NorthStar diesel heater reviews

Nope, I don't have a review either, but if you just landed here, you want some too.

Let's hear it out there, who is running the NorthStar diesel heaters? I am seriously looking to adapt one for the box truck and skip the #4 LG just for the simplicity of the diesel since the truck is also diesel.

For those running one, can you give your opinions about the following key points:

1. How much fuel do they use per hour?
2. Do they create any soot issues?
3. Any trouble running the system off a 12v lead or do you need a small generator?
4. How reliable do they fire?
5. Any other key maint. issues that you encountered.

I don't see how anyone would want to install one in a van due to the weight and heat stack, but it sure seems like a good idea for box trucks / cube vans.

I ran one for awhile,   the heat production can't be beat.   However much more of a PIB factor then propain.

First off the thing weighs 300 pounds   VS  about 40 pounds for propain.

Cost more to operate then propain

Smells the whole van up,  VS   no odor with propane

Needs a power source,  so you have to either run a cord, or  run a generator,,  that means  another foot print for additional  equipment and another thing to consume fuel.

Much more complicated then propane, =  more can go wrong,  more stuff to fix. Can make a mess (soot)

Conclusion,  diesel heat has a PIB factor of 7
Propane has a PIB factor of 1   .

The weight doesn't bother me once it is on the truck, but the other issues are a problem.

For me, the PIB factor is propane access. Most of my jobs include 8-12 hours of straight wanding a night (thankfully it only happens about 4 times per month) and I worry about having enough access to propane on such jobs. The only filling sites are over 20 miles away from my service area which also adds to the pain. At least the diesel is always available.

I don't like the odor issue, but it will not be in the cab area, so as long as it isn't any worse than a running diesel truck to the neighborhood, I would be okay with that one too.

I really don't like the soot part at all. I have cleaned enough diesel soot in tent stoves to know what a mess that can become, so just how bad was it really?

Power source is another issue...do you really need a generator or can you run it off the vehicle's power supply? That could be a deal breaker for me.

The heater in my old powermatic was kerosene and/or diesel if you wanted to use it instead of kero. It burned black smoke but it was manageable/tolerable. It did fire off a 110 generator that the kohler engine ran via a pulley. When that generator went south I just plugged into the custys power.

Good info, and questions I've always wondered about with a diesel heater.

As for me, the soot and the need for power would likely be a deal breaker..But that crazy heat sure sounds great. Although it wouldn't be very poly carpet friendly.

Thanks everyone for your input...

I have a diesel burner the heat is like not other , if the burner is tune up the soot is really low using diesel and almost nothing using kerosene my unit has a belt driven generator
millspec6 you can buy a 12Volt version from this company http://www.kleanline.com/images/CWHOCatSheet.pdf they are smaller and weight less than the north star
you already have diesel on the truck I think this is the best way to go

you dont want to burn diesel inside your van,   those things are awsome for heated pressure washers etc but not for a machine that is mounted inside a closed space

just my opinion, maybe it will work fine but propane is so much cleaner diesel is the complete opposite end of the spectrum... think about how much your npr smells when you fire it up in the morning

All the oil fired units I've seen have been exhausted to the outside by duct or exhaust by the unit.