Webasto heaters

[harleyman_1000]

 Does anyone have and run their Webasto heaters? I hear they are the best, but not sure why? The bus that Im thinking about has radiators that look like electric wall heaters. How much fuel does this system use per hour? Any other info on this system would be helpful

[Zeroclearance]

Alot of us have them.   There are different models from 40K BTU to 105K BTU's..

Where is the bus going to be?  Midwest or Florida..

How well is the bus insulated??   You can eat 2 gals an hour...   

Pick your heat source and Btu needed.    Propane, diesel or heat pumps/ strip heat from genset.

[harleyman_1000]

 Up to 2 gallons a hour? Wow that is a lot! Why is the hot water heat system considered to be better? How much does a propane gas system use?

[wg4t50]

I have the Aqua Hot system, it uses the Webasto burner, it burns up o 1/3 GPH diesel fuel, is a wonderful system, does require annual servicing. Not the cheapest, but I feel the best for me.
Dave M

[buswarrior]

a slight misreport for fuel burn.

My DBW300 at 100k BTU or so is said to burn a gallon per hour flat out. You run what comes from the previous owner.

Check the various manuals for the fuel consumption in the technical specifics section.

http://www.techwebasto.com/heater_main.htm

For supporting a busnut house system, I would suggest that my big unit is too large for efficient operation.

I'd be more inclined to have one down nearer 40k BTU and rig the system and controls in a manner that ensured long burns, and avoided short cycling.

However, with a big one, heat is almost instant firing it up in arctic conditions, and as a block heater, 20 minutes tops to a Spring-like start...

however you want to float your boat.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[rv_safetyman]

Every time the Webasto and AquaHot subjects come up, fuel use generally comes up.  Some very high numbers are quoted.

I just changed my nozzle, and noted that it was rated at .35 GPH.  The nozzle is part number:  WPX-886-41A.   Here is a link to a page that lists the nozzle:  http://www.pdxrv.com/catalog/i1647.html (if you check around, you will find them cheaper, but this site had the nozzle details).

So, the maximum fuel that an AquaHot should use is .35 gallons per hour ***if*** it is running full time.

BTW, changing the nozzle and doing a quick service of a good operating system (no troubleshooting) is not a bad job.  Here is a good how-to site:  http://www.rvcruzer.com/aquahot.php

Jim

[luvrbus]

Jim it is in black and white on the AquaHot site 5 + gals a day for normal use they suck some fuel mine did lol,there is no point of having one if you are not comfortable  they

I kept my on 72 degrees,then you have the generator time to recharge the batteries  

While you can work on yours some people cannot so they line up at FMCA rallies for service work on those  

The 2 guys I know make a good living at FMCA rallies doing service work only

[harleyman_1000]

Does anyone know how much propane a average furnace uses a day?

[rusty]

I have no idea how much fuel my diesel heater uses. I have a 40 gallon tank that I use for the heater and the generator. The last three week trip to Florida the 40 gallon tank was full when we left. The generator ran maybe 4 hours. We spent time on the pole but were in cold enough place that the diesel side of the heater came on at night. The last day of the trip the fuel gauge was not down to 3/4. I always dump the generator tank down to less than a 1/4 of a tank and burn it thru the main tank. So I don't know how much I used. We have had the bus for over 10 years and I have never came in with less than a 1/2 of a tank on the heat side.
I like it well enough that I will but the same system in the 15 that I am building.

Wayne

[TomC]

Harleyman-I have a 35,000btu/hr propane furnace. When I'm in freezing weather (17 degrees is the coldest I've been in) the furnace will run up to 50% of the time. Propane has 84,950btu/gallon. Hence, if I'm using round figures 18,000btu's per hour, I'm getting 4.71 hours per gallon of propane.

Diesel fuel has 128,450btu/hr. Comparing equally with a Webasto and it also had a 35,000btu burner running 50% of the time, you would get 7.13 hours per gallon of Diesel.

Some btu figures- Diesel-128,450; B100 BioDiesel-119,550; Gasoline-116,000; Propane-84,950; Ethanol-76,330; Liquified Natural Gas-74,720; Methanol-57,250; Hydrogen-51,585. Electricity-3414 per kilowatt hour.

Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

Makes no difference Propane or diesel if you stay warm it will cost me I don't like the noise and smell of diesel fired heat AquaHot and Hurricane both make propane versions of their systems JMO 

I prefer the propane systems like Primus or Alde for the cost of operation and the quietness with no 500 degree exhaust temp on the outside but we all have our own ideas and do it different 

[opus]

If you are a maintenance geek, a Webasto is for you.  If you suck at maintenance, stay away from an oil furnace.

My nozzle is .35gph. You arent going to get anymore out of it than that.
Very rarely does one run straight, unless its exceptionally cold.

[Boomer]

I can't see two different types of fuel on board I like diesel for engine, gen and heat.  Love my Webasto on both buses, if the system is designed right the fuel usage is very thrifty.  How tight and well insulated your coach is and how much hot water you use enters into it too.  As for maintenance all I have done on my Eagle in 6 years is two fuel filters even though the book says to do more.  I understand there are a few problems with Aquahots, don't know anything about them.  I wouldn't give up my Webastos for anything.

[Gary W]

I have a Aqua Hot for seven years changed the nozzle twice and filter twice. On our trip to Yuma had a problem with the Webasto, It wouldn't fire so we ran it on electric on the way down. Not as hot as with diesel .

When I got to Yuma had  a repairman take a look at it , he said the motor is shot and a new one is $500. I said thanks I will take it apart, the motor was fine but the  bearings needed to be replaced.  Aqua hot wanted $120 for the bearing kit, went to local bearing supply store and got the 2 bearings for $6.00. Replaced them and still didn't fire.  Took it to another repairman that knew what he was doing, he took it apart and said I had a washer or two in the wrong place. He showed me a lot of things about my unit and did a complete test on it. It now is working again.

As for fuel usage It doesn't run all the time and uses about 1/3 gal. per hour. I really like the unit.

Gary 

[rusty]

I know better than to say this as the troubles are sure to start. I have changed the nozzle and inner fuel filter 3 or 4 times. and the fuel pump was changed due to a leak in all the years I have had the Aqua hot.

Wayne