Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:41:58 -0400
Reply-To: Daniel Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Daniel Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Subject: VW-FYI-Gas Heater resources
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Eric, to the best of my knowledge no one has shared on the web a gas to
diesel heater conversion.
I would think one would need nearly all the diesel specific parts and
then end up just installing in a diesel unit.
as for the 'risks' and 'fears' or better said aprehension towards a
'gasoline' fueled heater..
if theres no obviously shoddy work, and the proper sensors are in
place,
a gasoline powered heater is far safer then your home furnace, hot
water heater, or even your vans engine for catching on fire or generally
fireballing your van.
make sure the 'combustion' air is drawn from outside and vented
outside. I've seen a case where it was drawn from inside and the exhaust
vented out, but the flame would go out and pump off when a wing window
would get opened, created by the pressure differentials inside to out.
the heating air should also be only drawn and exited from the inside of
the van.
if the core of the heater isn't corroded, cracked or compromised the
'combustion' and 'heat' air should never mingle or mix. if you SMELL
FUMES coming into the vehicle not from a poorly maintained exhaust then
you SHOULD stop using the heater till you can evaluate the core, and
seals. Germany TUV requires that NO core be older then 15yrs no matter
if inspected as good or not.. flat out has to be newer then 15yrs old.
Us american's were not quite so fussy or strict.
it is VERY important to be able to check the fuel pump for metering. it
HAS to flow right and I do believe there is some differance in altitude
(sea level vs mountains)
Heres a link for a BA6 install. http://type2.com/bartnik/ba6art.htm
but the other 2 heater FYIs aren't working anylonger from this page.
http://type2.com/bartnik/tech1.htm
also www.thethingshop.com sells a BN4 heater manual,
http://www.thethingshop.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=181HSM
also theres the www.Type4.org website has information on BA4 heaters
http://manuals.type4.org/ba4/
http://www.type4.org/technology/wiring/ba4_wiring/view
BN2 and BN4 simplified diagrams http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/gas.htm
the End all is Ark Mirvis "The Heaterman" in NJ, he's a german
technician who specializes in VW gas heaters, and has a great new
digital timer unit that is fairly well priced (imo)
http://members.aol.com/ARKMIRVIS/heaterman.html
From: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject: Gas vs diesel Heaters
I picked up (2) BN4 Gas heaters this summer at a car show.
One fuel pump, and no controls. I'm looking for ideas
on replacement parts, controls, and mounting one of
these in a Syncro. I've got my aux. battery in there,
and was thinking, I would feel a lot safer if these
heaters were diesel fuel fired. I would also like to
change these to diesel fuel if possible and simplly add
a small diesel fuel tank. Anyone ever try this?
Thanks for any input. Eric
