Diesel exhaust smell with Webasto heater

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

I don't understand that sentence as I believe there can be no combustion without air. Please consider re-writing.



But ... the OP has a Webasto not a Planar.

These heaters have input two air flows and two exhausts.

The combustion air is drawn into the combustion chamber from outside and expelled outside via the exhaust

The heating air is drawn in over the combustion chamber /heat exchanger and dies not come in in contact. That air can be sourced from within the cabin space and usually is.

Sadly it’s not unusual to see combustion air drawn in from the interior but it’s not a great idea. !!!!

[silvercreek]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Only combustion products the air being heated in a planar heater does not form part of the combustion process. Hence it can of course be drawn in from inside and commonly is.

The air being heated, yes. But the air being mixed with fuel and ignited is the problem. Even the manual says not to do that (below). I suspect that some of the mixture can escape out of the inlet pipe and into the surrounding space before the combustion process fully starts.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Sadly it’s not unusual to see combustion air drawn in from the interior but it’s not a great idea. !!!!

You are too fast .... I just edited my post to add a quote from the Planar manual.
Now I'm not sure if you agree with ABYC or not ...

[silvercreek]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Sadly it’s not unusual to see combustion air drawn in from the interior but it’s not a great idea. !!!!

Agreed, and now we know why it’s not a good idea!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by silvercreek

Agreed, and now we know why it’s not a good idea!

In my case I have seen wisps of diesel smoke ejected from the heater via the non room sealed combustion air intake.

I’ve never regarded any unattended diesel heater as viable. Never run while everyone is asleep or the boat is unattended for any appreciable time.

Bad stuff happens sure but you watch and monitor

Every boat I ever had has CO monitoring as well as Butane monitoring. I wouldn’t consider having a diesel /gas heater without it.

[silvercreek]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

This is is wrong. ABYC A-7 says ...

"Room Sealed Combustion System - a combustion system in which incoming air, the combustion chamber, and the outgoing products of combustion are sealed from the boat interior."

in simple terms intake air must be drawn from the exterior.

I agree with this. ABYC is correct here. I am going to modify my setup to be compliant.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by silvercreek

I agree with this. ABYC is correct here. I am going to modify my setup to be compliant.

Why is you combustion air as opposed to the heating air being sourced within the cabin space.

[silvercreek]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Why is you combustion air as opposed to the heating air being sourced within the cabin space.

This is how the boat was built from the factory. The lazarette has a tiny 3" vent so they probably decided it was good enough. It's not...

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

In my case I have seen wisps of diesel smoke ejected from the heater via the non room sealed combustion air intake.

Yes! This is what I am smelling, no doubt, and has been the source of my problem for over a year now.

[Baby tug]

When it’s very cold diesel fuel is thick Or they are plugged with carbon , will more or less backfire and that’s when you get your little diesel smell, Combustion intake air is on the bottom of the unit next to the fuel line , there is a hose that connects to that that you can route outside , I never bother it’s not an issue for me , as far as getting the combustion air from the same room how about a Dickinson heater pretty much just like a woodstove , I like them better they’re not as temperamental and basically nothing to go wrong with them , I have two of them in my current boat an oven that would probably heat a 2000 square-foot house on a cold winter night , I don’t use much because of its size again it pretty much works like a woodstove , and then I have a model that’s called a Alaskan fireplace it’s like a small woodstove

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Baby tug

as far as getting the combustion air from the same room how about a Dickinson heater pretty much just like a woodstove

From the Dickinson manual ...

[Baby tug]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

From the Dickinson manual ...

I guess that means you’re supposed to open a window , like I said it’s exactly like A wood stove , except that it uses diesel

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by ItDepends

Oxygen sensors? Seriously? I am glad you are not in charge!

Well, if you have read any of the other many claims he has made since he joined, you well see a similar trend in shouting from the hip and in any random direction.

[Windpilot]

Working in a plant running steam pipes to many locations and machines I can tell you there can be many steam leaks until the pipes heat up to temp.
I'd double check the exhaust/muffler for similar leakage, your description of the problem fits.

[Lepke]

Drawing combustion air from inside helps keep the boat dry because you're changing the air. Every breath, shower, or boiling pot puts water in your inside air. If your boat is closed up tight your humidity can be like a tropical forest. Using inside air in a combustion heater ensures a turn over of cabin air.

I have a diesel stove, wood stove, and a pellet stove. My current humidity is 37% inside and 82% outside. My clothes, bedding, cushions, curtains, windows are all dry.
Using inside air for combustion requires a little common sense. If you don't have that you probably should use outside air.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Drawing combustion air from inside helps keep the boat dry because you're changing the air. Every breath, shower, or boiling pot puts water in your inside air. If your boat is closed up tight your humidity can be like a tropical forest. Using inside air in a combustion heater ensures a turn over of cabin air.

I have a diesel stove, wood stove, and a pellet stove. My current humidity is 37% inside and 82% outside. My clothes, bedding, cushions, curtains, windows are all dry.
Using inside air for combustion requires a little common sense. If you don't have that you probably should use outside air.

Err the combustion air and Heated air don’t meet and it’s inefficient bringing in outside air repeatedlY

Hence combustion air from outside heating air from inside