There are many examples in history when a corporate brand became a household name for an entire class of devices and mechanisms. This happened with Xerox, Ferodo and even the first Soviet antifreeze Tosol. The ability to make high-quality and convenient autonomous heaters for cars has secured the name of the Webasto company according to the same principle. It is already quite acceptable to call the entire class of devices this way, not just the original ones.
Why is there Webasto in the car?
Cars really don’t like low temperatures, especially when their engine is turned off for a long time. Then it can be difficult to launch, if at all possible. But there is a large supply of energy nearby in the form of a fuel tank, why not take advantage of it.
Autonomous heaters come to the rescue - devices that automatically and economically burn a small amount of gasoline or diesel fuel, supplying the resulting heat to the engine cooling system or directly to the car interior.
People who like the cold in their car even less than the engine will find themselves in a heated space after using Webasto, even if only the engine has warmed up.
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The standard heater fan will quickly create acceptable conditions for passengers. And direct heating from the cabin unit will provide a climate no worse than in summer.
How does the Webasto system work? Principle of operation
The design of the heater is quite simple, which is why this system is practically trouble-free. Webasto consists of two elements. This:
The first part is the main one in the design. The heat-generating module combines several elements. These are a pump, a fan, a heat exchanger, a combustion chamber with a spark plug and a nozzle. This module is housed in a small case measuring 25 x 15 x 10 centimeters. In view of this, the autonomous vehicle easily fits both in the cab of a truck and under the hood of a regular car. If we talk about minibuses, it can be located under the passenger seat or under the cabin. The body of the device is very compact, which is a definite plus.
What is the operating principle of the Webasto heater? It operates on the principle of a regular hair dryer (sometimes called that). However, if an electric heater is installed in a home hair dryer and it is powered from a 220 V network, then a nozzle is installed here to create a torch and ignite the mixture. And the system operates autonomously. The only 12 Volt power supply is suitable for the control unit.
The Webasto dry preheater has a very simple operating principle. After a signal is sent from the control system, the pump begins to take fuel from the tank. Next, the diesel is mixed with air. This all happens in a separate chamber. But how is the mixture ignited if diesel does not burn from a regular spark? The glow plug is connected to the work. It is this that heats the mixture to the temperature of spontaneous combustion. After this, thermal energy is released from the combustion of fuel. It goes to the radiator. The latter heats up, and under the influence of the fan, heat flows into the cabin.
As for the control system, in addition to the button, it may include a power-on timer. Thanks to it, the driver can pre-program the time when the system starts. It's very convenient - the reviews say. As an option, the battery can be equipped with a GSM module. This allows you to launch directly from your phone.
Differences between Webasto and autostart
Nowadays it is absolutely easy to install a security system with an auto-start engine function on any car. The effect will be approximately the same; before the driver and passengers appear, the engine will work for the required time according to the program or command, heat up itself and warm the interior.
It would seem, why then install a relatively expensive autonomous system if there is such a simple solution. Each method has its pros and cons.
Advantages of an alarm system with auto start:
- low price, we can say that there are no additional costs, because the alarm system is still needed to perform security functions;
- no additional hardware complications are required in the already cramped engine compartment, the interior is also not modified, the standard engine and standard heater work;
- the driver does not need to study the operating rules of a rather complex additional device.
But Webasto also has its advantages:
- silent operation, when parking in the yard there is less cause for concern for neighbors;
- significant savings in the vehicle’s engine life; it is known that cold starting of an internal combustion engine is one of the most unpleasant modes of its operation in this regard, and in order to maintain heat it will have to be started often;
- potential savings on fines; strictly speaking, parking with the engine running in residential areas is prohibited;
- due to more efficient fuel consumption, the overall installation is more economical;
- If the engine fails in winter and there is a long wait for help, only the autonomous system will prevent people from freezing in the car.
Somewhat paradoxical, but practical, it would be simultaneous installation of both systems on the car. Then all the advantages will add up, and the disadvantages will disappear, and the costs in terms of long months of winter operation will become very small, this is a very small price to pay for daily comfort and saved health.
Heater control
For the convenience of the driver, Webasto in the car is turned on remotely. There are three models that differ in the way the system is controlled.
Timer
- Google+
- LJ
- Blogger
Installed in the heater itself. Allows you to schedule warm-up up to three times a day. Allows you to set the warm-up duration. This is the cheapest way to control.
Telephone
The device contains a GPS module, which provides communication between the heater and a mobile phone. You can turn on the heater from anywhere - just send an SMS to a special number associated with your device. Control can be carried out by five different drivers.
Remote controller
Allows you to program the heater control system at a distance of up to 1 km. You can turn on the heating in the morning from your apartment window while getting ready for work, and in the evening from your office window before the end of the working day. The convenience of the remote control is that you can turn on the system by pressing one button. But radio interference may interfere with its operation; this must be taken into account when choosing.
