Community Forums

rogelling · 01-04-2016, 09:33 AM

We were b gone for 2 weeks and last night came back to find my burner green switch off and a black soot spot under AH exhaust. After several resets got the burner to ignite only to have a huge cloud of white smoke belch out of exhaust. The burner was also sputtering so...turned it off. Forgot to mention that the first few times it wouldn't ignite the motor only ran about 5 seconds and stopped. Now, I'm guessing I have a fuel delivery issue...either clogged fuel filter or nozzle. Here's the thing, before I left on Dec 15 I added biocide and fuel tank cleaner to the fuel tank. I'm guessing that had something to do with the AH. The AH is 10 microns. I ordered the nozzle and fuel filter and will work on it next week. This is something to be aware of.

loisjop · 01-04-2016, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelling

We were b gone for 2 weeks and last night came back to find my burner green switch off and a black soot spot under AH exhaust. After several resets got the burner to ignite only to have a huge cloud of white smoke belch out of exhaust. The burner was also sputtering so...turned it off. Forgot to mention that the first few times it wouldn't ignite the motor only ran about 5 seconds and stopped. Now, I'm guessing I have a fuel delivery issue...either clogged fuel filter or nozzle. Here's the thing, before I left on Dec 15 I added biocide and fuel tank cleaner to the fuel tank. I'm guessing that had something to do with the AH. The AH is 10 microns. I ordered the nozzle and fuel filter and will work on it next week. This is something to be aware of.

I will be very surprised if the biocides is the problem. The tank cleaner may be a different story. If they did plug the aqua hot filter I would be concerned about the engine filters. I think the secondary filter for the engine is 2 micron. Noel

Lv2Roam2 · 01-04-2016, 10:03 AM

The Aqua-Hot national call center folks are very helpful with questions / issues...

stevedenesha · 01-04-2016, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lv2Roam2

The Aqua-Hot national call center folks are very helpful with questions / issues...

Pretty bold statement to make on the Entegra board as I'm guessing that a couple people on here will disagree with you just a tad!

Lv2Roam2 · 01-04-2016, 10:34 AM

Different experiences do occur. In three separate calls to the call center over 2 months the techs were courteous and knowledgeable, based on their ability to talk me through a restart of a 'dead' system, fix a fluid leak, and untangle what was likely some sort of air block.

rogelling · 01-04-2016, 10:57 AM

Yes I'm concerned about engine filters since I just went through same thing withat my diesel Jeep. Have AH and Cummins appointments for next week hope it makes it the 250 miles.

brobox · 01-04-2016, 11:33 AM

When you added the additives, did you put fuel in at the same time or just add the additives without fueling or moving the coach? It does sound like a fuel issue. As a quick try you can pick up a WIX 33109 fuel filter at a local auto parts store and try changing the filter. Pour the contents of the fuel filter in a glass jar and see if there is any contamination.

rogelling · 01-04-2016, 02:11 PM

Chuck I added the additives to a full tank and ran the engine for an hour. I will try that fuel filter. The coach just turned one year seems earely otherwise.

brobox · 01-04-2016, 03:23 PM

Roger, adding additives without adding fuel does not mix the additives with the fuel. There is a chance that the additives did not mix and the fuel mixture to the AH was too lean if just the additives were sucked into the AH fuel system.

When adding any type of fuel additives, it should be done while refueling to get an even mixture. Best thing to do now is drive the MH and top the fuel off to hopefully get a good mix on the additives.

weirba · 01-05-2016, 05:43 AM

I was told, quite emphatically, by Spartan CS to never put additives in the fuel. How many of you guys use additives and if you do what do you use and how often?

brobox · 01-05-2016, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weirba

I was told, quite emphatically, by Spartan CS to never put additives in the fuel. How many of you guys use additives and if you do what do you use and how often?

I use an algaecide here in FL before storage every year. If not algae can form and I have had that before...not fun. I am trying this one this year. Robot Check

During operation I don't use any fuel additives and I think that is what Spartan is referring to. However sitting for 6 months in hot humid climate it is advisable to add an additive to prevent algae.

Hayman · 01-05-2016, 06:59 AM

Diesel fuel additives are hotly debated on other forums and appear to be about equally divided between those that regularly use and those that never use.

Why Spartan told you not to use I do not understand as in my mind it would be CUMMINS that should make the recommendation. My understanding is that CUMMINS basically states that we should use a high quality diesel fuel. I've never understood how we make that decision other then I buy fuel at high volume stations assuming that high turn over keeps up the quality.

CUMMINS however also markets several types of fuel additive so again in my mind they are suggesting we use an additive and of course it should be CUMMINS labeled.

I have stated before that personally after owning diesels for 40+ years I ALWAYS use an additive at each fill up. HOWSE is my prefferred brand and while parked in Florida for the winter I add STARTRON to a full tank as a biocide.

It is also important to keep the tank FULL during storage or periods of inactivity.

JMHO

rogelling · 01-05-2016, 08:03 AM

I agree that in an ideal world if you fill up every tank with 100% clean fresh diesel you don't need additives. The fact is most diesel fuel is contaminated with water or worse. That means if it sits it will grow plant life. Most marine diesel engines rely on fuel polishing system to prevent biomass from clogging the second or both fuel filters. We depend on biocides and stabilizers and perhaps more frequent filter changes.

Cruzer · 01-05-2016, 10:18 AM

With our last coach I added biocide and a fuel stabilizer to the fuel. Shortly thereafter I experienced Aqua-Hot burner issues. I replaced the nozzle and filter, checked the pressure and all that but the nozzle failed within a few days and I had more smoke again.

When I talked to Aqua-Hot he asked if I was using any additives. I told him I was and he said that I shouldn't use them. The additives never totally suspend in the fuel and eventually settle out. They are thicker than the fuel and when they go through the super small opening in the burner nozzle they erode the orifice and the nozzle is toast.

I work on oil burners in portable heaters and pressure washers and they use larger nozzles, at least 1.00 GPH. They are miniscule as well but the 0.35 GPH nozzle used in the Aqua-Hot is upper small and doesn't take much to mess it up. I no longer use additives.

Then again, I really don't need biocide because our coach only sits still in winter and no self-respecting organism would want to live in my fuel tank in Wisconsin's cold winter temps.