| Author |
Message |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 9:12 pm: | |
Just returned from a 4 day ski trip at Wolf Creek. We drycamped in the Eagle 10 and the darn Webasto sooted up on us twice. After an overnite shipment of a new nozzle from Wrico, (yea I should of had a spare) it sooted up on us the second time.
After 2 days of phone calls to SMC Marine and troubleshooting every possible cause they could think of, it wasn't until we got back to Texas that we seem to have it figured out.
The heater will choke up on fuel at high altitudes. We were above 7500'. The damper will have to be adjusted to ingest more air to the burner chamber. I need to get with Webasto to figure out a way to accurately measure the CO output at the tailpipe to conicide with an acceptable fuel burn that won't produce soot.
Looking at the pipe exhaust for clear air won't do because when the nozzle was replaced it burned fine for about 6 hours then fogged up the parking lot and dumped a cup full of carbon black on the pavement. It was 16 degrees outside and we got really cold in the coach. We had to run the genny and use our electric heaters. Luckily, the engine was still warm enough to start in the morning. (I need to install an electric block heater as a backup)
I'll post back after the holidays when I get an acceptable solution for damper adjustment from Webasto. This makes the 3rd time its happened to me in Colorado mountain cold. Sure can upset an otherwise good trip in the bus.
David Anderson |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 9:59 pm: | |
I don't know a thing about Webasto, but wouldn't it help to
regulate the pressure of the fuel for use at high altitude? Or
preheat the fuel? |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 10:57 pm: | |
Good point John....is the pre heater working on your unit?....also, antigel helps a lot.
Contact David Haynes, Vehicle Systems, Ft. Lupton CO and he will gladly work thru it with you.
FWIW
RCB |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 12:54 am: | |
CO (and other) monitors at www.davis.com Davis Instruments and Calibration Service. Lots of exotic teat equipment. The paper catalog is about 1100 pages. Tell 'em JJ sent you. Cheers...JJ |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 12:57 am: | |
The fuel was not a problem because the genny ran fine from the same source. The temperature in the fuel bay never dropped below 48 degrees. SMC ruled it out.
What is a preheater? That was never mentioned to me. Also, nothing was mentioned about regulating fuel pressure at high altitudes.
David Anderson |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 8:19 am: | |
How often does SMC Marine have a boat up at the 10,300'
high, icy ski resort?
I'd check with a heating outfit that services oil burners at high
altitudes, if I couldn't get a decent answer from the boat guy.
Coagulating fuel can mess up a nozzle pretty quick, and
cleaning the nozzle would be better than replacing it, $-wise...
Preheating cold fuel is an easy way to fix the problem of
coagulation, or an anti-gel would work as well at lower altitudes.
But this is related to altitude, not the cold? If the nozzle is fouling
due to unburned fuel building up on the nozzle, then the answer
should be simple.
If you can't give it more air, you'd have to cut back on the fuel.
Where's the Webasto guys here when ya' need 'em? I don't know
nuttin' about this stuff. |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 8:25 am: | |
High altitude isn't a problem with Webasto's. I've run mine at 9500' in Breckenridge and it worked fine for several very cold days in ski season. Most likely problem is low fuel pressure causing bad spray pattern atomization. With the replacement .35GPH nozzles, the pressure has to be increased to 140psi from the original 100psi. The switch to the smaller nozzle at a higher pressure was for just the problem you are having.
Be aware the increased pressure will cause problems for the original pump and a replacement high pressure pump is now available. Pressure can be checked by brazing a fitting onto a drilled out used nozzle and connecting a gauge to it. Exaust CO can be checked with a Baccharach(sp?) flue gas analyzer. Probably not cost effective for you to own one, but every home oil burner tune-up guy will have one.
Jim |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 3:06 pm: | |
Thanks Jim,
I sent a letter to Webasto USA to see if there is a simpler way to fix this problem. I'll post back when I receive a reply.
No one said anything about the necessity of a fuel pressure increase for the .35, 60 degree nozzle they sold me.
I did look in the Grainger catalog for a CO analyzer. $400 and up. Pretty pricey for one trip per year. Any better ideas?
David Anderson |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 3:28 pm: | |
David, call the people R.C. Bishop referred you to. They are great people and I am sure will be able to solve your problem.
Richard |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 6:36 pm: | |
David- there is a manual online that you can download from www.Webasto-Thermo.com. That may give you enough information.
Jim |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 3:54 pm: | |
I tried contacting David Haynes at Vehicle Systems 303-420-1643. An answering machine picked up as some muffler shop. Is this the correct number?
David Anderson |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 7:53 pm: | |
This is home.
http://www.hydro-hot.com/index.html
Richard |
Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 6:07 pm: | |
David Haynes number is
Vehicle Systems 800-685-4298 x 127 |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 12:28 pm: | |
I sent Haynes and Webasto an email. Haven't heard anything back as of yet.
David Anderson |
R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 8:16 pm: | |
David....give him a call....leave a message....he will return your call.
We've all been in "holiday" mode for a couple of weeks, so not surprising he hasn't gotten back to you.....I just returned this evening from my holiday trip..
BTW. the coach...and the Webasto performed flawlessly. (if there is such a word) 
FWIW
RCB
'64 Crown Supercoach (HWC) |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 8:17 pm: | |
I received a call from Richard Edwards, Webasto Systems technician. He confirmed the high altitude problem with the DB 2010. He told of success they have had at 8000' by opening the damper 50% of full open. That means 50% of the travel from fully closed to fully open. At Wolf Creek (10,000') I may need a bit more.
If that fails then the fuel pressure will need to be reduced. This will lower the btu output to about 35,000 btu's, making the heater a bit less effective.
There you have it. That's the official word. Hopefully, I can solve my problem with the air damper setting.
David Anderson |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 8:32 pm: | |
"If that fails then the fuel pressure will need to be
reduced. " (where did I hear that b-4?)
"This will lower the btu output to about 35,000
btu's, making the heater a bit less effective. "
Why would it? All you're doing, is providing the proper
burn rate (conditions) for the burner to operate properly. |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 10:10 pm: | |
John, lowering the fuel pressure will reduce the fuel burned; even if conditions are perfect, that will lower the output.
Just setting the air shouldn't lower the output, if it works.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 11:17 pm: | |
Running an engine's fuel too lean, can result in burned valves,
pistons, or melted spark plug... The "BTU" is what melts things,
right? Providing the proper burn for the fuel supplied, should
provide the proper amount of heat.
(where the hell is the Mensa guy when we need him?) |
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