Has anyone heard of this thing? Blue heat (http://www.webasto.us/press/en/am_auto_heaters_734.html)

Apparently it uses the diesel from your tank to run the unit and heats the coolant so that the engine and cabin (it must run the trucks heater too) is warm. Does anyone know anything about this? Seems like it could be a nice way to have the Dmax warmed up on cold mornings so it doesn't take so long for the motor to come up to temp.

Edit: I found a little more info on it here (http://www.autofieldguide.com/columns/sawyer/0804pb.html)Edited by: WAskier

It burns diesel and warms your trucks coolant. It will also run the heater fan to warm up your truck.

The downfalls are that it takes a lot of power to run the heater fan and because the engine isn't running it won't charge the battery. The only other downfall is that it is pretty expensive. Proabably getting close to $2000 installed.


www.espar.com (http://www.espar.com) is a similar product. Espar is cheaper and probably easier to find a dealer. Still expect to pay over $1000.

After I posted this I ran a search and found some info. Guess I should remember to do that before I post stuff huh?

I do have some questions though. Can you setup the expar or blue heat systems to only heat the engine? If the engine was already heated when you started it then it shouldn't take that long to heat the cab. This way you wouldn't drain the battery as quickly I'd imagine.

Alternatively has anyone setup an aux battery that's isolated from the other batteries in the truck? One that you could run down and not have to worry about the truck not starting. That seems like a good option for running one of these heaters.

Get a remote starter, maybe? If you so desire...... you could set-up a starter signal that worked off time or just a simple timer switch in your truck?........ I think that would be a heck of alot cheaper than all that other stuff? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif Well, that and not quite a difficult to install.


Just a thought.





Burner-----------------> http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

I live in Canada in norhern Alberta and as you can well imagine, it
gets pretty cold up here. I have "Blue Heat" system installed in
my 2004.5 LLY 3500 dually. I love the system and it works great.
I can remote start my heater from the house ... I never have to plug my
truck in no matter how cold it gets because I can fire-up the aux.
heater just ahead of when I have to leave. It is all wired-up to run
for a maximum of 1 hour and the fan runs on low speed to minimize power
draw... which has never posed a problem even after repeated 1 hour
runs. As for fuel consumption ... from one study ... <font face="verdana,arial,helvetica">"An average vehicle idling for 30
minutes at 20°F uses about one gallon of fuel. Webasto claims the same
vehicle fitted with a Blue Heat unit consumes just one cup (8 oz.) of
fuel over the same time period.)

</font>The interior cab is warm and cozy...all the snow and frost are
gone from the windows ... and so very importantly ...the engine never
has to see a cold start. When started, the temp guage jumps up off the
bottom peg well on the way to good operating temperature.

The Blue Heat system I had installed fits right below the drivers feet
underneath along the frame rail. GM has predrilled holes in this
location to accomodate a Webasto heater (<font size="-1">www.webasto.com). Even the wiring harness is all setup for snap together connections.</font>

That's the thing I like about this type of setup is the engine doesn't see such a cold start. Although the oil is still cold at least the block isn't totally frozen. That webasto unit sounds interesting. Do all the trucks have the connections already there? or is it an option included in say the snowplow prep package or something?

I can only presume they are all setup for this installation as my
vehicle does not have the snowplow prep package ... or any other add-on
that would indicate to me special accomodation has been made for aux.
heater.

By the way ... I should mention the only thing I was disappointed with
is the fact that the fuel tank has to be dropped (significant add to
install time and therefor cost ... extra 2 - 3 hours) ... so as
to accomodate a seperate fuel source for the heater. I guess GM did not
want to chance a fuel pressure drop by tapping into the main fuel line.




I only wish they had made it far simpler to access a the fuel tank for this heater.

thanks for the info rudyk. I think I'm gonna run the truck this winter without one of these units and see how the truck fairs with just the winter front (of course I'll still have cold starts http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif). Then I'll have more of a feeling of whether or not I can justify the $$ for a coolant heater for future winters.

WAskier ...



Glad I could help a bit ... all the best ... and stay warm this winter!!



rudy

I have also had interest in these systems, which would be especially nice when a 110v outlet is not convenient, or in the "back woods". Even when plugging the truck in at night, it is not real quick to heat the cab when the temp is in the -10 to -20 range.

Anyone using the espar system in their Dmax? I have a couple of messages into Blue Heat dealers, and will post any new info.

wakier, do a search on intant heat i think it is by dmaxattack was second one from top. pretty neat device several pages first one or two are good.

dogboy

Woah this thread got dug up from a while ago.

Dogboy - in regards to the instant heat. I did see that and I don't know if that's exactly what I want for my truck. I was more concerned about the engine being warm not so much about the cab heat.

Spoke with a local Blue Heat dealer yesterday. As mentioned earlier in this thread, the system sounds pretty slick. It would be cool to walk out to the truck on a sub-zero morning to find it completely thawed with a coolant temp at 180, without even starting the truck yet.

Complete system installed (only way they sell it) was $1,600.

Easier to justify if I lived in Norhtern Canada or had money to burn. Since our sub-zero weather is "normally" measured in days, and not weeks, I will see how it goes with just using the block heater this year.

The dealership in laramie had it installed on a couple trucks, one was a gmc I nearly bought that was just like the truck I have except being a gmc and didn't have dic controls. It was adding about 1500 per truck to their price.

Also I would have to mention that it was -8 last night and my truck wasn't plugged in. It had warmed up to about 15 when I started my truck and it started great, didn't even run rough. Idled smooth for 30 seconds and then idledup to 1300 or so on high idle and warmed up pretty quick. So seeing that, I don't see any need for stuff like the blue heat unless you live where it gets even colder....

You are correct, I do not think it is needed when the temp is above 0, just those few days each winter when the high is -5. I would also like it on the morning after an ice storm when there is a 1/4" thick sheet of ice on your windows! However, this winter is starting out very mild with daily highs in the 30's & forecast of 40's this weekend. Awesome, as long as you do not own a sled!