Webasto exhaust smoke

Bunk heaters... don't have an Espar myself, but I'm willing to bet it has the same shutdown cycle.

 

Smoke? I was think about getting a diesel cab heater but I will just forget about it now. Electric resistance is fine for now.

 

Smoke? Ah, yeah... pass that blunt!

Only if you don't shut it down properly.

 

The main reason most these units do this is because the companies have them set-up to turn off once the ignition key is turned to the ON position. if you do not turn the heater off and let it go thru it's shut-down cycle (which burns out the remaining fuel and cleans the glowplug) it will keep the carbon build up and ruin it.

That said, i also understand why drivers do not run the shut-down cycle sometimes because who wants to sit in the cab of a truck for 30min w/o heat (and say 10* temps outside) while you wait for the truck to warm up. But that is the difference between company guys and o/ops as I do not have mine wired that way. I can run my heater and my truck at the same time, but usually I will just wait for the shut-down to cycle, then fire up the truck and go get breakfast while it warms up.

 

Shutdown - 5 minutes according to the ops manual...

 

Yes, but then the trucks engine requires it usually to idle for 15-20min in 20* temps to get to the point where you will get warm air coming from the vents. All together I was saying about 30min w/o heat in the cab.

 

Got BVDs?

Shutdown Webasto while getting ready for the day...
Start truck...
Do pretrip...
Visit head...
Get coffee...

... unless you're skipping the first three steps, your truck should be gettin' warm by now.

 

If it runs off of diesel I bet it needs to have a shutdown timer! All diesel engines I've ever used, the manual said to drop to low idle for x number of minutes then shut down! I kept my cat where when I stopped to do anything from fuel to load and at home it would idle for 3 minutes then auto shut off! Same with starting for the day especially in cold climes. It will idle for 3-5 minutes before shut down or before I put it in gear so oil is warming up and covering the parts that need it and it's not a sludge when I start to roll.I was just keeping those high dollar repair bills at a distance! A few minutes is a lot cheaper than being in a hurry and slamming it in gear while the temp is still at -20 degrees or shutting it off while the turbo is still sitting at 900*! I cringed every time a driver pulled in beside me and just shut it off or started it at any temperature and drove away! Not their truck so why worry? LOL

As for Esbar and Webasto they also have a shut down period looking at their manuals on line that should be followed.

As for the sitting in the cold. Lets see. Get up shut the unit off and get dressed while it's still "warm" in the sleeper. Don't open the curtain until dressed in all your warm stuff including the jacket!

Get out and do your pre trip. It has to be done and you're dressed for the cold so not a big deal unless your home is in Phoenix and anything under 90* is cold to you!
Pre trip for the outside is done so turn the truck on and idle for 2 minutes and then set the high idle.. (do not start the engine and hit the cruse! Wait for 2 or 3 minutes even if it's not your truck!) (would you do that to say your Harley? Start and drive?) ..and go in and eat or do your mourning hygiene routine and come back to the truck and it should be warming up. The only real cold was the outside part of the pre trip and the walk to the building! HINT: if it get seal cold where you parked put a piece of cardboard if you don't have a grill cover to keep cold air from blowing through the radiator! I would open or remove that cover after the truck warmed up. It allows the antifreeze to warm up faster if the wind isn't blowing through it! Also check the direction of the wind when you park at night and park with the trailer not the radiator facing into it! Especially if you are one who idles at night! Nice cold air blowing through the radiator can make it get pretty cold inside as the engine struggles to heat water in a freezer!

Finish the pre trip and the log book and hit the road! You allowed the bunk heater to idle down properly, the truck engine to cold start properly and you got everything done that needed to be done!

Sounds like it's gong to be another productive day! Stay safe!

 

I just had my ESPAR serviced at my local T-King dealer.... it quit last spring (after 3 years of service) and I broke the glow pin trying to remove it... a $140.00 mistake. I bought a new pin and fuel screen but couldn't get the screen out so i gave up for the summer...

My bill was $131.00... not too bad.

 

Does any of your units have a smell when they first come on? Mine has a weird smell and I'm not sure if its exhaust. I have a carbon monoxide monitor, but so far it isn't giving a reading...