Eberspacher

[BlueStringPudding]

Hello.

 

We've just had the Eberspacher on our boat serviced at Sawley and the engineer bled the water through it and fired it up there to check it was okay.

 

Yesterday we fired it up ourselves. It has a pull-on, push-off button in the stern cabin. Well, I pulled the button. Nowt happened. So I pulled it harder. Nowt happened. Then I pulled it so hard the button came off in my hand and I heard the Eberspacher start up. (So I promptly put the button back on the stick )

 

It took a long time to seem to get going and after ten minutes of producing what looked like normal diesel exhaust fumes, it started producing white smoke - lots and lots and lots of white smoke . After just a few seconds we were literally surrounded in billowing white smoke and promptly turned the Eberspacher off as we were very much in danger of getting complaints from the boat moored behind us plus we were very worried about what was causing all this smoke.

 

Any clues, anyone? Is it safe to use? Is this normal teething trouble for a newly serviced Eberspacher?

 

Thanks

[Gary Peacock]

Hello.

 

We've just had the Eberspacher on our boat serviced at Sawley and the engineer bled the water through it and fired it up there to check it was okay.

 

Yesterday we fired it up ourselves. It has a pull-on, push-off button in the stern cabin. Well, I pulled the button. Nowt happened. So I pulled it harder. Nowt happened. Then I pulled it so hard the button came off in my hand and I heard the Eberspacher start up. (So I promptly put the button back on the stick )

 

It took a long time to seem to get going and after ten minutes of producing what looked like normal diesel exhaust fumes, it started producing white smoke - lots and lots and lots of white smoke . After just a few seconds we were literally surrounded in billowing white smoke and promptly turned the Eberspacher off as we were very much in danger of getting complaints from the boat moored behind us plus we were very worried about what was causing all this smoke.

 

Any clues, anyone? Is it safe to use? Is this normal teething trouble for a newly serviced Eberspacher?

 

Thanks

 

If the battery voltage is low they do this make sure the batteries aren't down or try starting it with the engine running.

[BlueStringPudding]

If the battery voltage is low they do this make sure the batteries aren't down or try starting it with the engine running.

 

Okay... thanks Gary. The battery voltage hasn't dropped below 12.7v or so, being spankingly new batteries and we have very little equipment drawing anything from them at the moment.

 

We'd hoped we'd be able to use the Eberspacher without having to turn the engine on (otherwise we can heat the water from the engine anyway)... but maybe that's what we'll have to do?

 

Thanks for your advice.

[bottle]

Hi

 

From the experience of one fitted to a motor vehicle, they do not 'start' immediately you can here them clicking and then they 'fire up'.

 

Whenever we had starting problems 9/10 times it was low battery charge/voltage, so we always started vehicle engine first.

 

(long story about battery problems but not relevant to this forum)

 

You do need to be quite close to them to hear the click (same room).

[nb Stockton]

Dear BlueStringPudding,

 

I had exactly the same problem last year with my D5W. It freaked me out something rotten as I was convinced it was going to explode.

 

Firstly, with regard to starting, the blower motor should start within a second of turning the switch on. If it does not then check the switch is actually switching.

 

Secondly, the white smoke. I spoke to a guy at Eberbasto (found him on eBay for spares - 01502 519198) and apparently it is perfectly normal if the unit is dirty in the combustion chamber. Slightly strange if you have just had yours serviced. It is only water vapour mixing into the exhaust gases and is fine. If the main heat exchanger fractures the unit will go off on overheat anyway. The solution is to run it for about 15 minutes and it should clear. It can also happen if the exhaust outlet pipe gets restricted by soot etc, has any work been done on the exhaust recently?

 

Espar in Marlow (Eberspacher agents) are also very helpful. 01628 471368.

If you need any more help just let me know.

 

Hope that helps

 

Richard

[BlueStringPudding]

It can also happen if the exhaust outlet pipe gets restricted by soot etc, has any work been done on the exhaust recently?

 

Espar in Marlow (Eberspacher agents) are also very helpful. 01628 471368.

