Eberspacher or webasto?

[y4cht5]

Hi there, looking to get a diesel heater, wondered what is best, webasto or eberspacher? Many thanks

 

[pcatterall]

Hi there, looking to get a diesel heater, wondered what is best, webasto or eberspacher? Many thanks

Clearly you are a trouble maker!!! I'm surprised you have had no responses or perhaps folk are weary on the subject. I buy sell and repair these heaters. I get about 80% eberspachers so I see a lot more of them. I cant say that I find one make any better than the other, the webastos seems to run a little quieter. If you are buying new then I guess that the deal you are offered is at least as important as the make of heater. Second hand then it will be condition and price.
Good luck!!

 

[vyv_cox]

When I fitted my heater I was in Holland and contacted a local supplier whose main business was installing them in trucks. His advice then was that there was little to choose between those two.

 

[neil1967]

I installed a Makuni earlier on this year on my 40' yacht. I have not used it very much, but it seems to work OK, and is not too noisy. When I had a slight query with the installation instructions I spoke to the supplier and spoke directly with someone who clearly knew everything there was to know about them, and was very helpful. So, you might want to look wider than Webasto and Ebers.

Neil

 

[vyv_cox]

In the past the spares supplies of Mikuni were nowhere near so extensive as for Webasto and Eberspacher. Don't know if this is still the case, but worth checking. It's a nice unit though, a friend fitted one very successfully.

 

[pheran]

My last boat had an Eber, the current one has Webasto. The Webby definitely is quieter and has proved more reliable without the low voltage start up problems that seem to affect the Eber. But next time, it could be the other way around of course. Overall, I suspect the 'not much difference' view is probably OK.

 

[pvb]

Despite all the moaning posts on these forums, Eberspachers are incredibly reliable - which is why they're fitted to so many commercial vehicles. The problem is that people buy them secondhand off eBay, don't install them correctly, then moan when they don't work! The Eberspacher on my boat is over 20 years old and works fine, and spares are still available.

If you're considering installing a diesel hot-air heater, I'd strongly recommend specifying a silencer for the heated air (usually called a "process air silencer") as it will make the heater practically inaudible in the cabin.

 

[David2452]

I am factory trained on and an official dealer and service centre for the major players so can not only speak with the breadth and depth of experience that comes with that but with a little impartiality too. Different heaters are better suited to different customers and usage, vessel installed in etc so it is impossible to give a definitive answer as to which is best, or rather, which is most suited to your needs without a lot more information from you. So unless you have already done the research required and know what you need in terms of output, noise, consumption etc it is not possible to be definitive. So, here are a few generalities. They apply to blown air systems.

Webasto are a more sophisticated piece of kit (when it comes to control and integration) than Eberspachers and as such a little more expensive, if your vessel is large enough to require 3.5kw and up this is particularly true, parts cost, reliability etc are roughly on a par so little to choose unless you require the features.

Mikuni, quite agricultural with all the advantages and disadvantages that come with that, easy to service, fairly cheap spares and service, also when properly installed pretty quiet. I have a soft spot for them and sell quite a few.

Wallas, if quietness is what you are looking for then this is the way to go, they are claimed to have lower current drain but this depends on how they are used, because they work on a different principle to the others the glow plug is energised for quite a bit longer and this is the heaviest drain on all heaters, for long periods in use they draw less overall and certainly draw less when fired up but for short periods can actually use more current. They require two 75mm ducts and comparatively short exhaust runs so can be more difficult to install but build quality and reliability are both high. The most expensive of all, especially the accessories.

 

[michael_w]

Another vote for Mikuni. Good simple engineering, it works.

 

[sailorman]

The best ebber webasto is made by Mikuni

 

[john_morris_uk]

Despite all the moaning posts on these forums, Eberspachers are incredibly reliable - which is why they're fitted to so many commercial vehicles. The problem is that people buy them secondhand off eBay, don't install them correctly, then moan when they don't work! The Eberspacher on my boat is over 20 years old and works fine, and spares are still available.

If you're considering installing a diesel hot-air heater, I'd strongly recommend specifying a silencer for the heated air (usually called a "process air silencer") as it will make the heater practically inaudible in the cabin.

I agree 100%. Lots of people have moaned about Ebers on these forums, but many of the moans are about secondhand ones fitted badly.

Ours was new, fitted as per the instructions and continues to give reliable service.

(After 8 years of not touching it, it's started to be a bit smelly on startup so I'm going to run it on paraffin to give it a clean out. However this is not a criticism of the heater: it's never been serviced!)

 

[Paddingtonbear]

Often forgotten by boat owners in Power audits and perhaps don't like red diesel?

 

[claymore]

All you are going to get is subjective responses.
Eberspacher - especially in Scotland where it can be cool

 

[Vara]

I'm quite impressed with my Mikuni.

 

[pheran]

I agree 100%. Lots of people have moaned about Ebers on these forums, but many of the moans are about secondhand ones fitted badly.

Fair point but even where fitted properly, the comparison between lorries and boats in a post above is hardly appropriate. The marine environment is that much harsher, the units are used less frequently and servicing is more likely to be 'forgotten'. In a truck, they are fired up on a far more regular basis and servicing forms part of the main vehicle maintenance schedule.

ps I assume you're picking runner beans by the barrow load now?

 

[pvb]

In a truck.....servicing forms part of the main vehicle maintenance schedule.

Does it?

 

[David2452]

All you are going to get is subjective responses.

You didn't read post #8 then.

 

[pcatterall]

All you are going to get is subjective responses.
Eberspacher - especially in Scotland where it can be cool

Not all our responses have been subjective. Not all heaters in trucks are used regularly. Many are not on service lists.

 

[jerrytug]

I have just bought a 1970s Webasto HL3003-41 which apparently starts by clockwork not computer chip. Hopefully it should last for ever, being a solid old metal clunker made in Bavaria.
Still need a workshop manual or instructions,can anyone help,sorry for slight thread hijack, cheers Jerry

 

[V1701]

...Different heaters are better suited to different customers and usage, vessel installed in etc so it is impossible to give a definitive answer as to which is best, or rather, which is most suited to your needs without a lot more information from you...

Yes, my Eber (which was brand new & properly installed) didn't like being used through the winter, living aboard, run on red diesel for extended periods on low heat settings. It coked up badly & I daresay any of the blown air heaters would have done the same if used in the same way...