Engine pre heaters, any one had a play with them?

[barracuda816]

Im toying with the idea of a stand alone pre heater, specifically the webasto thermo top water heater type. Does anyone here know the control requirements for them?

I know they are ecu driven but can they be simply operated by a 12v supply to the metering unit, supply to the pump and supply to the glow plug? or are we talking about pwm supplies?

i appreciate any thoughts/advice on this.

Luke

 

[Tinbasherdan]

What are you fitting it on?

 

[barracuda816]

Thinking of fitting one to my old triumph dolomite, i wont mind if its petrol or diesel, as if its diesel ill just fit a small dedicated fuel tank.

 

[barracuda816]

I had one on my range rover, it was my single favourite gadget.

 

[Parm]

Aren't these usually for very cold climates??

 

[mike 109444]

Does he know something about the coming winter that we all need to know .....

 

[barracuda816]

They are also for modern diesels as they are so thermally efficient they take a very long time to warm up. Also you can have them turn on the heater fan so they warm up the interior.

My one in the rangey was remote controlled (range of about 100 meters). I turned it on just before eating my breakfast and it was warm and de iced when i got to it (about 20 mins)

 

[Parm]

They are also for modern diesels as they are so thermally efficient they take a very long time to warm up. Also you can have them turn on the heater fan so they warm up the interior.

My one in the rangey was remote controlled (range of about 100 meters). I turned it on just before eating my breakfast and it was warm and de iced when i got to it (about 20 mins)

Ok now I understand, I've got the Same on my new motor. It's all controlled via an app on my phone. Wake up n set the car to thaw out, nice n toasty by the time I leave

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I've got a webasto in the shed, been wondering about whether I should get in gear and either sell it or fit it...

Still unsure.

Diesel burner? Maybe you should throw it my way.....

 

[barracuda816]

The units themselves are cheap enough, but wiring and ecu can push the cost beyond a fun project to seriously need/want one and have the spare cash territory. But i haven't had a play so cant decide if they are easy enough to control without the proper ecu, just to control on/off. I don't know how much of the proper ecu is there for integration into the car.

 

[Shox Dr]

I've a preheater fitted to the truck. (Straight 6 4ltr). Mains powered so have to plug it in every night, on a timer comes on about 45mins before I leave.

Makes a big difference, so much so I use it all yr round now

 

[doubleboost]

When I ran a series 2 land rover I used to put a mains electric blower heater in to the cab
Turned it on when I got up at least the windows were clear lol

 

[Shedendman]

I ask here about making one from an old shower unit, as it has a built in pump,fixed up with an outside plug socket(if you can see what i mean?) this so to pump water around the jacket,prob is the smallest shower unit you get is a 8kw think you only need something like 2kw.
I know that most cars in Scandinavia have these pre fitted,also new houses out there have the socket outlets esp fitted to either in the garage of out near your parking bay

 

[Shedendman]

The idea would be to warm not only the heater but the block to,a warm engine turns over better,less strain on the engine and starter.
I know my Mk5 2.5di tranny would benefit from this on the really cold mornings.
The kettle element is the same as a coil plug heater thing is it doesn't pump a flow of warm water around the engine

 

[doubleboost]

The idea would be to warm not only the heater but the block to,a warm engine turns over better,less strain on the engine and starter.
I know my Mk5 2.5di tranny would benefit from this on the really cold mornings.
The kettle element is the same as a coil plug heater thing is it doesn't pump a flow of warm water around the engine

The water would "thermo syphon" around the engine

 

[Shedendman]

Not quick enough though,from what i've read about coil plug heaters you have to leave it on for hours depending on the size of the engine sometimes over night.
this is the ideal little chappy http://www.enginepreheater.co.uk/

 

[Shedendman]

Sorry not coil plug CORE plug

 

[gordon stephenson]

There is a Webasto diesel unit fitted on my V6 Touareg, Comes on at 4*C. totally auto, I have no control over it at all.

 

[Barlidge]

I know people have retro fitted the eberspacher to the galaxy (vag), seperate battery, timer and a couple of other connections required but not too major.

http://www.mirez.co.uk/Galaxy/PDF/Galaxy - Auxiliary Heater Information.pdf

 

[Shox Dr]

Not keen on the ones powered by the vehicle's own power supply. The battery is under enough stress in the cold as it is, without powering a preheater.