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How to Install a Diesel Heater in a Van: What the Manual Requires

Installing a diesel heater in a camper van: location, exhaust and air intake, fuel supply, wiring, the refueling sign and a CO alarm, from Webasto's manual and CPSC.

By Van Build Gear ReviewPublished 2 min readHow we research
A diesel heater exhaust pipe and muffler under a van floor

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Mount the heater where its exhaust and combustion air pass through the floor to the outside, feed it from a separate tank or a standpipe in the vehicle tank, and fit a CO alarm before the first night. Webasto's own manual says improper installation can cause fire or deadly carbon monoxide leakage and that only factory-trained installers should fit its heaters; budget kits carry the same risks with thinner instructions.

What Webasto's manual requires

  • The exhaust outlet must be positioned so exhaust fumes cannot get into the vehicle interior.
  • The fuel filler neck must not be in the passenger compartment.
  • A sign at the filler neck must warn that the heater be switched off before refueling.
  • A visible indicator must show when the heater is on.
  • Installation and repair by people who have completed Webasto factory training.

Steps for a typical split kit

  1. Pick a spot under a seat or bed where the heater sits on the floor and its exhaust and intake can drop straight through.
  2. Drill the floor holes per the kit's template; seal the heater base.
  3. Route the exhaust, with muffler, away from doors, windows and the fuel filler, and clamp it clear of brake and fuel lines.
  4. Route the combustion air intake away from the exhaust.
  5. Mount the fuel pump at the angle the manual shows and run the fuel line from a separate tank or a vehicle-tank standpipe.
  6. Wire 12V through a fuse to the battery.
  7. Fit a CO alarm and test the heater with doors open first.
VEVOR 2 kW Bluetooth Diesel Air HeaterCheck price on Amazon

Carbon monoxide

The CPSC recommends a CO alarm that meets UL 2034 and lists early symptoms of poisoning as headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Picks are in best CO detectors for vans; the wider picture is in carbon monoxide safety in a van.

Which heater

Kits with a muffler, like the VEVOR 8 kW with muffler, save a part. Compare them in best diesel heaters; if you would rather not cut the floor, see portable diesel heaters.

VEVOR 8 kW Diesel Air Heater with MufflerCheck price on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

Where should a diesel heater go in a van?

Usually under a seat or bed, on the floor, so the exhaust and air intake pass straight through to the outside and away from doors and windows.

Can I install a diesel heater myself?

Webasto says only installers with its factory training should install its heaters. Budget kits are sold for self-install; follow the manual exactly and have the work checked.

Where does the exhaust go?

Outside, positioned so fumes cannot get back into the vehicle interior, per Webasto's manual. Keep it away from windows, doors and the fuel filler.

Do I need a sign on the fuel filler?

Webasto's manual requires a sign at the filler neck warning that the heater must be switched off before refueling.

What alarm do I need?

A carbon monoxide alarm that meets UL 2034, which is the standard the CPSC tells consumers to look for.

Sources

  1. Air Top 2000 STC Installation Manual, Webasto Thermo & Comfort N.A.
  2. Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  3. Webasto Air Top 2000 STC, Webasto

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