Espar Heater Question

jjoerger · Sep 8, 2010

We are thinking about having an Espar heater installed before winter comes.
We have been told that they will run around 20 hours on one gallon of diesel. Is that accurate?
Are they reliable or constantly breaking down?
Since they don't keep the engine warm at what outside temp would you have to idle the truck to prevent freeze up?
We do not have an APU but it seems like the Espar will pay for its self in one winter.
Thanks for the help and answers.

gotta go · Sep 8, 2010

I can answer one of your questions. I've had absolutely no maintenance problems.
I had my Espar installed last fall and ran it most of the winter. I have a 96" sleeper and never turned it up even a quarter of the way. Even though it's not recommended, I ran my Espar while driving. It kept the sleeper warm without creating a draft like the factory bunk heat.
I have an APU to keep my engine warm in the bitter cold but I ran it less than before I added the Espar.

The Enemy · Sep 8, 2010

JJ. We run an espar in our Sprinter. Our van is not partitioned so its like we have a 13 foot sleeper. This past winter we kept it between 1/4 to 1/2 power. It is as economical as advertised. As far as maintenance, there isn't much to it. Espar also has a model that heats us the engine coolant at the same time.

We also run ours going down the road when we are in really cold weather and one of us is in the bunk sleeping.

I would recomend you giving Ray at Espar of Michigan a call. He is top notch, will answer all your questions, plus be there after the sale. His number is (734) 947-3900.

jjoerger · Sep 8, 2010

Espar of Michigan is where we plan to have it installed.
Have only heard good things about them.

Turtle · Sep 8, 2010

I often drive the Sprinter with the Espar running when it's below 30 degrees, as that will keep the van warm and toasty whereas the Sprinter's own heater will struggle to keep the entire thing warm (no bulkhead) when it's that cold. On really cold nights, like in the teens or below, mine will go through about a gallon every 15 hours. Above 20 degrees the time goes up towards the 20 hour mark. In a truck, which isn't nearly as big a a Sprinter in most cases, 20 hours would be about right.

Do look into the engine block heaters and the ones that keep the engine coolant and fuel warm. Otherwise you'll need to make sure the fuel is treated and idle when it gets down to about 4 degrees. There are other issues (compressors freezing) at below-freezing temps, tho.

The only problem I had with mine, two of them, is the thermostat (rheostat, actually) went bad after several years, and since I often drive with mine on, and will run the fuel tank down below the Espar's fuel intake line, the Espar would continue to try and pump fuel from the tank, which resulted in an early demise of the Espar's fuel pump. So that one's my fault.