[Leez2wags]

Hey guys and gals

Looking at pre heaters before Edmonton turns into a frozen hell again shortly.

Debating going with a siphon style 120v pre heater (hot start TPS)- ease of use, access to 120v where my truck is parked either at home or work, ease of installation, and cost vs webasto style self contained unit.

Or Does it pretty much has to be a self sustained pumped circulation style heater like a webasto or Espar...

Which brings me to also ask: do the webasto style heaters actually use an electric pump to pump the coolant or do they rely on convection like a siphon style heater? I’m looking at their current draws online and after start up they don’t seem to use a lot of amperage to actually be “pumping” coolant ? Or are they just crazy efficient and easy on the batteries?

Any help is appreciated! Sorry if this is a common question I’m having a hard time finding info on this topic on CF!


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[Leez2wags]

No? Lol no Input on this from anybody?

If you have a preheater installed weather it’s a webasto, Espar, or a 120v plug in style what is it and how do you like it?


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[ofelas.5z]

Webasto/Espar coolant heaters use a fuel pump as well as a coolant pump, but draw very little power.
Worth their weight in gold, as I’m nowhere near 120v supplies when I need the truck prewarmed.
I’ve used the Webasto exhaust pointed at a filter head to thaw out a frozen fuel filter/separator in the truck. They seem to gel/freeze quicker than a mass of fuel in a tank or lines.
Leave the vents in the defrost position, and half the windshield is frost/ice free before I start the truck, and warm air once I do is instantaneous.

 

[Leez2wags]

Webasto/Espar coolant heaters use a fuel pump as well as a coolant pump, but draw very little power.
Worth their weight in gold, as I’m nowhere near 120v supplies when I need the truck prewarmed.
I’ve used the Webasto exhaust pointed at a filter head to thaw out a frozen fuel filter/separator in the truck. They seem to gel/freeze quicker than a mass of fuel in a tank or lines.
Leave the vents in the defrost position, and half the windshield is frost/ice free before I start the truck, and warm air once I do is instantaneous.

Damn sounds like what I need.

How long do they typically last? I’m just wondering if it’s worth grabbing a reman webasto or Espar or a new Chinese brand (drivworld 5000watt). Concerned with the reliability of the Chinese version but also I don’t know much about how long an brand named unit would last. I can justify the cost if they last a few years before servicing under normal conditions.

The appealing part of the plug in style heaters is they are pretty cheap and readily available and easily replaced if they die.


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[verdesardog]

most of these trucks already have an OEM 120v heater installed, look for it behind the oil filter.

 

[steve05ram360]

Another potential solution is a coolant filter with a 12v fuel heater wrapped on it plus a vw aux water pump. Could prob get it done for under $200. Might be a problem or two to solve but it is doable.

 

[Leez2wags]

most of these trucks already have an OEM 120v heater installed, look for it behind the oil filter.

Oh ya I have a block heater but still takes about twenty minutes of idling for the truck to get the windows thawed when it’s -30*c here everyday!

The siphon heaters I was looking at would combine some of those elements you mentioned but would heat the coolant throughout the engine to 98-120*f but probably takes a lot longer than a webasto to work and it doesn’t heat the engine as evenly as pumped heater assembly does because it relies on siphon/ convection to work.


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[slowmover]

There are Canadian companies that specialize in this. Plenty of diesel pickups in fleets. Get pro advice to do it right the first time.

 

[Leez2wags]

Already got a solution on the way. It’s pretty much webasto/ Espar or nothing up here.


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[Broaner]

If you have access to 120 everywhere you need it, I wouldn't be thinking of anything else. Drive away a few minutes after starting. 30 minutes of idling is doing more harm than driving away as soon as you can see out the windsheild. These trucks need load to warm up.

You have a good winter front right??

FYI, Webasto type systems need to run for a few hours before driving to get it up to temp.

The appealing part of the plug in style heaters is they are pretty cheap and readily available and easily replaced if they die.

