How to Use Your AUFocus Diesel Heater in Your Mars Caravan

The AUFocus diesel heater fitted to your Mars caravan is designed to give you safe, reliable warmth in cold weather. This guide explains the basic controls, how to start and stop the heater, how to adjust the heat and some simple safety tips. Always refer to your official AUFocus user manual for full instructions and safety information.

Video: AUFocus Diesel Heater Overview

Prefer to watch it in action? This short video walks you through the main controls and shows a typical start-up and shutdown cycle for your AUFocus diesel heater.

1. Know the Main Parts and Controls

Your AUFocus diesel heater system in a Mars caravan will typically include:

• Heater unit – usually mounted in a storage compartment or under a seat/bed.
• Diesel tank – a separate tank or connection to an existing tank (diesel only).
• Air intake and exhaust – pipework mounted underneath the van to bring in fresh air and expel exhaust.
• Warm air ducting and outlet – the vent(s) inside your van where warm air is blown out.
• Controller – LCD or Bluetooth dial controller mounted inside the van, often with a remote or app option.

In Mars vans using the AUFocus MZ Bluetooth controller, you’ll normally see:

• A Power button to turn the heater on and off.
• A round dial you can press and rotate to change modes and adjust settings.
• A display showing heater mode, level or room temperature.

2. Safety Checks Before You Use the Heater

• Make sure your caravan is in a well-ventilated area and the exhaust outlet is not blocked by grass, mud, snow or objects.
• Check that the air intake and warm air outlet are clear of bags, bedding and clothing.
• Confirm you have diesel fuel in the heater tank (or main tank if that’s how your system is plumbed).
• Ensure your 12V system/battery is on and at a healthy charge level.
• Never refuel or work on the fuel system while the heater is running or still hot.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm and, ideally, a carbon monoxide detector in the van.

3. Turning the Heater On (Start-Up Cycle)

To start the heater using the AUFocus Bluetooth controller:

1. Press the Power button once to switch the heater on.
2. The display will light up and the heater will begin its start-up cycle. You may hear the fuel pump ticking and the fan running at a low speed.
3. After a few minutes, the heater will ignite and warm air will begin to blow from the outlet. The screen may show a flame icon or similar indicator to confirm combustion.
4. The heater will automatically ramp up to the level or temperature you’ve set.

It is normal for start-up to take a few minutes while the chamber is prepared and the fuel line is primed, especially if the heater has not been used for a while.

4. Choosing Your Heating Mode

Most AUFocus heaters used in caravans offer at least two main ways to run the heater:

• Manual / Warm Air (Power Level) Mode
• Temperature (Thermostat) Mode

4.1 Manual / Warm Air Mode (Power Levels)

In Manual or Warm Air mode, you set the heat output level rather than a target temperature. On the AUFocus controller this is usually shown as levels (for example, 1 to 5), where:

• Level 1 = lowest heat and fan speed
• Level 5 = highest heat and fan speed

To use Warm Air mode:

1. With the heater on, press the round dial if needed until the display shows a level (1–5) rather than a specific temperature.
2. Rotate the dial to choose your desired level. Start at a mid-range level and adjust up or down once the van begins to warm up.
3. The heater will keep blowing warm air at that level until you change it or turn the heater off.

4.2 Temperature (Thermostat) Mode

In Temperature mode, you set a desired room temperature and the heater will automatically adjust its output to maintain it. The AUFocus controller can switch between displaying a level and a temperature.

To use Temperature mode:

1. With the heater on, short press the round dial to toggle into temperature mode (the screen will show a temperature value, typically in °C).
2. Rotate the dial to set your target room temperature (for example, 18–22°C is common for sleeping comfort).
3. The heater will increase or decrease its output as needed to stay close to that temperature.

If you’re not sure which mode you’re in, watch what the display shows when you turn the dial – if it’s numbers like “P1–P5” or similar, you’re in power mode; if it shows degrees (°C), you’re in temperature mode.

5. Using the Bluetooth App or Remote (If Fitted)

Many AUFocus MZ heaters allow control via a Bluetooth app or remote. Exact steps may vary slightly by model, so check your AUFocus manual for pairing instructions. In general you can:

• Turn the heater on and off.
• Change between power level mode and temperature mode.
• Adjust the target temperature or power level.
• View basic status information and fault codes.

App control is convenient if you want to warm the van from bed or from outside, but always stay aware of the heater and never leave it running unattended for long periods.

6. Turning the Heater Off (Cool-Down Cycle)

To switch the heater off:

1. Press the Power button once to command the heater to shut down.
2. The heater will not stop instantly – it will run through an automatic cool-down cycle. The fan will continue to run and the fuel pump will stop.
3. This cool-down period usually takes a few minutes and allows the chamber to cool and burn off any remaining fuel.
4. Once the cycle finishes, the fan will stop and the unit will power down.

Important: Always let the heater complete its shutdown cycle. Do not cut power at the battery, isolator or fuse while the heater is still running, as this can cause excess smoke, carbon build-up and reduced heater life.

7. Simple Best-Practice Tips

• Run it regularly: Even in warmer months, run the heater for 10–15 minutes occasionally to keep fuel moving and help prevent carbon build-up.
• Use higher power occasionally: Let the heater run on a higher level for a short time to burn off deposits in the combustion chamber.
• Keep exhaust and intake clear: Before each trip, visually check that nothing is blocking the heater exhaust or fresh air intake under the van.
• Use clean diesel: Only use clean diesel fuel as specified by AUFocus. Do not add petrol, kerosene or other fuels.
• Follow service intervals: Refer to the AUFocus manual for any recommended maintenance or servicing intervals.

8. When to Contact Support

If your AUFocus heater displays repeated fault codes, fails to ignite after several attempts, makes unusual noises or produces persistent smoke, stop using it and contact support.

When you lodge a ticket with Mars or talk to a service centre, please provide:

• Your Mars caravan model and VIN.
• The AUFocus heater model (e.g. 2kW or 5kW, MZ or ML).
• Photos of the controller screen showing any error codes.
• A description of what you were doing when the issue occurred (starting up, running, shutting down, etc.).

For detailed technical information, settings and fault code listings, always refer to your AUFocus user manual or contact AUFocus technical support or your authorised Mars service agent.

Summary

Your AUFocus diesel heater is a powerful tool for staying warm and comfortable in your Mars caravan. Use the Power button and controller dial to start the heater, choose between power level or temperature mode, and always allow the cool-down cycle to finish before switching the power off.

Combined with regular checks, good ventilation and proper servicing, your AUFocus heater should give you many seasons of safe, reliable warmth on your Mars adventures.