Manifold Flame Heater

[pat s.]

Have a 1996 Monaco c8.3. It came with a flame heater, but I have no info on its operation. The "tank" is mounted on the rear of the engine and on top is a dip stick (registering with zero fluid) and a sight glass mounted on the side. my question is: what fluid should I fill the unit with and how can I test the unit to see if it is functioning properly.

Thanks
Patrick

[Jimmy F]

Patrick,

Does this tank have a sticker on it that says not to use ether as a starting aid because you have a flame heater? And does it have heavy hydraulic hoses going out of the bottom of it?

If so it is the same as on my 1995 and that is your hydraulic reservoir tank and has nothing to do with the flame heater. I, like you know very little about the flame heater and I now believe what the switch on the dash with the fire symbol with a circle around it is the control for the flame heater. And I can identify some of the parts on the engine manifold.

I did find a bit of information on the Borg Warner web site Cold start aids for commercial vehicles and http://www.beru.com/download/produkte/TI01_e.pdf but I have never been able to find any "how to use" information.

That's what I know... so if there are any other members who have had experience with this I sure would like to know more as well.


Jimmy

[pat s.]

Jimmy
Thank for the reply. Yes that’s what it is; I'll top it off with hydraulic fluid.
I to have a mystery switch on the dash; it’s a vertical rectangle with a zigzag vertical line. I thought it was a mirror heat switch...who knows! I do have a wait to start light I’m thinking the flame starter maybe automatically controlled.

Thanks for the response.
Pat

[Jimmy F]

Pat,

If this is the switch you are talking about, then yes that is the heated mirror switch.



This is the one that I have on my dash that I believe... is the switch for the manifold flame heater.

At first I thought it might be an automatic campfire starter

Jimmy F

[Arch Hoagland]

What is a flame heater? I don't have a diesel so I don't know anything about them.

[Jimmy F]

Arch,

A Flame start heater burns a small amount of diesel in the intake manifold to warm the air before starting the engine. Glow Plug for Flame Start Systems (Type GF) I don't think many coaches came with them because Patrick and I are hoping to find someone who knows more about them and how to operate the system and there haven't been any responses.


Jimmy

[Mopar1973Man]

That a first for me too... I know most of the Cummins I delt with come with a grid heater to pre-heat the air and is powered from the batteries. But a flame heater I'd love to see pics of this...

[Arch Hoagland]

The flame heater gives a new meaning to "Fire that baby up!"

[Gary RVRoamer]

Instead of an afterburner, these coaches have a "before burner"

[tile man]

Hey Pat and Jimmy,

My coach has a pre htr light on my panel that doesn't light up, I assumed this was a "wait to start" light but then some people on other sites told me different things it could be for. Then I found a couple pages in my owners manuals that said I had a flame heater glow plug. According to it you turn the key on to activate for 20 seconds till the "wait to start" light goes out then start the engine. It also says it only activates at below 40 degrees F. I am still trying to figure out if mine works or not, Iv'e tried to make the light go on when it was about 35 deg and nothing.
Dan

[tile man]

Sorry by the way I my coach is a 95 american dream w/ cummins c 8.3

[ddunk80]

The flame heater assembly is composed of a housing, spark plug,
flow control nozzle, and two solenoid control valves. The spark plug is energizedby the flame heater ignition unit. The nozzle sprays fuel under pressure into the intake manifold elbow assembly. The fuel vapor is ignited by the spark plug and burns in the intake manifold, heating the air before it enters the combustion chambers.





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