Delica parts and willing mechanics in Calgary area

[BCDelica]

What about the Espar - http://www.espar.com/html/applications/ ... units.html, isn't the price better?

[JMK]

Thanks guys, that heater option is something that I've been pondering for some time. I have a co-worker that has it and he's a happy camper - literally. He's also got deep pockets. But I suppose as long as you stay comitted to Diesel vehicles this is one piece of kit you could move from one to the other, and eventually take it to the grave with you where it would continue to keep you warm...

[JMK]

THis would bring us to the question of block heaters. I have a Honda 1000 Watt generator that is rated for continuous 900 Watts, Max 1000W at 8.3 amps. ANother option that would be cheaper than the Webasco would be to fire up the generator when you get back to the vehicle and plug it in provided:

- you did not lose your gen set to thieves due to a trailhead break-in which happens regularily in our neck of the woods and Rogers Pass.
- I could find a block heater that is max 1000W that draws 900W or less continuous.

The circulating types of block heaters would be great, but I understand they will only operate with a non-vacuum type circuilating system.

-Anyone got any experience with block heaters for the Deli?
-ANyone know of the system is vacuum type?

[JMK]

I made an inquiry to the remote start technicians about the glow plug question and they responded:

Answer from Autostart.ca:Does the ignition switch work on 6, 12 or 24 volts?

If it works on 12 volt the remote starter can be interfaced with the vehicle since the glow plugs will be control through the PCM and not the remote starter.

Our cold weather mode is set by time interval of 2 hours for a maximum 24 hours.

To this I replied:

Thanks Richard,

I’ll check in the Delica forum, but I believe it is 12V. If it does get controlled through the PCM, I’m wondering if the remote start will just do the same thing as the key does, E.G. only activates the glow plugs for 2 seconds and then shuts off.

Regards, John

[Erebus]

-Anyone got any experience with block heaters for the Deli?
-ANyone know of the system is vacuum type?

I got my Delica this August. I had Pro-Active put in a "lower rad hose coolant heater" in Oct. Haven't really needed it yet, so don't know how well it works. Part cost was $55, and install was 1.7 hours.

Regular block heaters (that go into the frost plug in the block) don't seem to be an option, at least according to this forum.

If I was regularly going to park at Bow Summit, or any remote spot, I'd spring for the tobasco (webasto) heater, especially with the timer. That way, I'd get back to my Delica to find it nice and warm.

[delicat]

Is there any issues with turning your ignition key on but wait longer before starting, like 30-60 sec?

I grew up in Abitibi, way up North in Quebec where we still get -40 at times. If temperature was on the colder side that's what l'd do with my little '84 Rabbit Diesel and she kept firing up. Any thoughts?

Delicat

[Green1]

I'm not convinced that waiting helps, after the glow plugs shut off you're essentially letting it cool down again, on a really cold day it might help to run the plugs 2-3 times, but I don't think there's an advantage to waiting, and there may in fact be a disadvantage.

[JMK]

A guy in Calgary just sold his Webasto for over $1,000.00 on eBay. The Webasto is definetly convenient, but doesn't keep you warm while you are camping in the vehicle. If you don't know what time you are returning to the vehicle within a 2 hour window for setting the advance timer, you need to wait till you get back to the vehicle before you fire it up - it draws too much battery power to leave it going over indefinite periods. So you get back to your vehicle. And then you wait. For $1,000.00 for something that has a limited range of uses, that buys a lot of patience for alternative measures.

Well, here's what I've decided to do for the time being:

1: Install 750W circulating heater (not Lower Rad hose heater).
2: Install Remote Start system that supports GLow Plug delay and with cold start option (starts engine every 2 hours).
3: Carry my Honda EU1000i Generator.

If #2 isn't working, or returning from multi day trip where #2 isn't an option, I will fire up the generator and plug the #1 into it, make a brew and sit back and enjoy the scenery for an hour while it warms up. The generator will activate the block heater, and if I need it, will charge my batteries, something the Webasto will not do. When I'm camping, I can plug a 750W electric heater into the generator for heat as well.

[Green1]

but doesn't keep you warm while you are camping in the vehicle

Webasto heaters do precisely that, they were originally designed for long haul truckers so that they wouldn't have to run the engine all night.

even if you don't know exactly when you will return to your vehicle, set it for a 2 hour run before your earliest likely return, if you return at the start of your "window" the vehicle is perfectly ready to go, if you are an hour or 2 late, it will still be fine, keep in mind that once an engine is warm it will stay that way for quite some time (often 6 hours or more)

The Webasto is definitely the way to go... if you can afford it.

[JMK]

Oh I fogot, there are the Webasto units that truckers use in their cab and boaters use in their Yachts to keep warm. Then there are the other units such as the one a co-worker has that circulates warm water through his system and apparently the windows are defrosted when you return, but he said you cannot use it for camping, something about it has a 2 hour maximum run time at one go? I was thinking of the latter which is apparently the cheaper. The guy that was selling on eBay had one of each, the former was listed as a Buy it Now item for $2,000.00, I think the other went for $1,000.00.
(http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... :IT&ih=014)

[Green1]

the 2 hour limit is a guideline near as I can tell, it's all you would ever need to warm up the vehicle, and the things do use both diesel and electricity to run, as a result they don't recommend running it too long for fear of a dead battery, as long as your battery can handle it though you should be able to run it more

[Jungle Jon]

According to the Webasto website, they say that you should drive your vehicle for the same amount of time that you run the heater, to allow that battery to charge back up.
There is also two types, as JMK described. One heats up your coolant, which heats your engine block and defrosts your windows, but does not produce enough heat to keep the interior warm. Another blows warm air into the interior of the vehicle, but does not warm the engine.
I don't know how I did it, but I convinced my better half that getting a Webasto would be a good idea, It's getting installed in a week or two.

[highseas]

Hey Jon. Who are you getting to do your Webasto install in Calgary? I called Eskimo Refrigeration here in Edmonton and they'd install a Blue Heat for $2500 (but also said they've never done it to a Delica before). Just looking into my options...

[Jungle Jon]

I'm getting Wayne at Luxury Imports to do it, he's done them before but apparently they are tough to do on a Delica because of the cramped engine compartment.