to connect this heater to the lines just before they reach the cab heater unit.. These are nicely accessible lines, but I need to figure out how to mount it without adding a kink in the line.. If there is an obviously better spot, let me know, because I need to install this tomorrow. I'm pretty disapointed in the lower rad hose heater, it only lasted one year, and I am suspecting it fried my thermostat, because as soon as it burnt out, so did the heat in my cab.. Now I've got to figure out thermostat replacement as well. I tried a magnetic oil pan heater in the interim, and it did nothing to help starting in -30.... Waste of money, I am just using shop heater under the van in my garage for now.....

MAtthew

[twisted]

Hey the best way as far as I can see is to put two y pipes in the lines to the cab heater core. Off the y pipes run lines to the ciculating heater. That would ensure flow in the head. The old style, no longer avalible, was installed in one line. In a newer car flow to the cab heater core is vacume controled and only lets flow happen when the engine is running. Hooking up to both lines should bypass the heater core, have a flow route, and not interfear with heater controls. It would also let you mount the circ heater any where with some extra hose. I should be looking at it tonight and i can let you know for sure.

[Manitoba Delica]

That's kind of the same scenario I was planning to do. I thought I would mount the unit beside the air filter housing, There is a solid sheet of metal there to bolt onto. It would mean a slight kink in the hose, but it shouldn't matter, as long as the unit is not at the highest point in the loop. I've already tapped into the heater lines at this point to run them to a hotfox fuel tank heater, for my WVO sytem. I am hoping that I kill two birds with one stone, preheat my WVO and warm the motor. Hopefully most of the heat goes to the motor, though. I believe that the motor would be higher, and therefore the cycle of warm coolant would flow to the motor first, and to my WVO tank last..... We'll see. I'd love to see photos of your install if you beat me to it. I was contemplating going out tonight at 2:00 , but I had better postpone, so I don't do anything stupid in my tiredness....

[Deli of the North]

Matthew- I've got my espar tied-in at the coolant lines just below the fuel filter with a couple of y's. It's cut in right after the metal elbows, and it's tight in there, but it does provide access if needed. Are you out in Riding Mountain, by chance? Call me @ 204-667-4614 if you have any other questions- I should be home most of the day (or leave a message w/Mandy...) 'hope this helps- Kevin

[Manitoba Delica]

Hey Kevin, fancy meeting you here... It was pretty hilarious to have you pull up beside us in Brandon on your way into Manitoba... How do you like the Espar unit?? Is it an electric unit or a fuel powered one like the Webasto? I drooled over those units, but couldn't justify the expense.. I'll have a look at the lines below the fuel filter.. I had planned to use the lines near the cab heater core behind the front wheel... I don't know when the heck I can manage to get this done, we just seem to be so busy... Luckily I changed the oil and put a battery warmer in, and new glow plugs, and I've been starting really nicely these past few mornings...(-20-30) without a block heater, just garage parked with a small space heater..... Give us a call kevin, we'd love to host you on your way out of the province... LEt us know your plans...

[alovelyman]

If you mount a coolant heater on the front heater core lines what is the path of the warm coolant? Would the warm coolant recirculate through the entire block? Looking over the Delica manual coolant section I came up with the following. (I hope this is right, if not let me know before I do something insane)

The heater core lines are at the back of the engine. Coolant enters from the lower front right side, passes through the motor, some exits the rear to warm the front & rear heater cores, returns and exits the top left to the radiator.

I was thinking of splicing into the return heater core line to my coolant heater and running the return hose up to the top rad hose, splicing in there close enough to the block that the hot water would pour into it rather then into the rad. I'm assuming that as the heater warms, the coolant expands and pours into the top of the block, at least this is what I've understood from the mounting instructions. The majority of the hot coolant should enter the block to replace what has been removed, rather then just pouring into the radiator.

Ideally hot coolant should pass through the whole block and eventually warm coolant should make it back to the heater core. Providing it doesn't pour back along the return line. Also, the heater I bought, Temro Series 8000 750 water circulating coolant heater, has a value to prevent back flow. A small ball that blocks the flow in one direction. So when the vehicle is running coolant shouldn't pour from upper rad hose into the newly made splice and down into the heater core. Providing that valve is crappy, which it is but the hole is quite small and I'm hoping it won't be a problem.

I'm wondering if this is worth my effort. If I can splice into the front heater core lines and get the same effect I will. But I live in Northern Alberta and its been a terrible winter. My pour Jetta TDI packed it in and needed a new starter, glow plugs, battery and a little bit of cheetah blood to make it faster. So I've been using my Delica as my daily driver and I don't like to use it when its -40.

The circulator in my Jetta after two hours will have to coolant at operational temperature (75-80 degrees) and that's when its -40 out side. Its like starting the car on a summer day. I'm hoping to be able to achieve the same thing in my Delica. If anyone knows of an easier/better way, or if you think their is something fundamentally wrong with my plan please let me know. I might not get this installed before winter ends but I'd love to know next winter won't be as challenging when is comes to cold morning starts.

[fexlboi]

We recently installed an auxiliary coolant heater in the rear. Right where the heater vents used to be. If all goes well, it's going to be connected to the Espar heater soon. Just need to finish up the mounting box.

[mararmeisto]

We recently installed an auxiliary coolant heater in the rear. Right where the heater vents used to be. If all goes well, it's going to be connected to the Espar heater below. Just need to finish up the mounting box.

How is that different than the coolant heater that was originally back there?

[fexlboi]

The heater/fan is not really different beside the outside dimensions are way smaller. The heater core is similar in size. The main advantage for us is, it frees up a lot of space underneath to install the Diesel heater and the hot water tank.

[dr_airtime]

All - searched in detail and could not find a picture on forum of an L300 with the circulating heater install. I am picking up my Phillips & Temro 1000W Circulating Heater at Lordco Kamloops tomorrow on way from Vancouver to Canmore. Would appreciate it if anyone could direct my to an installed L300 Circulating Heater-Rad Hose splice on the forum to help me out. Also - where should I bolt the heater too, anything else to consider to avoid coolant leaks? Most of the conversation on forum around these is back from 2008-2009. I have a 1991 L300 Chamonix that is stock. Quite a bit of room near to the oil pump in the engine compartment side for potential mounting if I remember. Look to install on 28th or 29th.

FYI - if anyone is thinking of doing this talk to Cameron at Lordco Sydney who is very, very knowledgeable on these and gave me the part sheet I have linked below in picture. - 250-655-9311.

The Phillips and Temro circ heater I am getting is in the picture below if that helps. Understand most people are running these. Thanks in Advance!

Andre - 6x4 - 8(three)7 two(nine)9[five]

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz12 ... dlta5g.jpg

Trying to keep my Van from freezing like last time I was in Canmore! Have the magnetic oil pan heater but that is not enough!