Drilling chinese diesel heater tank (Finest plastic tank)

[JOEPRO]

Is there a groove in the male threaded part to contain the inner o-ring? If there isn't, then take care not to overtighten the assembly, else the o-ring might get squeezed out of place, and leak. Since this is the main seal, that's not a good thing. The o-ring on the outside does nothing, since there is a path via the thread for fuel to leak, that would bypass any seal formed by than outside o-ring. I'm wondering if the second o-ring is a spare.

Yes there are groves I took pics before install

 

[Morris]

OK so that worked great

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I'm using the supplied fuel line and fittings for now. I may end up upgrading them at a later date but need the heater installed today to keep progress on my front garage lift project moving!

Fingers crossed there will be no leaks. Will find out later!

Keep an eye on the supplied fuel line, it's not the best quality. Mine failed without warning and dumped half a tank of kerosene for fun.

 

[Dev]

If I was tempted to buy one of these, where would you recommend I get it?

And any other tips to know beforehand?

I have one of those torpedo heaters in the shed now and apart from the noise it also guzzles fuel. Something like this under the workbench might be more practical.


Or hose fed into an oversized set of overalls like James Hong in bladerunner

 

[ajlelectronics]

Is there a groove in the male threaded part to contain the inner o-ring? If there isn't, then take care not to overtighten the assembly, else the o-ring might get squeezed out of place, and leak. Since this is the main seal, that's not a good thing. The o-ring on the outside does nothing, since there is a path via the thread for fuel to leak, that would bypass any seal formed by than outside o-ring. I'm wondering if the second o-ring is a spare.

Agreed, the O ring on the inside as the main seal (still not nice) and a flat washer on the outside.

 

[JOEPRO]

Agreed, the O ring on the inside as the main seal (still not nice) and a flat washer on the outside.

Not sure but there were 3 washers supplied with this tank. Which I am taking as the 3no bolt holes to mount the tank to a wall


Also - the external nut has a Grove for an o ring.

So I believe with this kit I have at least, I was supposed to install both O rings.

I'll see if it leaks anyway.

 

[Nomad]

Nice.
I've fitted a small inline fuel filter just next to the tank on ours as an added precaution..

 

[Misterg]

a china tank would be far too fragile to drive

Didn't the terracotta army have them?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Didn't the terracotta army have them?

I would certainly think so.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I chucked the tank after initial testing and made up a jerry-can adapter with a bit of scrap brass, some compression fittings and a length of of copper microbore as a dip pipe.

The whole thing pressed in to a rigid jerry can nozzle which can just be unclipped so I can go fill up.

 

[roofman]

Does anyone have the bottle to run these things in there absence?

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Does anyone have the bottle to run these things in there absence?

I have done so, as have friends who have camper vans with them installed.

I have mine suspended from the ceiling with flameproof material above it, the exhaust piping routed through a 4" galv pipe filled with fire cement, and a thermal cut-out in the fuel line as per the building regs requirements for oil-fired heaters, so if it all goes pear-shaped the fuel is cut off limiting the potential fire and the heat is directed at materials which won't immediately catch fire.

The camper van installations have no such protection.

 

[JOEPRO]

Well we have lift off

Battery & wiring mess only temporary until I sort a permanent supply.

 

[Bullet2012]

Well we have lift off

Battery temporary until I sort a permanent supply.

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thats no good, your workshop is not engulfed in flames . The forum doomcasters will be most upset. Please try harder .

 

[not done it yet]

Keep an eye on the supplied fuel line, it's not the best quality. Mine failed without warning and dumped half a tank of kerosene for fun.

Yes, this ^^. Could be ten litres if the tank was full.

I would not recommend taking off from the bottom. A dip tube, in from the top, is much preferable, IMO.

Also consideration of the positioning of the tank can be beneficial. Mine is outside my workshop with the filler just shy of the heater fuel pump inlet. Minimum lift for the pump, minimum fuel spillage (if there was to be a leak) and no fuel spillage within my workshop while refilling.

 

[julianf]

Well we have lift off

Battery & wiring mess only temporary until I sort a permanent supply.

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If the tank leaks, will the kerosene fall on to the hot heater and, maybe, lead to some excitement?

 

[JOEPRO]

If the tank leaks, will the kerosene fall on to the hot heater and, maybe, lead to some excitement?

No.

The manufacturers make the heaters with the fuel tank inbuilt and touching the heater so zero issues.

Prime example:

 

[JOEPRO]

If I was tempted to buy one of these, where would you recommend I get it?

And any other tips to know beforehand?

I have one of those torpedo heaters in the shed now and apart from the noise it also guzzles fuel. Something like this under the workbench might be more practical.


Or hose fed into an oversized set of overalls like James Hong in bladerunner

I think most of them are the same anyway so you could get them from Amazon or similar sources. Aliexpress too if you can wait a couple weeks on postage.

Some of them claim 8kw which is nonsense so ignore that. They come in these separate tank kits or an "all in one" unit. Just personal preference really - the all in one type tend to have a smaller fuel tank as it's all housed in one case.

They are a great job in terms of no spent fuel gases or moisture in your garage - it gets exhausted outside. Air intake has to come from outside also which is why I had 2x holes to core through my wall today.

 

[Dev]

Thanks. I’ve ordered one from Aliexpress which claims it’ll be here by 9th of January (we’ll see).

I resisted the urge to buy the £9.70 stainless steel workbench, storage cupboards and locker because apparently someone else did and it was a scam!

Figured it was worth a punt for £57

 

[JOEPRO]

I left this new heater running for a couple of hours whilst checking all was OK in the CCTV.

It is 0 degrees outside here so very cold. This garage is now nice and warm - the heater is working great.

I mean it's not 20 degrees or anything- people can overstate the performance of these heaters alot. From having another one already I know they will not realistically achieve high temperatures. But the garage is around 12 degrees now which feels warm and this is it operating in freezing weather so worst case load wise.

Very pleased with my install and the compactness of the heater. I'll try and get some red diesel for it tomorrow as I think they burn at their hottest on diesel. I have Kero in it at the moment.

Ps everything bone dry still so I think I am good. I will leave it tonight and fill the tank tomorrow and keep monitoring it for a few days.

 

[m_c]

The heater I bought last year (well two actually, as they mistakenly sent two...) came with that tank, but with standpipe kits.

Personally, I'd mount the tank below the heater.
The pumps rely on some pretty basic valving to stop fuel leaking through them, so with a high head of fuel, it can gradually weep through the pump.
The worst case scenario is any excess the fuel runs out the exhaust, and you'll get a big cloud of white smoke when it does try starting, but it's something I'd personally try to avoid.