Espar and Webasto Heater Resources and Information
Vanlife Customs sells, installs, and services Espar and Webasto heaters.
The Espar Airtronic and Webasto Air Top heaters are an internal combustion system. The system pumps fuel from you vehicle’s tank to the heater where it is ignited using a glow pin. Combustion air and exhaust fumes are routed in and out through the floor of your van. Cabin air is circulated over the heating element using an integrated blower motor.
Cabin Air Heater Comparison
Heater Fuel Types
Diesel Heaters
The diesel heaters have been used for years in commercial applications such as semi truck sleeper cabs and busses. Historically the diesel heaters have been more robust and tend to have less problems. They operate at higher elevations reliably. Later generation heaters from Espar and Webasto are equipped with automatic altitude compensation. A potential drawback to diesel is that in extremely cold temperatures, the fuel will gel and this can cause failures to start.
Gasoline Heaters
In recent years the availability of gasoline (benzine) heaters has increased. Espar and Webasto are both producing a reliable gasoline heater in the 2KW and 4KW platform which have altitude compensation either automatically or with manual adjustment. We have found that the gasoline heaters tend to be more temperamental due to the volatility and cavitation properties of gasoline.
Heater Use Considerations
Both Webasto and Espar heaters operate best when they are running on high, i.e. it’s 30° outside and you set the thermostat to 75°. We see the most problems when the the heater has to cycle on and off frequently.
Use at High Altitude
Heaters automatically decrease fuel to adjust for lower oxygen levels, but it's not flawless. Consequently, using your heater at higher altitudes increases the likelihood of soot buildup or ignition issues. Gasoline heaters are particularly prone to starting failures in elevated areas due to gasoline properties.
We have a few added recommendations for using your heater above 6,500’:
Run the heater on "high" and avoid idling. Using your heater at high altitudes leads to increased carbon soot buildup in the burner chamber, which can cause issues. To prevent this, run the heater for 30-45 minutes with a temperature setting at least 20 degrees warmer than the current ambient temperature. This high setting helps burn off accumulated soot, though expect some initial smoke from the exhaust, which should diminish midway through. Avoid idling, where the heater operates at low output near the desired temperature.
Ensure that you are NOT using "Low Heat Mode."
If "low" appears on your controller's home screen, it's activated. Access settings and scroll to deactivate it.
Installation Considerations
All heaters must be installed directly to the metal van floor and do require holes to be cut through the floor. If you have a finished floor where you would like your heater installed, the flooring must be cut away where the heater will sit. For this reason we recommend installation under the passenger seat if possible, or inside of a cabinet/storage box with ducting run to vents at desired locations.
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The typical installation location in a Mercedes Sprinter is under the passenger seat. This configuration works with or without factory swivels. If the factory auxiliary batteries are installed in that location, the heater can be installed in any place where there is clear access to the floor of the van from under the van.
Mercedes provides a factory installed auxiliary fuel tap that works well for the installation of a heater.
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The typical installation location in a Ford Transit is under the passenger seat. This configuration works with or without factory swivels. If the factory auxiliary batteries or auxiliary AC blower is installed in that location, the heater can be installed in any place where there is clear access to the floor of the van from under the van.
Ford provides a factory auxiliary fuel tap on the top of the fuel sender unit.The factory tap needs to be drilled out and the provided fuel line should be fed down into the tank and secured.
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Ram stopped offering diesel vans in 2018. Most of the heaters we install are Gasoline. Both the diesel and gasoline heaters can be installed under the passenger seat except when equipped with factory seat swivels. The heater can be installed in any place where there is clear access to the floor of the van from under the van.
Ram provides an auxiliary fuel tap on top of the fuel tank. Access is between the driver and passenger seat under the floor. The factory tap needs to be drilled out and the provided fuel line should be fed down into the tank and secured.
Heater Maintenance
Espar Heater Maintenance
Run your heater at least once a month on high for 30 minutes to circulate the fuel and keep mechanical parts such as the motor and fan from seizing up.
Yearly or 1000hr Service: This includes checking the fuel delivery system, combustion air and exhaust, replacing the atomizing screen and fuel filter and blowing out the heater with compressed air.
If you’re heater is smoking excessively, failing to start, or shutting off unexpectedly, we recommend an overhaul cleaning where the heater is removed, disassembled, thoroughly cleaned and put back together with new gaskets.
Webasto Heater Maintenance
Run your heater at least once a month on high for 30 minutes to circulate the fuel and keep mechanical parts such as the motor and fan from seizing up.
Yearly Service: This includes checking the fuel delivery system, combustion air and exhaust, replace the fuel filter and blowing out the heater with compressed air.
If you’re heater is smoking excessively, failing to start, or shutting off unexpectedly, we recommend an overhaul cleaning where the heater is removed, disassembled, thoroughly cleaned and put back together with a new burner chamber and gaskets
Troubleshooting your Espar or Webasto Heater
There’s nothing more frustrating than waking up in the middle of the night to find that your heater stopped working. But it happens.
Here’s what to check when your heater stops working:
Are there any errors or fault codes showing on the controller?
Later model Espar heaters have the ability to read the error codes that are saved on the ecu.
Webasto heaters with the SmarTemp Controller will show the faults on the screen
Does you vehicle have enough fuel in the tank?
Most installations are set up to ensure you don’t drain your vehicle fuel below 1/4 tank.
Are your house batteries supplying adequate voltage?
13.1v for lithium and 12.4v for lead acid.
Late Model Espar heaters with EasyStart Pro Controller
Your controller may read the Error H1 Air - This simply means that the air heater reported an error when it shut down. You need to dig deeper to get the actual fault code.
Scroll and select the settings icon.
Scroll over the clock icon - do not select it.
Long press the back arrow button.
The screen will show that you’re now in Workshop mode
Scroll to Error messages and select
Scroll to (H1 Air) and select
Scroll to Read and select
Note the error codes (share with the Native Team)
Press the back arrow
Scroll to erase and select
Use the back arrow to get back to the home screen.
Early Model Espar Heaters with Digi-Max D-1000 Controller
Press and hold the left button, press and release the service button (insert a clip in the pin hole). Keep holding left button.
Once you have the solid red light, release the left button.The LCD screen will then go to the Diagnostic Mode
When the screen says diagnose now, select yes.
Note the codes that come up.
When prompted to erase, select yes.
If you have a High Altitude sensor installed in the system, you will need to flip the toggle switch to diagnostic mode. Your installer may or may not have added this option. If you receive a message that diagnostics is not available then you will need to schedule a visit with an authorized repair shop for diagnostics.
Webasto Heaters Equipped with SmarTemp 2 or FX 2 CONTROLLER
With the heater off:
Press the square button
Scroll to Error Code
Press the square button to select
Scroll through and note the codes.
Codes can only be cleared using the webasto diagnostics tool.
Webasto Heaters Equipped with SmarTemp 3 CONTROLLER with Bluetooth
With the heater off:
Press the square button
Scroll to Error Code
Press the square button to select
Scroll through and note the codes.
Alternatively, download the webasto app to your mobile device, connect to the heater and select diagnostic. You can erase most codes through the app.