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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Paul Smith on December 28, 2012, 11:01:12 am

Title: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Paul Smith on December 28, 2012, 11:01:12 am
Good Morning!

I have a gel issue and added anti-gel to the fuel and had no gel issue with the engine after that.

However, yesterday I thought I heard the AH hesitate momentarily while running on diesel. I went outside several times to verify what I thought I was hearing but never caught it hesitating once.

I went to turn the AH off last night and saw it was already off. (It gets down to the 40s here in El Centro but no hard freezes -yet)

But this morning when I went to turn it on I saw the diesel switch was already on - but not lit.  So this means the AH stopped while running under diesel. And will not relight.

I was looking forward to getting an annual service in Quartzsite at the Lemon Rally.

Any suggestions in the meantime would be appreciated.  Is it OK to run the AH electric?

best, paul
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Rudy on December 28, 2012, 11:13:45 am
Morning Paul,

It is fine to run on electric.

How much diesel in the tank?  The fuel pick up for the AH only goes down to about 1/4 tank level.
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Paul Smith on December 28, 2012, 11:20:01 am
I checked the tank a week ago and it was fine.  My VMS 240 CL tells me the engine has burned only 63 gal from a full tank.

But I'll check again now.

Later,

best, paul
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Paul Smith on December 28, 2012, 11:27:08 am
Right.  The tank is more than half full. The VMS 240 CL is not lying ... yet ... ;o)

best, paul
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Horace B. Cupp on December 28, 2012, 11:41:13 am
Paul, Sometimes when the diesel burner has been resting for a while( summer season) the igniter has a little trouble lighting the burner. Give it a few tries, ie., turn the switch on and if it doesn't light repeat a few times. If it lights and goes out soon (a more likely scenario) keep repeating several times watching the results, it will after a few "does" stay on, probably. A lot of very white smoke is likely for the first few burns and is normal.
Yes it is OK to "burn" the electric element.
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Rudy on December 28, 2012, 12:02:11 pm
Paul,

If Horace's suggestion does not get you going, hang in there on electric till you get to Quartzite.

Roger Berke is there now and Art will be shortly.  One of them can get you going in style again.
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Paul Smith on December 28, 2012, 01:10:53 pm
Oh, good!  I had corresponded with Roger earlier for an annual in Q and I somehow got the impression he was not going to Q.

Yet, again, I remembered something before it happened ;o)

Sheeesh! Is there no end to the treachery of growing old ...

best, paul
Title: Re: Aqua-Hot Stopped Running Under Diesel
Post by: Chuck Pearson on December 30, 2012, 10:50:56 am
Here's hoping that the problem is some gelled fuel remaining in the aquahot and running it on electric will clear it up.  Sometimes ya get lucky....