Initial Thoughts of An Autoterm (Planar) Diesel Heater in My Petrol Bongo Campervan
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- Опубликовано: 20 июл 2024
- As the days get colder I am really looking forward to staying toasty warm in my Bongo now that I have a diesel heater fitted. In this video I talk about how I decided on this particular brand and I show you where in the van all the "bits & pieces" go. As you can tell this is NOT a "How to fit a diesel heater" video - there are loads of these on RUclips if you need that level of detail. But if you are curious about diesel heaters and wondered how one would work particularly in a petrol van then please go ahead and watch and let me know what you think.
This is an independent review of the Autoterm heater, I am not affiliated or sponsored by the company and if you would like further info on them this is the link to their UK page:
planarheaters.co.uk/
Since I have only just had the heater fitted and we are in a lockdown, I haven't been able to fully road test it yet, though I have been using it to keep the van warm on my driveway! Over the next few weeks I'm hoping to use it as we are able to travel again within Wales at least so please consider subscribing for regular updates
Thanks for watching!
Love to you all!
Julia x 
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A really, REALLY, useful video. Thank you again. I already knew you can have diesel heaters in petrol vans; but many owners don't.
Thank you 😊 I’ll do an update on the heater soon . I haven’t been able to use it much over the winter (lockdown) but it’s going to come in very useful in the future
Thank you for posting. You gave me a great idea, installing the heater in the engine bay.
Glad you found it useful 😊
Hello both, this looks like a really good investment i may get one for gerbil(our bongo) i would add maybe cut a nice patch of reflective foil and stick it to the door panel opposite the heat outflow vent to reflect more heat and also protect part of the door panel.. Thanks for the info keep on bongoing on and stay safe 👍👍
Excellent point Colin - in fact we have talked about doing this - especially as I have a nasty tear on the vinyl on the sliding door anyway
Great vid ! Thanks 🙏🏻
Glad you enjoyed
Thank you so much 😊
i would get the lesiure battery tray and bolt your diesel continer in there in some fashion, it looks a bit free/loose/wobbly to be comfortable. maybe putting some insulation on the fuel lines as well ?
Oh will take a look at that - cheers Alze
Hi. I am thinking of getting a bongo seen some of your videos very good keep them coming. 👍🚐🚐
Thank you Craig ... yes definitely more in the pipeline. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you’d like covering?
Thanks for posting, very informative video - I'm thinking of getting one of these. Does your heater take its electricity from the starter battery or do you have a leisure battery?
Thanks Rachel glad you found it useful... it’s better to have it connected to a leisure battery ideally.
Very informative, thank you. Love your scarf, did you knit it yourself? If so would you be able to tell me what pattern and what yarn you used 🤗
Thanks Jac - yes I crocheted it sort of made it up as I went along. Single crochet into back loops only until the width and length you want and I created a slit in the middle to make a keyhole which is brilliant cos it stops the scarf undoing all the time. I get most of my yarn from Lovecrafts online and use loads of the paintbox acrylic - so many colours 😍
@@TheImportanceofBeing thank you! It’s a lovely scarf. I just cannot master crochet, so knitting it is! I like Lovecrafts too, will take a look at the paintbox acrylics, love bright colours. Have a lovely weekend especially if you are in your cosy warm Bongo 👍🏻
Have a good weekend too ☺️
Love your Videos and inspired me to get a Bongo too, Is it expensive to get a heater fitted?
Thanks Andrew 🤗 I paid about £800 to get mine fitted. Cheaper if you have DIY skills though
Very good. I'm going to get one of these as probably more reliable than some of the Chinese ones. I do think you could do with a bigger fuel tank if there is any way you could fit one in the space.
Hi John. The heater kit did come with a bigger fuel tank but the mechanic couldn’t find anywhere suitable to fit it (space in the Bongo is limited!)
I’m amazed how slowly the tank empties though - it’s strange going to pay for £5 diesel 😂
I have one with the main tank but in the end I swapped it for a direct feed and the chinese ones work fine literally ran mine 9 months a year for 3 years - and I have a spare which cost me £40 ( head unit)
Hello. loving the Bongo vids but can you please tell me what the thing is visible over your right shoulder on the top of the rear door is please? Thank you.
