Diesel Cabin Heater.....Opinion

[Rdunkin]

Hello



I would like some information on the optional Cabin Heater. I am working in Wyoming and expect to see down to -50*F. Not wanting to "Idle" the 6. 7 14Hrs. a day this seems to be the only alternative. How well does it work? I see it is programable for 2-6 minutes. What Temp. does it get the cab to? Are you also plugging in the block heater? How much fuel does it use? Does it have a water pump built into it or is just using the heat of the water to circulate?

At $1200. 00 thats about 400 Gal. of fuel, at Approx. 30*F my truck heats the water up to 100*F. overnight with only the block heater. It would be nice to be able to run the heater blower motor somehow without running the engine.

Thanks for any Information and opinions.

Richard

 

[jelag]

There are two brands of engine, and cab heaters... . ESPAR is one of those and the other brand escapes me now... . we tried to represent both brands at one time or another... . both provide engine hot water heaters as well as heaters for the cab, or both... .

For the small trucks they actually heat the engine coolant system and than turn on the heater fan circuit once the water is hot... . these heaters are designed for cold climates where you'd normally let the engine idle all the time...

These heaters for the 5. 9 or 6. 7 wholesale in the 800 range plus installation... the other brand that I can't think of right now will NOT sell across the counter. . they want it installed by a tech who has been factory trained...

These units come with their own electric fuel pump and related circuits and timers... . Both manufactures are big into large class 8 trucks and seem to ignore our needs... . at least their reps don't seem to return calls or do what they promise.....

They usually burn about 1/4 to a 1/3 of a gallon of fuel in a 12 hour period so when its -30 and these will keep the cab, engine and coolant warm their great... . and the engine always start... .

Hope this overview has helped...

 

[Rdunkin]

Jim, Is "Webasto" by any chance the ... other brand... ? I just found an ad for them and it stated to "Call for an instalation appointment". What I would like to know is, do they have a water circulating pump built into the unit? If so, I would think they could do a good job.



Thanks for the Info. !

 

[Shadrach]

I have sold Espar for years and believe them to be an exellent product. Check out their site: Espar - Automotive Shadrach

 

[courierdog]

I have the Webasto and it has several modes, timer or manual.
The manual can be set for any amoutu of time you desire, the default is 60 minutes. The heat is regulated by the heat control on the dash. You can set the timer to come on as required to suit your requirements. Here in Alberta -40 C is not uncommon in winter so to prevent excessive idling is not a good thing, however the in cab heater will keep the cab and the block warm as required. I am quite happy with mine.

 

[jelag]

Webasto is the brand... ... They wanted us to take them on... . but they only wanted those dist. would sign an agreement to install only... no over the counter sales... and the Espar guy was a nice guy but never kept his promises...

I still have 4 trucks I'll like to equip... . that I own, let alone what I would sell... .

Shadrach, I have a warehouse and salesman in Edmonton, hes been with us for 25 years selling our clutch line there... .

 

[osiris]

you could maybe look into something like blue heat? I think that is what its called.

 

[jelag]

2. What is the cost of BlueHeat®?
M. S. R. P. is $1,795 USD, installed.
3. What is the BlueHeat® warranty?
BlueHeat® is warrantied for 3 years with receipt of the BlueHeat® registration card.
4. How will it affect my vehicle manufacturer's warranty?
Adding BlueHeat® will not void your manufacturer's warranty. BlueHeat® meets and/or exceeds OEM warranties.
5. Where can I purchase BlueHeat®?
BlueHeat® can be purchased at one of the Certified Installers in the Webasto BlueHeat® Certified Installer Network.

Blue heat is a trade name of Webasto... and like I mentioned above they will only set you up as a dealer if you agree to only install them... .

Both brands have pumps that move the water around. . that is the reason for the timer... it limits the use so the battery will not be run down...

If you start either one up, what ever their suggested time frame before you get into the truck it will cycle the fan on the heater circuit and warm the cab...

 

[blacksheep4x4]

Not only do you have to an installer but you have to buy six of them to be an installer. The Blueheat is a good product though and is a factory option for various high end German made cars in Europe.

 

[DonFitzwater]

From an Alaskan with warm toes... ... ... ... ... ... ... Get the Espar!