Espar D2 Diesel Heater Install in a Mercedes Sprinter Camper Van 

Love my espar after 4 winters with it. Something to keep an eye on. A dip in the muffler can collect Ltd moisture and freeze, plugging the exhaust. I had it happen the first winter.

I've only had my plans so far in my head for our build beginning of the next two years. Watching your videos has inspired me to start making an items list and drawing up some sketches.Ken, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I am considering a hydronic system to both warm the engine, the interior and have domestic hot water. Thanks again. Who knows maybe one day everybody in this comment section will be doing a meet up in various places around the country.

Nice video I have an espar heater in my sprinter van in the rear and they work great. I ski camp all the time and I'm never cold

Great videos! You are a natural teacher. We were able to install our Max Air fan with your help. Thank you! Happy wandering.

I absolutely love your choice in music.

Thanks for making these videos! I'm in the planning stages of my sprinter and showing where all the wires go really help!

Great video! The one thing I noticed, if you are particular about torqued bolts to correct ft/lb using multiple extensions will throw the torque off. 10/10 install

Truck House Life does a really good install video of a webasto heater..

Your video provides very valuable information! Your setup is well thought-out and it's likely to drive mine toward the same direction. Thanks for taking the effort of sharing!

Thanks for the video. For future projects that need larger holes, consider a step bit for your drill. You can get them cheap and in different sizes at Harbor Freight (Under $10). Home Depot and Lowes carry brand names for a little more. Very handy items for making precise size holes easily. Buy the bigger size, as it will make small holes, too.

What a difficult install, bravo Ken! The wiring looked very intimidating. You are a master craftsman in your van build, and also in filming it with your detailed documentary style. I have learned a great deal from you. If you ever need a place to rest up and reload your van during travels, my house and driveway are open to you - in Santa Clara, CA. I am also very good at fixing any health issues with supplements (over the counter) and back pain issues with targeted stretches. This knowledge I can pass on to you if you need it. Something to give back for all I have received. Many thanks!

Great heater i have one install at oktober 2015 and use it 2 winters -14. Works well does not use lotts off electra amd olso diesel.i have 2 140 amp Lithium battery install under front seats and heater at motor .Heats also motor.

night heater running in my cab at work....enjoying your skills 😎

Thanks I didn't think of it in the passenger seat the one I bought is bigger but we'll see if it fits I didn't know about the fuel line tap on the Sprinter so thanks that saves me from drilling a hole in a fuel tank which I didn't want to do

Wow really great install and great video. I'll be following along with your entire van build.

Just love the vacuum and de burring

I’m copying your installation. Thank you for all the time you put into these videos

You did have right tools, but you make it nice and clean works

Excellent install my friend! Very impressive. Thanks again for sharing Eric

Dude! Awesome detailed presentation. You rock!! :)

Thanks indeed, that was the missing information I was looking for! Decided i'll get one...keep posting your vdos..very interesting!

my Eberspacher D2 is still working very vell after many hours use . innstald in 2005 in a Mb 312d sprinter

Excellent video!! After a week long Yosemite trip in 30 deg temps without a heater, this is next on my list!

Great video, please keep them coming as you progress through your build. In fact, you should have your own Sunday morning car show!! I'm undecided about installing my D2 myself or hiring it out. If I may ask a quick question, because frankly; I trust your opinion more than my local Espar dealer. My vehicle is a 2016 MB 144.While haveing a discussion with the upfitter, specifically covering what is included in their insane estimate for the installation of a D2, they said that "tapping into the main fuel tank at the aux tank connector is problematic because it's a pressurized system and all adapters and splices will fail. Not to mention the heater will fail from running rich from the over pressurized fuel getting into the heater fuel supply." So their solution is to drop the tank and add a stand pipe. It seems excessive to me, dropping the fuel tank and adding a stand pipe for the Espar heaters pump to draw from. It also seems they've created a problem that no one else on the internet has ever had. My question to you is, is their point even rational? Is this something to even consider?They insist I'm not their personal test case, because they've installed 5 of these. That alone makes me a skeptic. Thanks for your time.

Hey Ken, in another video they mentioned that the the exhaust pipe between the heater the silencer (muffler) needs to be shorter than the tail end. I verified via the espar manual in the notes section on pg 23. "if a silencer is fitted, the exhaust end pipe must be much shorter than the flexible exhaust pipe between the heater and the exhaust silencer." Not sure of the reasoning. Thanks for making this video. I've watched it about 50 times already prepping for my install.

Hi again thank you for making the video. I didn't watch far enough to see where you had the wiring diagram and talked about the colors.. Again, it would have been helpful to see you connect the individual wires to the espar clip that snaps into the altitude unit.

Such a clear video guide. Thank you.

You make it look so easy Ken. Keep up the good work and cinematography.

Good video thanks. There is no ground on a 12 DC system, it is a negative, hence the symbol on the battery, an AC system is grounded and has no negative,

Thanks for this great video with plenty of info for a good install!