The extremely unappealing part is that they'll burn your truck down if they die in a bad way. 5000w is no joke.

 

[ofelas.5z]

90 minutes of Webasto in -40 gets the coolant temp up to 120 and de ices most of the windshield.

In my single cab, this means cranking it up without the grid heaters cycling, and warm air's circulating inside within a minute or two of idling right before I start driving.

Depending on the vehicle, my Webasto exhausts are usually pointed towards the filter head/lift pump for pre-warmed fuel.

 

[Leez2wags]

If you have access to 120 everywhere you need it, I wouldn't be thinking of anything else. Drive away a few minutes after starting. 30 minutes of idling is doing more harm than driving away as soon as you can see out the windsheild. These trucks need load to warm up.

You have a good winter front right??

FYI, Webasto type systems need to run for a few hours before driving to get it up to temp.


The extremely unappealing part is that they'll burn your truck down if they die in a bad way. 5000w is no joke.

A 1500w 120v Heater can eff sh*t up too when it decides to melt down lol but ya I hear ya. Sketchy for sure if the glow plug shorts and the module doesn’t catch it. The new Pre heaters out now all have diagnostic onboard and even low battery voltage protection as well. I haven’t heard of one taking anyone’s truck out personally but there’s a first for everything.

As for the pre heating the fuel I run antigel and even in -40*c around New Years last year not even a hesitation before start up with a super smooth idle (truck was plugged in every night to block heater though) I’ve had luck with loyds fuel system cleaner/ antigel and also with Lucas oil upper cylinder lubricant with antigel. For the 2-3$ a tank it costs to add antigel it’s worth it to me for piece of mind and seems to be working fine but this year I will be driving the truck daily to and from work so I’d like to have it Pre heated and ready to go every morning and every night for my drive home... and also save the engine from an hour of idling in the am to just get the windshield cleared.

Yes I run a rad block off as well in the winter!


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[Broaner]

Sketchy for sure if the glow plug shorts and the module doesn’t catch it.

Indeed. This is no joke. After a muffler shop welded my downpipe to the main exhaust my grid heater stayed on. Didn't notice till I tried to leave my house 30 minutes later and it was down to 5 v. Burned the hell out of my intake horn.

 

[Leez2wags]

Holy eff. How the hell did that happen?


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[Leez2wags]

Ended up going with a Chinese webasto knock off off amazon. Works great so far. Came with a remote and a 7 day timer for 650$ Canadian. https://youtu.be/cRLjPqHklqw


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[bigfish95971]

All cummins come with a pre-installed Block Heater in the block in cooling system. The 120v cord should be hanging near the right side hood/bumper. If the cord is not there(it may have been optional your year) all you have to buy is the cord for about 20 bucks I think.

They work great for engine, even at 30-40 below. Leave on overnight or with a timer for 3-4 hours. Fuel in tank do as needed.

 

[Leez2wags]

All cummins come with a pre-installed Block Heater in the block in cooling system. The 120v cord should be hanging near the right side hood/bumper. If the cord is not there(it may have been optional your year) all you have to buy is the cord for about 20 bucks I think.



They work great for engine, even at 30-40 below. Leave on overnight or with a timer for 3-4 hours. Fuel in tank do as needed.

Block heater still doesn’t heat the cooling system up very much at all compared to one of these that heats the entire block evenly and also the cabin after it switches the fan on


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[bigfish95971]

Block heater is designed to bring it up to about 90f for starting and running, not 190f warming your butt. but it beats the hell out of -30f in the cab. For a while there was even a diesel fired accessory heater available, probably still is.

 

[Broaner]

The module can turn on the HVAC blower? Thats pretty awesome

Holy eff. How the hell did that happen?


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Good question. Apparently the relays must have gotten basically welded closed when the exhaust shop was working.

 

[Leez2wags]

Block heater is designed to bring it up to about 90f for starting and running, not 190f warming your butt. but it beats the hell out of -30f in the cab. For a while there was even a diesel fired accessory heater available, probably still is.

Like the one I just posted ^


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