If you need any more help just let me know.

 

Hope that helps

 

Richard

 

Thanks Richard - yes, they sorted out the exhaust when they serviced it, as they said the exhaust had been damaged previously and had spewed kack all over the inside of the engine area. So I'd have thought that'd be working perfick now.

 

Thanks for the useful contacts. I'll stick 'em in my mobile now.

 

[cyclic]

If the battery voltage is low they do this make sure the batteries aren't down or try starting it with the engine running.

 

I have a Mikuni, so not quite the same, but, when I took the boat on, I found a water leak, from either the feed or return water pipes, dripping onto the exhaust cladding of the heater..

Obviously, when the heater started everything got hot, and there were vast clouds of steam until the cladding dried out, which sometimes took quite a time

 

Just a thought, and your nose will tell you what the "Vapour" is. i e steam, or unburnt fuel, etc.

[nb Stockton]

No worries.

 

Also check the water flow pipe or the body of the unit to see if you are getting heat. If you are not getting any heat after a minute or so then it could be that the glowplug has failed and you are blowing diesl out of the exhaust. Just a thought.

 

I did some work on my exhaust recently and used Gumgum to seal the joints. Unfortunately used more than I should and almost blocked the pipe. Thats how I found that one out.

 

Best of luck

 

Richard

[blackrose]

I've seen that happen on a neighbour's boat and had you let it run the smoke would have cleared.

[dccruiser]

I have several d5w's i will be listing in the for sale/wanted column as soon as i have finished cleaning and testing them, some with timers all but one with pumps and all 12volt should anyone need a replacement or a full installation.

[BlueStringPudding]

Hello all,

 

We had a bit of an experiement with the Eberspacher over the weekend. I can confirm that the billowing whitish smoke it produces is definitely excessive exhaust fumes (nearly gagged as I'd foolishly left the stern cabin doors open and managed to stink out the whole boat )!!! And this "smoke" happens whether the engine is running or not.

 

But the smoke does clear after a few minutes and the Eberspacher does heat the water quite quickly - so that's good. It did, after a while start making scary "clucking" noises as well as the normal whirring sound - hope that's normal ? (it wasn't, however, producing the excessive clouds of fumes at that time).

 

But I can confirm that the "pull-on, push-off" button that starts and stops it is very dodgy. I almost couldn't turn it off this time. Had to put my hand up behind the button and start twiddling the back of the button stem and the wires before it worked properly - took about three minutes of twiddling. So I'd like to change the button. Is this something that has to be done by an Eberspacher qualified specialist, or can it be done by a boatyard electrican/engineer, or even by a pleb like me? Presumably the button would have to come from an Eberspacher parts place or are there universal "pull-on push-off" buttons out there that would be appropriate? What do you guys think's best?

 

Thanks

 

[nb Stockton]

Hi there,

 

Not totally sure as mine has a timer fitted, but in my book a switch is a switch is a switch. Any switch from Halfords or your local chandlers should do the job. Just make sure it is hte correct ampage rating.

 

Richard.

[NB Phoenix]

But the smoke does clear after a few minutes and the Eberspacher does heat the water quite quickly - so that's good.

 

I got a small amount of white smoke from ours when it was new but have not noticed any now it been used for a winter.

 

It did, after a while start making scary "clucking" noises as well as the normal whirring sound - hope that's normal ?

 

I think this is the fuel pump, again mine did this (the noise changes speed when it uses more fuel). Try supporting the fuel line to help stop any vibrations.

 

But I can confirm that the "pull-on, push-off" button that starts and stops it is very dodgy. I almost couldn't turn it off this time. Had to put my hand up behind the button and start twiddling the back of the button stem and the wires before it worked properly - took about three minutes of twiddling.

 

Don't forget the eberspacher will go through a shut down cycle AFTER you turn the switch off. I have a timer on mine and it runs on for, yes, three minutes after the timer has reached zero.