I'm just installing my heater now. Instructions on CD included in my kit are a bit ambiguous for direction for the metering pump. Figure on page 24 (25.2720.90.0001.0A_EN_0518.pdf) is opposite than shown here at 4:45. However, page 10 of same pdf (scope of supply diagram) agrees with this video. Aaaargh!. My instructions also specify that longer exhaust piping before the muffler than after, compared to your comments around 7:30.

Great job . Do you know if they offer that for ford transit 2016 ..? Thank you 👍🏽🙂

Didn't have a hole saw but torqued the little 10mm studs.. 😆

Excellent video and content. Thank you!

If you really need to extend the exhaust adapt it to a slightly larger pipe. That should prevent any extra back pressure.

Clean work. You are an inspiration for my build that im starting next week! Cheers

Any way you can make a video with it running? I would love to hear it. Great Job!

Very well done! Thank you for helping me with your video!

That scalloped part of the seat base looks like it was made just for the gasket (template) to fit :)

"Clearly, what we have here is a person too lazy to go to the store and buy the proper hole saw..." = LOL, I paused the video and clicked thumbs up immediately. Love it...and you did just as good of a job as the hole saw would have done. What is the undercoating material? It looks like it was painted on really thick...did you do that or did it come from Mercedes like that?

great install looks like a really good heater !

good information. good video

You are a Champ.. thank you Ken

I just completed an install using your video and some blogs for reference. Thank you for taking the time to explain your method - very useful and helpful. One question: where can I find a vented cover for the under-seat access like you have?

Excellent stuff! thank you.

I live in Minnesota, I imagine the espar heater would be roaring like a storm in winter time here?

Where is the air bag connector? I can't really find what I'm looking for on the forums...?

wow, your video makes it looks so easy and I want to install one of these in my Promaster campervan too. But I know there is a lot of hard work went into the installation. Thank you for sharing! Have you ever considered the webasto diesel heater when you planned the installation? Have you done any comparison between the two brands?

Bit late to the party on this one but your vid is very well put together and informative. Question; Is there sufficient access to the heater fuses through that little cover in the side of the seat base when the seat and swivel assy. are in place?

Can the Espar unit be installed square against the right side of the seat base? The angle eats up precious space for other electrical components that I would like to use the space for. Seems like the perfect spot for a battery to battery charger for the house pack..

I don't have the auxiliary battery or solar installed yet. Any suggestions on how to power the Espar in the interim?

i'd want that pump more protected.. but my vehicle don't stay on road... i'd just make a plate to put over it. i'd also be worried about the muffler going out the bottom if you go somewhere it snows. You get 36" of snow overnight and end up suffocating cause the exhaust just leaks back in...

I've heard these diesel heaters are great . . . and would hate to ask a 'stupid' question. But : Can you install them into a non-diesel vehicle by installing a tiny tank to hold diesel for this heater ?

Thanks for this. Much appreciated. I will be doing my Espar install this summer.

great how to ! good workaround for not having a hole saw. keep making the videos. who did you buy your heater from?

Very nice install ! I am running an older D1 heater, still does a great job at heating. I do have one question, is there enough input air coming into the heater as it is mounted under the seat? I did not see a hose run for the input air. My instructions inform me that if a unit is placed in an area that is enclosed that one should make sure they have an air intake for the heater.

Can you please post the number of the part at 17.00 min in the video? Thx

I know you added the Esper D2 last February, just wondering if you've you have used it enough to have an opinion about it's size and capacity? Also, did you order your Sprinter with the luggage rails or are you added those later?

where is a good suplier for duct and vent work. i want to roll ducts outside of the van and tusk away when not in use.

Excellent. Thanks so much as I'm getting ready to do this. Regarding the Dorman connector. Did you not need to T-off from the factory fuel connector? Someone else on the Sprinter Forum mentioned having to do that and using Dorman part # 800-176 which is a T. Maybe this is only required if you have the auxiliary fuel heater installed from factory? Or, how did you attach your Dorman connector? Did you cut an existing line? Thanks again.

Great video and nice install.. if you ever have any need to do any more work would it be possible to get the part number for your seat base ? I'm thinking of doing the same thing but uk-spec vans come with a slightly different seat base that doesn't allow for this type of install

Congrats and BIG Thanks for your videos. In regards to the Espar; What unit did you get?; the Espar 2.2 KW or the 4 KW unit?. Thanks and keep the lights on for the rest of us.

Nice Job! Can you tell me where to find the "grill" that you installed in the base of the passengers seat base (you removed the 2 clip access panel and replaced it with a grill at the end of this video) ?

Great video. Helpful info. Got a question. I'm in the planning stages of a Van build but i think I'm going a different route than the Sprinter,possibly a Gasoline Engine. Could I run an Espar Heater if I had a small Tank for Diesel and and a small Pump? Thanks for any info.

