The engine of a car, particularly a diesel, must be kept warm in the winter because of how quickly they heat up at low temperatures. A speedier heating system for the engine has been devised, but that’s not all it does.
Webasto, Eberspacher, and Airtronic are common manufacturers of these devices.
You Are Watching: How Does A Car Auxiliary Heater Work? Updated 09/2023
However, Webasto is by far the most recognizable name in this industry. Wilhelm Baier, Stockdorf is a German brand whose name is derived from the person who founded the company in 1901 and its location. In terms of automobile auxiliary heaters and retractable vehicle ceilings, Webasto currently holds the top spot in the industry. Everything that is considered a convertible or a hatchback vehicle today has a Webasto roof.
Webasto systems are becoming more and more common in both diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles.
How does a car auxiliary heater work?
An auxiliary heater’s primary function is to fast warm the engine and coolant in cold weather. As soon as you get in, the car will start heating up.
Because the supplemental heating system can be activated via a remote control, starting the engine is not essential. Separate and linked auxiliary heating systems are both possible. When the engine is not running, the independent ones work as described above, while the parallel ones do so.
When it comes to diesel engines, which are notoriously difficult to warm up in the cold, parallel auxiliary heating systems are the norm. When the coolant reaches the optimal working temperature, the parallel systems automatically shut down. To warm the antifreeze, it takes no more than 5 to 10 minutes for either a parallel or an independent heating system to work.
The car’s fuel is used to power the auxiliary heating system. Pumped fuel is squirted onto an incandescent spark plug that ignites when the vehicle is started up.
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Fuel and outside air are ignited by an incandescent spark plug. Outside the housing, the coolant circulates through the engine via a heater pump, which aids in the circulation. Air conditioner coolant circulates through the radiator in an independent heating system, which heats the air.
Is it worth having an auxiliary heater in the car?
In the video below, you can see how auxiliary heating works if you’re a person who prefers to venture into the winter in a warm car with clean windows.
Aside from preventing the engine from being subjected to the damaging effects of a cold start, the auxiliary heating system also aids in extending the life of the engine by warming the coolant when it is turned on automatically.
Depending on where you reside, this may or may not be the case. Winters may be long and cold, so installing these heating systems may be worth it. In areas where winter does not exist and temperatures are pleasant for at least 10 months out of the year, an auxiliary heater will be of limited use.
In order to heat the engine faster, auxiliary heaters utilise the car’s fuel. All for the benefit of the passengers when it’s chilly outside.
Webasto or auxiliary heaters may be worth the investment if you live in a cold climate and have a diesel engine that takes a long time to heat up.
The fuel consumption of stationary heaters is kept to a minimum. They can run for a whole hour on just 0. 6 liters of fuel. As a bonus, because the engine is already warmed up, fuel consumption is cut significantly.
As a last resort, you might have an auxiliary heating system installed on your automobile, which can be done by specialized workshops.
Advantages of using a car auxiliary heater:
- Increased comfort for driver and passengers.
- Decreases engine wear.
- The engine is already heated, so no waiting time is needed.
- The snow and ice on the car will melt instantly.
- You won’t find frozen doors anymore.
- Low consumption.
- It can be installed on most cars.
- It does not pollute.
What risks does an auxiliary heater have?
Reliability is the sole risk that this type of system presents. You won’t be putting yourself at risk by installing an extra heating system in your vehicle. This system’s heating procedure takes place in a secure location away from the user’s home or office.
A side effect of installing this technology is a one-year reduction in the battery’s life expectancy. However, this is a small price to pay for your comfort.
Common problems and symptoms for a car auxiliary heating system
- Regarding the system reliability, the incandescent spark plug may lose its efficiency over time and, instead of eliminating clean gas on the Webasto exhaust, white smoke will come out, a sign that the spark plug burning is not correct. There may also be problems with the coolant recirculation pump, with the programming system and remote control.
- Internal memory errors. Usually, they do not affect the mode of operation.
- The heater may lock due to a number of duplicate codes. If the device crashes 4 to 6 times, then the system will crash and save an error report. The heater will not unlock independently. You must contact the company’s service and diagnostic center. The heater can block because of overheating.
- Heater errors may occur if the fuel is bad. If you fill the tank with bad fuel or fuel that does not have enough additives for winter conditions, it can cause some errors.
- Accidental shut down due to low or high voltage. When the voltage reaches 11.5V, the mechanism stops for a while. The voltage can be measured by the control unit. When the voltage is too high, it is measured by a heater. Usually, at 16V, the voltage no longer works, it stops and cleans. If the problem is resolved, the system will work again.
There are additional error codes and instructions in the manual that explain each error code. By connecting the auxiliary heater to a computer, the mistakes can be viewed.
How much do car auxiliary heaters cost?
The cost of installing an auxiliary heating system in your car is quite high, so keep that in mind while making your decision. Costs start at around $1000 and can go as high as $2000. There is no labor included in this figure, which is between $400 and $650.
Conclusion
There are several advantages to using either an auxiliary heater or Webasto for your car.
Installing and repairing this system is expensive, and it’s not cheap to do it in the first place. Nonetheless, a Webasto can be repaired by many specialists, which necessitates adjustments on the bank and on the computer, which many people choose to disconnect.
You should avoid purchasing a vehicle from a junkyard. If you’re looking for something that will keep you and your car warm in the winter, then a Webasto is an excellent option.
Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Car
