Installing diesel parking heater in Leaf's trunk

[PaulSp]

I pmed you.

I intend to make my heater removable. Have a small 2.5 litle tank to fitt so all nice and tiny.

[BrockWI]

If you figure out how to post pictures that would be great. Any idea how much power it pulls on 12v? I was thinking along the same lines, a box with exhaust air out and just makes heat with a SLA 12v battery to run it.

[LeftieBiker]

I am not really familiar with diesel and kerosine all that much, but have been researching if I can substitute kerosine which you can burn indoors as it burns clean.

It is cleaner, but still has a distinctive smell that most find unpleasant. What kind of burner does your heater use?

[Goran]

It runs on diesel, but I have mixed it with kerosine last night and it runs the same. I have also put an old 12v car battery next to the heater and connected it with clamps. After using it for a whole week, it did not show any loss in power after hooking it up to a charger. The percentage showed the same as when I started. If my memory serves me right, I think it pulls less than an amp after the glow plug is warmed up. I could be wring about all that, so don't quote me on it.

[BrockWI]

Good to know on the battery, it does have a small blower / fan doesn't it? Although I am sure that wouldn't take much either.

[Goran]

Yes, it has a small fan, that serves two functions I think. It sucks cold air in and blows it overy the heat exchanger and helps rid of gases through the exhaust.

[PaulSp]

They pull about 10 amps the first few minutes. After the glow plug has warmed up they reduce to less than 1 amp draw. So shouldnt be much of an issue for a healthy 12v battery.

They really recommend that the fresh air intake is taken from the outside as well. Only reason i can think of, is that you use warm air for combustion making it less efficient.

[BrockWI]

I agree on the combustion fresh air and it is less likely it would accidentally suck exhaust fumes back in the space if it were sucking air from outside as well.

[Goran]

Mine is drawing air from the inside the car. You could probably drill a small diameter hole for the intake tube, and extend the hose to the front of the vehicle, securing it under the plastic

[arnis]

Hello DIY-Jedis
I'm "at home" with independent diesel heaters as I've used some for ages.
I would share some recommendations.
First of all, 5kW heater is too powerful for use during driving.
Looking at cheap Chinese masterpieces those 2kW versions should be just the right size.
Heater itself can be installed wherever possible but inside the cabin is not the best choice.
If we talk about air heater (2013+ Leafs) then I would recommend ducting warm air outlet
next to driver footwell. Also rear side of center console seems fine. Idea is to have fresh
air close to front of the cabin as the exhaust is in the trunk. This way heat will do more work.
Cold air intake should be external. This will slowly defog windows as well.
Burning chamber exhaust should be routed away from cold air intakes (cabin and burning intake)
and also not close to front wipers. It's fine to leave exhaust blowing under the hood or at the ground.

Leave tank under the hood and "in the reach of the fuel station refill" so direct refill (with accidental drips) is acceptable.
Close to windshield washer refill is a good place.
Refill twice a month is a good start. Tank size according to daily commute:
1 hour of driving a day, therefore 14 hours per 2 weeks, therefore 3 liters.
2 hours of driving a day, 6 liters. I don't recommend going over 7-8 liters. OEM tank might be perfect.

Those who think about environment: Diesel heaters are very efficient if we measure well-to-wheels efficiency.
Using solely PTC/resistance heater that many Leafs have, is worse than burning diesel (average grid carbon footprint).
Removing the heater for summer is acceptable, but keep the ducts alone, those have no weight

2011-2012 Leafs have liquid core for cabin heating. Those Leafs can accommodate a coolant heaters as well, but
adjusting those is more complicated. Usually too powerful (4-5kW is too much, 1/2 power is also a lot).

In case of adjustable independent heater power: do not turn it too low. Keep it above 1/2 of max.
Burning is not clean if fan speed and chamber temperature are low. Requires purging @ full power.

Heater fumes are not dangerous if accidentally inhaled. Mostly CO2 and water vapor.
Heater consumes 1/5-1/2 of what diesel car consumes at idle.

It's OK to use independant heater for 10-60 minutes before departure. Good 12V battery will handle that with ease.
If vehicle is charging/preconditioning during preheat 12V battery will be constantly fully charged.

Sketching the ducting for warm cabin line (consider preferring driver side footwell or even 50/50 split with some additional
piping and one additional outlet, should cost few bucks) :