I think you’re referring to the rear parking sensor?? It has an audible and visual indicator of distance to help with parking - there’s one in the front too
Thanks for watching by the way 🤗
Interesting vid, have you suffered any condensation, or do you leave a window open slightly ?
Hi Andy - we do get some condensation when the outside temperature is cold but not noticeably more since having the heater fitted last year. We do leave the vent open though yes
Hi, great video. I was just wondering why you didn't get a petrol heater? Our converter company are currently converting a japanese import van for us, a Toyota Hiace not a Bongo although I looked at the Bongo for a long time. The converters are putting in a warm air heater which will just use the petrol tank for fuel, there is a sensor fitted so you can't accidentally use all your fuel and get stranded! So in short, is there any reason that a diesel heater is inherently better and therefore worth having an extra diesel tank fitted rather than just buy a petrol heater? Thanks x
Hi Shelanne - I think the reason I went with a diesel heater was more to do with the fact that I didn’t know petrol heaters were available! Funnily enough the garage I get the servicing done told me I should have gone for a petrol heater - hindsight eh? However I am really happy with this one and the diesel seems to last ages so it hasn’t really been a problem
@@TheImportanceofBeing Fair enough, I don't have to panic into telephoning my converter and say "Noooooo, I need a diesel heater". can't wait until February to get my lovely new van. Will just have to make do with my lovely old (unheated) van until then.
Run it on Kerosene hun it's 1/2 the price of Diesel - just a tip for you :) did they use a bracket for it? I am wanting to get mine done now so I have booked myself in for end of the month for the same ;)
Oh I haven’t heard of using kerosene? Yes they did need to use a bracket. Good luck with the fitting. I’m
Pretty sure you will love it 😊
Any additional thoughts after a few months? Just hovering over the order button!
Hey there - well I haven’t used the heater since April but I’ve been really impressed with how quiet it is and how quickly the van gets toasty. I would definitely choose the same one again. I would say the controller is a bit complicated (or it might just be me 😂) there are lots of options but I just use “on/ off”. However I believe there is now an option for an easier to use controller. The customer care has been excellent and you get prompt answers to queries on the Autoterm Facebook page.
@@TheImportanceofBeing Just ordered fitment for my Bongo! Gives an excuse for a weekend away in Wales too. Thanks for your help (and your great videos too!)
My pleasure- if you’re going to Wrexham the area around the workshop is lovely! Fantastic butchers in the nearby village of Overton 😜
Hi, who did you get to fit your heater?
Thanks
I went to Autoterm in Wrexham but if you check their website they have authorised fitters around the uk - hope that helps
@@TheImportanceofBeing great thanks! Could you confirm the size of your diesel tank also please? I think I’m going to do the exact same with my bongo V6!
Thanks so much
Hmmmm I actually just had a look and there are no markings so I can’t be sure .. sorry I can’t be more helpful 😔 they had to fit a smaller one than came with the kit because of lack of space under the bonnet . I put around 2 litres in last week and so I’m assuming it’s either 2 litres or 3 litres
@@TheImportanceofBeing thanks so much for checking. I’ll take the size
What have you done with the jack?
Hi Darren we keep it in one of the cupboards in the rear conversion now
@@TheImportanceofBeing I hope you get to use your van this year, I've been working on mine, i really hope to to get some use out of it this year, take care guys
why do you not have a leisure battery?
I do - since this was filmed I’ve had the heater connected to the leisure battery
@@TheImportanceofBeing I enjoy your videos
But could you tell me where the diesel tank is now as it was were the leisure battery was as bongos are quite tight
Thank you for taking time to reply
Martin
@@martinhinkles7706 thank you 😊
My leisure battery is in a cupboard in the rear kitchen, the diesel tank is under bonnet - hope that helps?
@@TheImportanceofBeing now that makes full sence
Thanks