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TimTheEngineer

Member

From: Cambridge

Registered: 2023-01-15

Posts: 9

Tank connection for diesel heater

I was looking at pictures of diesel tanks recently, and wondering if anyone knows the purpose of the small pipe that seems to exit from the small oval plate close to the main sender unit ? On the tank on the listing  you can see it heading towards the filler neck and then terminating in what looks like a red plug ? Diesel tank listing

I'm wondering if this is a connection for the auxiliary heater that I've heard about but never seen ? That would mean a pickup pipe tpo the bottom of the tank, which would be just peachy ! Failing this I'll have to pop a new hole through the top of the sender unit and use the pickup pipe that came with the kit.

I'm keen to get the heater fitted so we can start camping a little earlier this year - for the next month or so its still a little colder in the evenings than my wife is willing to contemplate ! Heater is destined for under the diver seat i think, as it wont fit under the pass one after the swivel fitting. I'd hoped to find space underneath, but there's nothing really suitable with access to places for air inlet/outlet to the van.

OAT

Member

From: Borders/Dales

Registered: 2017-01-03

Posts: 875

Re: Tank connection for diesel heater

Only guessing but I would suspect it's a breather.

TimTheEngineer

Member

From: Cambridge

Registered: 2023-01-15

Posts: 9

Re: Tank connection for diesel heater

I'd initially guessed that too, but 2011 on tanks 'sender' units appear to have a third conection on the top that is a breather.

Frustrating that loads of websites show the transit connectoin being really simple, as the 'sender' unit had a nipple ready for the dip tube to drop through just by snipping off the sealed tip. I think there is a kit from Ford that had a clip on connector for it just like all the other diesel connectors too. I'm assuming thta Citroen / Pug connected the aux diesel heater into the diesel line somewhere up in the engine bay. The aux heater units on ebay dont give much indication about where the diesel is sourced from.

TimTheEngineer

Member

From: Cambridge

Registered: 2023-01-15

Posts: 9

Re: Tank connection for diesel heater

To confirm - I've finally got round to dropping the tank and fitting ht epickup tube. There is no addiontal outlet in the tank, so i added a hole in the top of the sender unit to fitt he heater pickup pipe.
I wouldnt do that again though - I'd try a plug in T piece in the return line first ! I only found out about that afterwards.

Knowing what i do now, I'd also seek out the smaller capacity 2KW heater, which should be ample for the small van. The larger 5KW unit is physically bigger, so more of a squeeze under the seat.

Last edited by TimTheEngineer (2023-10-03 13:58:36)

JohnDragonMan

Member

From: Derby, East Midlands, UK

Registered: 2020-06-02

Posts: 387

Website

Re: Tank connection for diesel heater

that fuel tank is not the one for the mk1/2 vans. looks too modern.
as for the diesel heater, yeah the 2kw version is more than enough! you will have that on the lowest setting and still have not covers over you if you are sleeping in the van. my heater keeps the van at 28.c! its a shock when you open a door i tell you.

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- JohnDragonMan
Notice: I have the tendency to void warranties, blow fuses, cause fires, and other fun stuff.
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Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,092

Re: Tank connection for diesel heater

Does the return line not need the pump pumping to left the fuel flow? If so then would adding a T piece in the return not soon run out of fuel where adding it to the feed then the small pump has a chance of sooking fuel up.