Espar heater survey - who has them?

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Just curious, how far North does one go before "most" of the diesels have auxiliary heaters, either ESPAR or other, and how far South does one have to go before "nobody" has one? To try to standardize the answers:

1) About where do you live (State/Province)?
2) Do you have an ESPAR or other heater?
3) Best Guess, what % of diesels in your area have an aux heater?

Thanks in Advance.
P. S. - My answers
1) Arkansas / Southern U. S.
2) No, but considering it (Yeah, I'm crazy about my toy. Next question. )
3) Best guess, under 1%

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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, K&N RE-880 w/foam pre-cleaner, ARE Z-series Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

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I'm going into my second season with the Espar in my 98. 5 24V up here in Wawa, Ontario, (eastern extremity of Lake Superior). While aux. heaters are common in commercial vehicles such as school buses, I think I'm probably the sole owner of an Espar equipped personal light duty truck. My unit comes with the key-fob remote which has a very powerful transmitter. I love my Espar. It's clean, efficient and beats idling any day. At minus 30C it takes 45 minutes to preheat the engine and defrost the windshield. The most significant problem is the battery drain if the unit is used several times daily. Since I am equipped with a plow, the combination will seriously tax the cells some days, so I am considering higher amp batteries this winter.

 

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1) Connecticut
2) Espar w/remote
3) No idea, but probably not many.

I have had the Espar installed for only 2 weeks and love it. Set it to run for an hour before I get out of work, nice warm engine & interior. Like GWS says, it burns clean, and is a STRONG heater. 5 times stronger than the OE AC block heater. This is a serious piece of equipment, make no mistake.

This is one of the best accessories I have on my truck. Probably the best!

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Bill R
94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust, Autometer Pyro, Boost & Water temp gauges, Bosch 215 HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 º, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit, Scotty Air, Bully Dog Propane Injection, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket,Espar Heater (won it!), Synthetic lubes throughout.



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 10-16-2000). ]

 

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1) New York, Poughkeepsie area
2) Got mine at the nationals august of 1999. Have had it in service for a full winter and a few days this fall.
3) None others that I have seen outside of events. But there are not that many diesel owners.
Love the heater. Really nice to go out to a parking lot with 1/2" of ice on everyones window except yours, toss off the coat climb in do a 3 second preheat cycle and start and go. The other guys have not even finished getting out the scrapers. I have the timer and the remote. I need to remember to set it . The remote works from inside the house leaving, but not from the plant to the parking lot.

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P. Campbell 1998. 5 ISB 2500 auto green/driftwood

 

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How much did your systems cost you all? Did you install it yourself?

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Mark Callahan

1998. 5 3500 4x4 24V 5spd, Geno's Muffler Kit, Chrome exhaust, Western Hauler Headache Rack, Chrome Rocker Panels, A-Pillar Mounted Boost and Oil Temp Gauges, No Turbo Silencer Ring (Yeah Baby!)

 

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1) Live in NE Wyoming (Gillette)
2) Have had the Espar for going on three years.
3) I have the only one in the country that I know of.
Cost was about $1200 and I installed it myself.

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'98 12-valve CC 2500 4x4 5-speed,Espar Heater,
Ultimate Bedliner, Turnover Gooseneck Hitch,
Bright-Box, Rancho RS9000
Combo Gage

 

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azcummins
I bought my Espar during the spring promotion. After Sam Memmello installed one on his 96 Dodge on the Shade Tree mechanic, Espar was swamped with orders.

I paid $899 for Full Espar Kit
and $85 for the remote.

Installed it myself this summer. Long slow job.

Pete, I think you are just seeing the 3 second bulb check the PCM runs each time the truck is started. My "Wait to start" light comes on for 3 seconds in 100 degree heat. Same with the "water in fuel" light. It hard to believe the espar is not raising the intake manifold temp above 59 degrees. If the voltmeter needle swings to the left,when the "wait to start" light is on, thats a different story. #ad

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Bill R
94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust, Autometer Pyro, Boost & Water temp gauges, Bosch 215 HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7 º, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit, Scotty Air, Bully Dog Propane Injection, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Optima Red Tops, Geno`s Exhaust Blanket,Espar Heater (won it!), Synthetic lubes throughout.



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 10-22-2000). ]

 

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I live in Eastern Oregon. I have not gone thru a winter with the Espar but am looking forward to it. I installed it myself and will have to uninstall it and re-install in the 3500 when Santa brings it.

As far as I know I am the only one in this area. I have gone Elk hunting with the 97 without the heater and had no problem with starting but you will freeze your dodie off waiting for the heat to come to the cab.