Engine Heater

[jelag]

I just ran across a new product by Webasto, called blue heat... . its a small version of their truck heaters used in class 8 trucks... designed for cars and light trucks... . We've been thinking of taking the line on... . BUT.....



Connects to the fuel tank and the heater electrical circuit, and of course the heater hoses... uses 3. 5 amps and runs a small fuel pump, (gas or diesel design).



Theroy of operation is that you set the timer for up to 3 one hour presets... the unit starts, heats and pumps the coolant around the engine, and when the temp is right starts the heater fan in the cab... so the engine is warm and so is the cab... at the end of the hour it shuts down... on our trucks it could run once for an hour before we go to use the truck and the cab and engine would be warm... .



The benifit of course is the wear and fuel saving to letting the truck run... as I do most of the time in when I'm out of town... . and it has an available remote... so you can sit in the house and start the unit up.....



We've been asked to take the line on... . one huge problem, they won't let us counter sale this item... they want our qualified installers to do the work as you have to alter the fuel, and heater hose circuits as well as the electrical system when it applies to the heater... .



These units in a Class 8 truck designed to run 24/7 are about $2,500. 00 but when you use a sleeper its better than running the truck through the night and now in some states there is a law forbidding idle over 10 minutes... .



At about $1,700. 00 installed would you, a very special group of guys see a market for this in those area's where's it colder than an SOB.....



I'd love to hear your comments to my e-mail at -- email address removed --



We'd have to go through their training program... something that I think is expensive and so I'm guessing in reality this product wouldn't be available this winter... .



Thanks for your input.....

 

[bmoeller]

I don't have enough need to buy one myself, at that cost, but others may.



Unit cost-wise (excluding install cost), how does it compare the the Espar heater? It does the same thing.

 

[SLinse]

The Espar heater are somewhat popular here in Alaska. They make one specific to the Dodge that ties into your heater controls and keeps the cab warm. I know a few people with them on there 2nd gen. I believe the Espar is about 1200-1400 uninstalled. I think they are closer to 2500 installed. I personnally like the idea of them, just have a hard time choking down the price. The $1700 seems resonable.

 

[TBrennan]

These aren't new, I know the Espar units have been on the market for at least 10 years I thnk that I know of. Webasto's have been installed by truck owners here. I just put a Espar D5SW unit in my truck this fall. The entire unit and parts package was $1000 from www.lubespecialist.com. I did the install myself but it required custom bracket creation and few small extras.

 

[Slow Six]

From what I have been told the Webasto units are okay but if there is a problem they are basically a throw away where as the Espars can be serviced. Part of this is Espar sales pitch and part of it is from mechanics who work on them. I'm on my second Espar and I really like them. Once you have one you will never be without one in colder climates.

 

[johnrv4]

The Webasto and Espar heaters have been around for years. I have a Webasto and an Espar, and they are constructed very similiar. The Webasto heaters are very serviceable. I've replaced a few parts on mine(which was built in 1988). If you do some shopping, you can find them for around $1,000 new. I'd have to say that was the best accessory that I've put on my trucks.

 

[BHolm]

A very good friend of mine has an Espar in his diesel van. It has been a total nightmare for him. At high altitude it doesn't work at all and Espar has been of NO help to him. This is a Quigley 4x4 Ford van he has converted to sleep in and use for back country skiing. I think it stinks that he spent all that money and once above about 9000 ft it is useless.



The Webasto I might be interetsed in but I would want to be assured that it would WORK at 11-12,000 feet of elevation.

 

[PJ]

Last year on "Two Guys Garage" , Sam put one on his black CTD. It worked great. Maybe there will be a re- run some day. I would sure like one on my rig. Our mornings have been in the 20's for the past few weeks. I have my block heater plugged in but it still takes about 5 miles to get any type of warm out of the heater. It works great on the windshield defrost though.

 

[JPM]

Espar,Its been one of the best things I have ever done to a vehicle. Last week I drove away with a clear windshield from a bunch of gassers, scraping a 1/4" of ice , the next day it was 1 degree, got in the (warm) cab without preheating started the CTD. BOOM ! It started better/faster than the gassers