Kinds
There are two ways to heat a car - through antifreeze in the engine and directly through the air in the cabin. Webasto can do both, depending on which model you choose, how and where to install it.
Air autonomous interior heater
This is the simplest and cheapest installation, mounted directly in the cabin. It acts like a heat fan, or can be compared to a hair dryer, only the energy does not come from the network, but is supplied from a tank with liquid fuel.
Of course, only the air that has passed through the heat exchanger enters the cabin, and the exhaust gases are discharged outside. But due to high efficiency and optimization of operation, there are few of them, and they are well cleaned.
Liquid (pre-start)
A more complex device that cuts into the engine cooling line under the hood. It is equipped with its own coolant pump (pump), fuel equipment, and is powered from the car’s tank and from its own battery.
Installation addresses
Dear customers!
Installing Webasto and Eberspächer pre-heaters and air heaters on cars and other equipment is a labor-intensive process (at least 8 hours) and technically complex, because it is influenced by many factors: the design of the vehicle, the installation location of the heater and the complexity of manufacturing its mounting bracket, the location of the insertion into the cooling system, the method of fuel intake, the option of laying wiring harnesses, etc. and so on. It is for this reason that it is not possible to post all the data on the website in order to provide comprehensive information about the final cost of installing a heater on a specific car due to the huge amount of documentation.
Below are the main types of work and their costs:
Installation of an engine preheater with connection of interior heating and installation of one control element - from 12 thousand rubles. Installation of an air heater with installation of one control element - from 8 thousand rubles. Retrofitting standard engine heaters to pre-heaters - from 6 thousand rubles. Removing the tank – 2 thousand rubles. Removing the exhaust system – 2t thousand rubles. Removing the driveshaft - 2 thousand rubles. Connecting an additional control unit – 2 thousand rubles. The cost of installation does not include the cost of necessary consumables, which on average ranges from 500 to 2000 rubles.
If you wish, you can purchase all equipment purchased from us by ordering installation. All our installation centers employ qualified technicians who have the necessary certificates and have undergone appropriate training. Equipment purchased from us is provided with a warranty, and the necessary documents are prepared. We also provide a guarantee for the work we perform - 2 years from the date of installation. Thus, when installed in our centers, the official warranty for your car is maintained.
You can also order the installation of engine preheaters or air heaters purchased elsewhere, the main condition is that the heater must be new and have a complete installation kit.
We are constantly working to expand the network of our installation centers in order to make the equipment installation process as convenient as possible for you.
Currently, you can choose one of the following installation centers located in different districts of Moscow, which is most convenient for you:
When ordering installation, please indicate the desired installation day. It is also highly advisable to indicate the make and model of your car, the type and size of the engine, the year of its manufacture and the type of climate control system (climate control or air conditioning). After placing an order for installation, our manager will contact you and agree on all the necessary details with you and tell you about the nuances of installation on a particular car.
Please note that in some cases there may be additional work required to install equipment, the cost of which is not included in the price offer posted on the website. Our specialist will tell you about all the installation features and the final cost of installing the equipment on your car over the phone.
How to use Webasto
There are three autonomy control modes:
- from an external control panel operating at a considerable distance from the car;
- from the built-in timer, which can be programmed for a specific turn-on time;
- via GSM module from a cell phone, via SMS commands or through the appropriate application.
For the heater to operate, a number of conditions must be met. In addition to the provision of power, that is, the presence of fuel in the tank and a charged car battery, there are restrictions on the temperature outside, the heater will not turn on in the summer, the level of heating of the antifreeze and the speed of voltage reduction in the network. A smart device should leave energy to start the engine.
Before turning on and programming the system, you must make sure that the heater is left on, otherwise heat will not get into the cabin.
The sequence of pressing the buttons is outlined in the instructions for the specific model and is intuitive. You just need to keep in mind that the communication channel with the remote control (key fob) is subject to radio interference. The GSM module is more stable.
Operating principle of the Webasto liquid heater
All types of Webasto preheaters can be divided into two large groups: liquid and air. The heater can be used to reheat the engine during operation or in pre-start mode, when Webasto is turned on before starting the power unit.
The design of the Webasto liquid heater is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 — Sectional design of the Webasto Thermo Top Evo liquid heater
- Combustion air blower impeller
- Electric motor for heating and combustion air blower
- Glow pin and flame sensor
- Evaporative pad
- The combustion chamber
- Liquid temperature sensor
- Output of heated liquid
- Heat sensor
- Coolant inlet
- Heater housing
- Heat exchanger
- Circulation pump
- Fuel pump
- Exhaust gas outlet
- Fuel line
- Magnet
- Combustion air intake
- Hall Sensor
- Control block
The principle of operation of the equipment in pre-start mode is as follows:
- After the start signal is received, fuel enters the combustion chamber.
