Eberspacher or webasto?

[claymore]

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

Ok.
The most positive responses are going to be quite subjective if they come from people like me. We have an eberspacher which is a joy and delight. It has never once let us down and on dark chilly nights in Scotland, it gives a lovely warmth to the boat.
As we have never used a mikuni or webasto, good as they might be, I am not able to comment.
Hope that clarifies matters

 

[pheran]

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

The transport manager of a local haulage company (a neighbour) advises differently. All the domestic equipment equipment in their modern 'sleeping cab' trucks are checked and serviced regularly. Having the microwave or heating fail would certain p*ss his drivers off but poisoning them with CO emissions from a faulty heater would certainly raise things to a different level!

 

[David2452]

They do tend to be serviced as per schedule on truck fleets, in fact it's one of the few situations that on the rare occasion they reach 10 years in service that the heat exchanger is replaced. If I suggest that to a boat owner with a 15 year old unit all I get is a sideways look.

 

[pvb]

They do tend to be serviced as per schedule on truck fleets, in fact it's one of the few situations that on the rare occasion they reach 10 years in service that the heat exchanger is replaced. If I suggest that to a boat owner with a 15 year old unit all I get is a sideways look.

Any idea of typical annual usage (hours) in a truck, compared to a boat?

 

[David2452]

Any idea of typical annual usage (hours) in a truck, compared to a boat?

Not really sure of the relevance, like motors, regular usage, more hours and servicing on road vehicles tend to be better for them than sitting around in a damp environment, given sporadic use, poor sevice and lesser quality fuel. Appples and oranges really. That said I am often surprised at the hours run when I plug my laptop into some boat heaters.

 

[pcatterall]

Not really sure of the relevance, like motors, regular usage, more hours and servicing on road vehicles tend to be better for them than sitting around in a damp environment, given sporadic use, poor sevice and lesser quality fuel. Appples and oranges really. That said I am often surprised at the hours run when I plug my laptop into some boat heaters.

I have seen many D1LC units from british gas vans which looked like they had never been switched on. These heaters were fitted as standard but many of their vans drivers never had the need to use them. Most boat owners ( I suggest) would fit them because they needed to use them and often for long periods.

 

[pvb]

Not really sure of the relevance, like motors, regular usage, more hours and servicing on road vehicles tend to be better for them than sitting around in a damp environment, given sporadic use, poor sevice and lesser quality fuel. Appples and oranges really. That said I am often surprised at the hours run when I plug my laptop into some boat heaters.

You specifically mentioned replacing the heat exchanger, and talked in terms of years of age. I'd have thought that replacement of the heat exchanger would be related to hours of use, rather than absolute age, hence my question.

 

[David2452]

No Pete, its a time related operation, either that or following an overheat situation when if it was serious they have to be replaced if any warping is evident.

 

[pvb]

No Pete, its a time related operation, either that or following an overheat situation when if it was serious they have to be replaced if any warping is evident.

So even if the heater's hardly been used, the heat exchanger still needs replacing after x years? What happens to it, does it die of boredom?

 

[David2452]

I have seen many D1LC units from british gas vans which looked like they had never been switched on. These heaters were fitted as standard but many of their vans drivers never had the need to use them. Most boat owners ( I suggest) would fit them because they needed to use them and often for long periods.

The hours I see recorded in ECUs shows me that boat heater hours vary massively from surprisingly high to surprisingly low, mostly at the low end, only live aboards use them anything like a truck heater, even then they have another form of heating and use them as a quick warm up in the morning and evening until they get the stove going. (workshop vans are a different story) A truck heater often runs around 3k hrs in a year, far more than most boaters are even aboard. Most boaters use their craft for a short season and only at weekends, trucks are a 24 / 7 operation.