This paper investigates a thermal system that absorbs waste heat from an internal combustion (IC) engine in order to raise the temperature of a working fluid to a saturated state using thermosyphonic flow, non-intrusive of the engine operations. The absorbed heat is rejected to an enclosed space, suitable for in-transit drying. The thermal system comprises a cross-flow heat exchanger connected to a radiator which preheats the working fluid from an insulated (storage) tank. The preheated fluid flows through a radiant heat absorber which absorbs radiant heat from the exhaust manifold. To ensure that the system efficiently performs, a temperature differential is maintained by the heated space while the fluid is cyclically delivered to the tank. The system's operations are described using a novel flow cycle, and the results indicate a significant heat recovery potential. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.