Great video thanks for the info. Just to check I know you mentioned that the connections to the aux battery was temporary but please tell me you fused the wire at the connection?

also you mounted the muffler upside-down the drain hole for water is up the top, should be at the bottom

I live in Chicago, Illinois, where can I go to my place on my Mercedes Sprinter Van Thanks for show !!!

Thanks for the great video! I've got my D2 with altitude sensor installed and working, but haven't figured out (or found search results) how to change to Fahrenheit. How'd you do that?

I always thought that diesel heaters were good heat and economical why they are not used in more conversions I do not understand.

kenetube, thanks for the very informative video. I'm wondering why you have the auxiliary battery setup and an additional lithium battery. Does the auxiliary serve any additional purpose? The reason for my question is I just put my order in for the new 2019 Sprinter (a change from the VW crafter), and I opted for no auxiliary battery.

I try looking it up on Amazon I cannot find it. Ford transit 2016

I did the same install , I'm very good at wiring but found this install to be very intimidating but like you said after you do it once it would be a piece of cake to do it again. Thank you for your video I gathered a lot of info from your video and others , I definetly couldn't have done it with out the help. How did you change it from low , med , high , boost? Thank you for taking the time.

Hi there! There are 4 wires hooking up to the battery. Did you use an inline fuse before attaching the wires to the battery. And which wires are attached to the positive terminal.

Did you ever have any problem with the exhaust air location and have to extend it to the back?

Excellent and informative video. I'm getting ready to install a D2 and this video is super helpful. Thank you!

Great video of install. TY

Just to clarify I would ask..if I buy the kit from Heatso it has a muffler that is included? Otherwise called the Exhaust silencer?

Ken, any issues with diesel exhaust? I know one person that routed the exhaust to the driver side

Where did you find your adapters to run from the larger fuel line to the smaller line? Having a hard time finding the right reducers. Thx

Very well done! Any thought on the air intake inside the van needing a port vs from under the seat?

Awesome video, saved me a ton of time figuring it out. I just have one question, what happens with the yellow wire coming out of the altitude sensor ? the wiring diagram says it should also be connected to the head unit.(?) Thanks

Thank you so much for this video!

Well...I am at this stage now:) There are so many choices to purchase the Espar D2 from Heatso...which one did you purchase?

gran bel lavoro!

Where did you get the swivel adapters for your sprinter seats? Are you happy with them? Thanks JC

What were your reasons for going with the Espar over the Webasto?

This is an awesome video, thanks for posting. It helped me to get almost all the way there. I was shipped a very different wiring harness that doesn't seem to be for this application. DO you happen to know the part number of the harness that you have? I'm dead in the water until I figure this part out. Thanks

so can I make an appointment to have you install mine?

Great video and channel, definitely a new subscriber. Have you noticed any problem with condensation since you’re only taking combustion air from the outside, and not the cold air intake?

My instructions say ...."If a silencer is fitted, the exhaust end pipe must be much shorter than the flexible exhaust pipe between the heater and the exhaust silencer." Do you have this backwards? - Thanks Peter

Kenetube - Where did you get the replacement vent cover for the passenger seat base. Looks like a cool little detail to help provide airflow around the heater. Thanks for a great video!

Another question regarding the Power cable aspect of the loom and the fuse box. My POWER cable part of the loom has four wires, seems identical to yours. Two larger gauge RED and Brown for power and ground. I have a BLUE SEA fuse box under my drivers seat so I assumed I could hook up those two wires to my fuse box and use a 20Amp fuse at that terminal on the fuse box. IS that in error? Then I am left with what to do with the smaller gauge wires (Red and Red/White). I have not used the supplied holder as I uncertain on how to do so. My manual only shows a two wire power cable as opposed to four. Can I somehow connect them though a fuse box or do I need to have them on separate fuse holder. I see that you used the supplied fuse holder but that seems to be before you had added fuse boxes. You also seemed to have that under the passenger seat. I am confused as to where that would tie into my loom under passenger seat and I thought it would be better to have fuse closer to the power source. Did you alter any of your wiring once BlueSea fuse boxes were added? Additional question, did you have to modify your exhaust location when you added electric step? My exhaust will terminate under sliding door and I figure i should plan ahead for the possible addition of the step. Again, thank you. Your site is one of the most informative "how to" sites I have ever seen, across multiple disciplines.

GREAT VID TY FOR SHARING

Your clowning yourself for not having a hole saw but you did a great job. Use what ya got.

Looks horrendously complicated to me even though you explained it in very articulate fashion. Are you often in the UK?:)

Very informative vid. Subscribed

Great job !

The exhaust gets quite warm on mine. Any issues with the factory undercoating around the exhaust?

What's the back ground music ?

Hi Great videos! Your site is supper helpful, thanks. I’m building a Sprinter now and currently installing a d2 espar. I got the quick connection you used, but can’t figure out how you went direct from the quick connect to the black tubing without a second reduction in tub diameter. The fuel hose that fits the black hose seems too small to force onto the quick connection. Any comment would be appreciated. Thank chris To