"Engine Preheat" vs. "Engine Heater"

[bumpersbird]

Thanks Pete,
Ditto on the switchs. Last winter the coach sat outside the whole
winter.The Auqa-Hot is a great heater. It does it all. It keep the
coach at 50 degrees,internal & bays. never preheated the 60, started
OK but not without a lot smoke & huffing & puffing. Watch the gauges
they tell the story if your warming up. TEXAS YEE HAW I'LL B BACK
THERE NEXT WEEK TO PICK UP MY CAR HAULER. Had to leave it behind for
a new axle. Lost the hub on HWY 20E to LA. Had to limp up to
TEXARCANNA TX/AR.90+miles on three wheels;}.ANd just in keeping with
the rules of Murphy, lost a tag wheel to a balloned sidewall, not
being good enough for Murphy when I found a new tire. no not a
Michlean like all my other tires. A fine Goodyear G149. Closest
Michelean tire is in Sacramento the only one in the system.
Murphy has left me a gift , the rim is so badly chewed up that I have
to buy a new rim, I love the little extras. No it doesn't match. No
the holes are a little bigger. BLA BLA Bla, Hell I love TEXAS. What's
not to love, Want a cold beer in San Antonio, Hills & Dales Loop 1604
If they don't have your beer then you don't want it!

Kurt Horvath
'95 PT-42 WLWB


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> As another responder explained, the pre-heat switch turns on the
> AquaHot engine heater. The pump is 12v and it fires up the diesel-
> fuel burner in the AH. I'm told 2 or 3 hours is enough lead time
for
> zero degree weather. (Longer if colder, I suppose.)
>
> The "engine heater" red lighted switch is 120v and powers an
electric
> block heater. I used it last spring when I was in this area with
cold
> weather. I'd let it run overnight but it still took many starter
> motor runs and much stumbling before the diesel finally started up.
>
> The ether canister in my engine compartment seems to be empty.
Looks
> like the original that's been in place for the last dozen years.
It's
> a red canister just above the bulk oil fill that you can see from
the
> curb-side grill/door.
>
> I'm not-so-sure the Series 60 will start without pre-heat/block
> heater help. I tried a start a few days ago (highs in the 40s)
> without any preheating, etc. and I got a lot of smoke and
stumbling,
> but I could not get it to "go" and run for any length of time (at
> best, it would stumble along for 15-20 seconds then die). A couple
of
> days later, in an afternoon where the highs were in the low 70s,
it
> started right up.
>
> Since I plan to leave this area next Friday AM, I plan to turn on
the
> block heater in the evening and let it run overnight. I'll turn on
> the pre-heat switch at around 5 AM with a planned 8 AM departure.
>
> I note that in September I accidently drained the fuel line
between
> the Racor and the engine -- and could not start -- called the ERS
and
> the technician used ether to get the engine going. (Once started,
the
> fuel pump was able to refill the fuel line.)
>
> The technician (from a DD-specific diesel shop) explained that you
> should turn on the key and wait 20 or 30 seconds before putting
ether
> into the system and hitting the starter. It's not clearly
documented,
> but the Series 60 does have a 'glow plug' that automatically
> activates for a few seconds just after the key is turned to the on
> position. If you insert the ether too soon, it could explode due
to
> the glow plugs. (And that would be the start of a very bad day.)
So,
> the suggestion to avoid ether is a good one and should only be
used
> as a last resort.
>
> The technician removed a sensor on the air intake (upper right as
you
> face the engine looking in from the curb-side grill/door) to hand-
> spray ether into the engine.
>
> Interesting comment about Texas ... I'm on my way there after we
> leave Colorado. I hope the weather improves...
>
> Pete Masterson
> aeonix1@...
> 1995 Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO where every thing is frozen this
> morning after snow all day yesterday...
>
>
> On Oct 21, 2007, at 8:32 PM, bumpersbird wrote:
>
> > Pete,
> >
> > I'm giving my coach the pre winter shake down. I turned on the
dash
> > engine heat and am waiting to see what it does. I belive it's a
12V
> > heater and/or runs through the inverters? Not sure myself but Im
will
> > ask my BB Guru.
> > The engine heat switch under the sink is a 120V system. There is a
> > breaker marked; engine heater, in the the main breaker box.
> > I was told never to use the cold engine start switch! It is for
the
> > ETHER INJECTION. The series 60 may not like starting cold but it
will
> > do so down to -20 so I am told. I don't know about that, but as in
> > your case mine starts but not without protest. That switch is left
> > over from the 8V92 days. NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH
THAT :}
> > Coach is in the nest after a wicked and too eventful trip to
TEXAS!
> >
> > Kurt Horvath
> > Bumpersbird
> > '95 PT-42 WLWB
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> As I watch the snow accumulate outside the window, I realize that
> > I
> >> have two switches that would seem to refer to the same function:
> >>
> >> On the panel on the left above the driver's head, I have
> > an "engine
> >> preheat" switch with a green light that comes on when the switch
> > is
> >> activated. I also have a red, home-style switch on a panel just
> > below
> >> the galley sink, next to the Konstant Hot switch that
> > reads "engine
> >> heater" and the switch glows red when it's turned on.
> >>
> >> Do these switches turn on the same thing? The owner's manual
> > mentions
> >> (without much detail, of course) that the AquaHot system will
heat
> >> the engine for cold starting.
> >>
> >> Therefore, do I turn on both switches or will only one do the
job?
> >> Does anyone have a feel for how much time it takes to warm the
> > engine
> >> in freezing temperatures... last spring when we spent a week in
> > the
> >> Denver area with temperature lows frequently dropping into the
> >> mid-20s, I turned on the "engine heater" switch about 10-12 hours
> >> before departure. After many tries and much stumbling the Series
> > 60
> >> finally but reluctantly came to life.
> >>
> >> I'm thinking I'll turn on the switch(es) about 24 hours before my
> >> planned departure this time... or should I turn it on sooner?
> >>
> >> TIA
> >>
> >> Pete Masterson
> >> aeonix1@
> >> 1995 Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> >> On the road at Idaho Springs, CO
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>