Using Webasto or not?

J

johnmed

A2OC Donor
Morning all.

Just interested to know if other TDi owners are using their Webasto heaters or not?

This morning I could hear it running and it was needed with snow/sleet and 2.5°C outside temperatures.

I know it heats the engine to reduce wear etc, but I did notice my average MPG taking a hit.

Is everyone else setting their climate control to auto too?
 
It turns on auto when the temp is lower than 7c, it will affect your mpg slightly but it will warm you car quickly!
 
Yeah mate. I understand by selecting ECON, it prohibits the Webasto running.

Does anyone do without it?
 
Personally, I just accept the hit to my fuel economy. I'd rather that the Webasto was just allowed to operate as/when intended, for the benefit of the engine and my frozen bones!
On my way back from St Albans a week or so ago, the Webasto had to run most of the way home. I averaged low 70s rather than high 70s, so it drop in economy doesn't pain me too much.

Tom

PS: John, in your signature, it says 'un-OpeningSS'. Has your car got BrokenSky?
 
timmus said:
On my way back from St Albans a week or so ago, the Webasto had to run most of the way home.
Click to expand...

Oh... I always thought the Webasto was only used to assist in bringing the engine up to operating temperature. This been the main reason why I haven't bothered to try to get it working.

Andy B
 
andybaggies said:
Oh... I always thought the Webasto was only used to assist in bringing the engine up to operating temperature.
Click to expand...

The Webasto will continue to run as long as its services are necessary. On my jaunt back from St Albans, I had my cold-blooded sister in the passenger seat, meaning the climate control was set to 23degC. In order for that warm a cabin to be maintained without the engine temperature dropping, the Webasto had to run almost continuously.
When I'm on my own, I generally have the cabin temperature set to 20.5, which the engine can usually maintain without the assistance of the Webasto unless the outside temperature is well into the minus. As such, the Webasto will normally turn itself off after it's got the engine up to temperature.

For all that ageing Webastos have shown themselves to be not the most reliable of devices, I do like them and am pleased that my car has one of these rather than the later electric heater. Although the Webasto burns a little fuel, it's a more multifunctional device than its electric equivalent because it heats the coolant system rather than just the air blown into the cabin. I like that its operation is tied to both engine and cabin temperature. On my way home from work yesterday, when it was +5degC outside, my engine was warm within 2 miles.

Cheers,

Tom
 
Ah... I see now.

I'm the same as you and set the cabin temp to a lowly 20.5 and have pretty much always had the ECON button on for the time I've had the car. On really cold mornings it can take some time to get up to temp and I notice when the water temp is around 70c the heater then starts blasting hot air.

This non usage of the Webasto probably goes a long way to expalin why it now doesn't work on the rare occasion I may need it.

Will have to read, and act on, the Webasto repair thread, me thinks. http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?15463-Webasto-repairs

Thanks,

Andy B
 
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timmus said:
Personally, I just accept the hit to my fuel economy. I'd rather that the Webasto was just allowed to operate as/when intended, for the benefit of the engine and my frozen bones!
On my way back from St Albans a week or so ago, the Webasto had to run most of the way home. I averaged low 70s rather than high 70s, so it drop in economy doesn't pain me too much.

Tom

PS: John, in your signature, it says 'un-OpeningSS'. Has your car got BrokenSky?
Click to expand...

Hi Tom, yes my OSS in non functional. Was sold and bought that way. While I'd prefer it to operate. Can't say it not doing bothers me one bit.

So folks mainly use their webastos?
 
I run it when it is under 4c or thereabouts, or if the screen is frosty. I usually turn it off again when the coolant reaches around 60-70c. The car heater is set for 18c & minimum fan in order to keep the heat in the engine as much as possible.

In theory the mpg hit from burning the extra fuel is somewhat compensated for the engine reaching operating temperature quicker. A couple of years ago I roughly calculated that the break-even point was at about 10 miles (i.e., on shorter journeys using the webasto caused extra fuel consumption).

Ultimately I use it regardless of the mpg impact since a) having a warmer engine reduces engine wear, b) not having frostbitten hands means that I can control the car better :), and c) on journeys of a decent length, it shouldn't have a big impact anyway as long as it is turned off as soon as the engine gets warm enough.

I really like the webasto, it has character which an electric heater doesn't have.
 
driver8013 said:
What is a webasto heater?
Click to expand...

It's basically a little central heating boiler that runs on diesel. It's fitted to TDI75s from the beginning of production through to the end of 2002, or thereabouts.
It warms the coolant, meaning that it assists in heating the engine and the cabin. It only operates when the temperature is 6degC or below, and switches off according to a series of parameters... basically once it's no longer needed.

Tom
 
timmus said:
It's basically a little central heating boiler that runs on diesel. It's fitted to TDI75s from the beginning of production through to the end of 2002, or thereabouts.
It warms the coolant, meaning that it assists in heating the engine and the cabin. It only operates when the temperature is 6degC or below, and switches off according to a series of parameters... basically once it's no longer needed.

Tom
Click to expand...

So my TDI90 from 2004/2005 doesnt have it for sure you say Tom?

I have VOLVO ON CALL on my V60 Hybrid and i can control my car with heating/cooliing coupe, heating engine and turning seat warmer thru a app on my Iphone. Would love to have a webasto on my A2 as it does so much for me and my car just seeing on my volvo but heard webastos are super expensive to install retro. So i got deal on installing a electric heater for engine and coupe for a peice of £300 at my local Audi dealer.

How can I know for sure if I got this webasto cause i would rather fix it than installing a electric heater.

Just as I see this thread my collegue at work tells me he can turn on a webasto heater for is A2 from 1km of distance with a remote. He said he it didnt cost much to ad the remote part to a already factory installed heater.
I didnt believe but never got around to double check.

Any pointers on how to know whether I got it or not?
 
How can I tell it's running? Sat here waiting for SWMBO at station, 3 deg C engine running. Any clues? I'm still cold!
 
OK...

The Webasto lives above the front-right wheel arch. If you take the bonnet off, you'll see a silver box with a black lid on it; that's the Webasto. Not the greatest photo to illustrate what you're looking for, but this photo shows Jeff removing the Webasto through the wheel arch: http://www.a2oc.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9312&d=1336586379

I think I'm right in saying that no TDI90s have the Webasto because it was introduced after the change to electric auxiliary heating. This is certainly the case in the UK, but you're in Scandinavia, where such things are more frequently fitted to cars destined for that market.

The Webasto has its own exhaust pipe, which goes out through the undertray, just to the front of the right-hand wheel. When it's running, there's often a puff of smoke from this area. Even without the smoke, the exhaust can be felt with the palm of your hand. The device is also known for its miniature-jet-engine sound. Some are noisier than others, but you should be able to hear the device in operation by placing your ear in its general area, even through the bonnet.

It is true that you can add remote start-up to an existing Webasto burner, but it's quite expensive. As installed in the A2 TDI, the Webasto does not have its own coolant pump; the Webasto only runs when the engine's on, meaning it relies upon the engine's pump to circulate the coolant. In a remote-controlled system, an additional pump needs to be installed. Obviously there are additional ECUs and such, too.

Cheers,

Tom
 
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