 

Hope this helps

 

Regards

 

John

 

 

 

Edit for crap typing

Edited June 25, 2007 by NB Phoenix

[BlueStringPudding]

Hi there,

 

Not totally sure as mine has a timer fitted, but in my book a switch is a switch is a switch. Any switch from Halfords or your local chandlers should do the job. Just make sure it is hte correct ampage rating.

 

Richard.

 

Ooh - a timer!?!!? I think I'd like one of those, since I'm looking at changing the switch anyway. I've seen one for Eberspachers on Ebay but it's 24v not 12v. What sort of timer do you have?

[BlueStringPudding]

Don't forget the eberspacher will go through a shut down cycle AFTER you turn the switch off. I have a timer on mine and it runs on for, yes, three minutes after the timer has reached zero.

 

Hope this helps

 

Regards

 

John

 

Thanks John - although it took three minutes or so of twiddling before the pitch of the Eberspacher noise changed, then a further two or three minutes to slowly wind itself down. I do think the switch is a bit tricky.

[Gary Peacock]

The eberspacher switch costs £22.84 plus VAT, quite a lot for a switch but not the most ridiculous price I have seen.

[blackrose]

If you find it noisy thing other thing you can do is "lag" the entire copper fuel line with 2" strips of thin foam rubber and some cable ties. Strips of rubber car mats or even old carpet would probably do just as well. My pump is halfway down the fuel line so I lagged that too. This reduces the clicking noise from the fuel pump and just leaves you with the whirring noise.

[BlueStringPudding]

The eberspacher switch costs £22.84 plus VAT, quite a lot for a switch but not the most ridiculous price I have seen.

 

Hi Gary - is that price for a normal on-off switch or for one with a timer? I'm liking the idea of a timer when it comes to cold winter mornings!

 

Here's another update... last night I pulled the "on" switch to the Eberspacher and nothing happened (sounds familiar!), so ten minutes later I pulled it again and still nothing happened, so about half an hour after that I pulled it so hard that the knob came off (again! This technique seems to have worked in the past) but still nothing! Gave up trying to start it in the end. So I really need that switch now!

[Gary Peacock]

Hi Gary - is that price for a normal on-off switch or for one with a timer? I'm liking the idea of a timer when it comes to cold winter mornings!

 

Here's another update... last night I pulled the "on" switch to the Eberspacher and nothing happened (sounds familiar!), so ten minutes later I pulled it again and still nothing happened, so about half an hour after that I pulled it so hard that the knob came off (again! This technique seems to have worked in the past) but still nothing! Gave up trying to start it in the end. So I really need that switch now!

 

 

That's the pull start switch the timer programer is £121.00!

 

That's for the 7 day timer version there is a simpler one also available but strangely that one isn't listed in the price list.

 

But look HERE and don't tell anyone I found it!

Edited June 26, 2007 by Gary Peacock

[BlueStringPudding]

But look here and don't tell anyone I found it!

 

 

Yay!!! Thanks, Gary!

[Hekaterine]

Pity it's already sold. We're looking for a timer for ours as well.

 

Hope you get sorted out, Blue String Pudding - we had problems with our central heating refusing to start (battery problem) and it was a huge relief when we got it going. I still wait with bated breath when I press the switch on...

[BlueStringPudding]

Pity it's already sold.

 

Ah - that'll be because I bought it pronto... sorry about that.

[cyclic]

Ah - that'll be because I bought it pronto... sorry about that.

I DO like the name.

Haven't heard "Bint" used for a long time, and as for the connections with space, the mind boggles

[carlt]

I DO like the name.

and as for the connections with space, the mind boggles

 

She's Clanger food, the space connections are obvious.

 

Did the poor guy get his leg stripes sorted btw?

[BlueStringPudding]

I DO like the name.

Haven't heard "Bint" used for a long time, and as for the connections with space, the mind boggles

 

I like the word bint and use it as often in conversation as appropriate!

 

As for "astro", I was a member of the Royal Observatory astronomy society in Greenwich for some time (Flamsteed Society) and the Astronomer Royal of Scotland is a good drinking pal of mine! Random, but true.