- During fuel combustion, the generated thermal energy heats the antifreeze, which circulates in the system.
- The circulation pump runs antifreeze through a circuit consisting of a Webasto boiler, radiator and engine.
- Gradually, the temperature of the internal combustion engine reaches standard values, and the engine starts normally even in severe frosts.
- Heating also occurs inside the cabin. The automation turns on fans to supply heated air to the windows. Thus, the ice and snow on the windows melt.
Since the Webasto is started by charging the battery, it is important to ensure that the battery is charged and functioning properly. Otherwise, the device will not start, even with sufficient battery charge. In addition, it is important to note that Webasto does not work to warm up the engine oil. Using a preheater does not mean that you do not need to take into account its winter viscosity when choosing engine oil.
At sub-zero temperatures, the Webasto heater will operate in reheat mode together with the engine. The principle of operation of the device is the same, but the system will turn on when the internal combustion engine is started.
To start Webasto in preheater mode, it is important to comply with the following conditions:
- temperature outside is below +50C;
- battery is charged (voltage from 11.4 V);
- antifreeze temperature is less than 140C;
- the doors are closed;
- the car is guarded.
When operating in reheating mode, it is important that the climate system is turned on and the outside temperature is above -60C.
The Webasto heater monitors the fuel level, and if the tank is less than one quarter full, it may not start and may even become blocked.
Webasto heaters work with both gasoline and diesel power units. Equipment modifications for different types of internal combustion engines have certain features. Let's look at how the Webasto boiler works for gasoline and diesel engines.
- for gasoline
The main difference between gasoline and diesel engines is the principles of fuel supply. Due to the fact that the structure of gasoline differs from diesel fuel, the lower starting limit for gasoline equipment will decrease.
- for diesel
When using Webasto on a diesel engine, fuel consumption is slightly higher. But due to the difference in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel, this will not affect the cost in any way. At the same time, the maximum performance of a diesel engine is higher.
Tips for use
Despite the thoughtfulness of the system and high quality, we must remember that the device burns fuel and releases energy in the same way as a car engine:
- the exhaust is toxic, you cannot use autonomous heaters in confined spaces;
- Only the type of fuel specified in the documentation should be used;
- installation of a fire hazardous device must be carried out by a qualified specialist; these are still changes in the design of the car;
- Long periods of downtime should not be allowed, the heater must be started at least once a month, in this it is similar to a car air conditioner;
- We can recommend installing a separate fuel tank for Webasto, this will prevent possible problems with the compatibility of the fuel preferences of the battery and the engine.
With proper use, Webasto lasts a long time and trouble-free, you can expect an approximate service life of 10 years.
Error codes and diagnostics
Diagnostics of a complex electronic device, such as modern Webasto equipment, must be performed by a specialist. However, the nature of the malfunction can be determined by some of the diagnostic codes read.
Codes are obtained either from the control panel display or through the standard K-line diagnostic interface. In the latter case, you can understand the problem much more deeply using the proprietary Webasto diagnostic program taken online.
It will more accurately reveal these and other faults:
- F02 – the flame goes out;
- F03 – supply voltage is outside the permitted range;
- F04 – fuel pump does not work;
- F07 – fan malfunction;
- F09 – spark plug (pin) failure;
- F10 – overheating;
- F14 – temperature sensor failure.
If the control electronics fail, the diagnostics will also not work; you will have to contact a service center. Although formally there is such an error code.
Types of Webasto
This concept is a common noun and the product was named after the company that first introduced it to customers.
Immediately after the presentation, this equipment gained worldwide fame, because it was created on the basis of high-quality materials and solved several eternal problems of motorists at once.
Now it is a mandatory element of the design of many new German cars and cars from other manufacturers. The development of technology has gone so far that devices are divided into 2 types:
- air;
- liquid.
The air one ensures warming up of the entire engine and even the oil, because in this way it is easiest to maintain a stable temperature level. It is worth considering in more detail the algorithm and operating principle of this type of device.
Liquid "Webasto"
Its operating principle is the same as that of a “dry” battery. The only thing is that the liquid autonomy is connected to the standard cooling system. Thus, the heat emitted by the “hairdryer” burns not only the interior, but also the antifreeze. The device also has a small pump that circulates warm coolant in a small circle. Webasto heats the system up to +40 degrees Celsius (at the same time, the oil in the engine also warms up). This is quite enough to confidently start the engine in severe frosts. Thus, the pre-heater significantly reduces the load on engine parts and attachments (battery, starter and generator).
