Poll: Webasto Heater Use

[Bullethead]

Just what the title says... Porsche's manifold heater is exceptional for an air-cooled car, yet most early 911s are equipped with an auxiliary gas heater. What's your usage?

[bob joyce]

here you go.... my 9/12 was a complete restoration sometime around 1985. I ended up keeping the car as a daily driver. I was driving from the east bay to santa cruz to surf some times 5 days a week. winter or summer. the water temp was 56- 59 degrees, and i would stay out for 2 or 3 hours. driving home in the winter it took forever to get my body temperature up. EASY had a 1967 9/11s body that was being junked out. I asked jim if i could buy the gas heater and he said sure, so i took it and the entire wiring loom out of the car and put it in my 1966 9/12. it was cristamas day that i had everything installed. i started it up and it (the webasto) ran. with incredible glee, i backed the car out of the garage and drove about 5 miles in total delight. then it stopped. i figured a glow plug and could not find one any were. I even let a mechanic (wont name) in oakland take a shot at getting it running with no luck.... it is still in my car and the blower fan works but thats all....

[frederik]

Great story — good thing wetsuits are a lot better now.

Sorry no comment on the Webasto since I don’t have one.

[davep]

A little off topic, but we had a VW411 with two gas heaters plus heater boxes. Air blown by the engine fan went through heater boxes, through the flat gas heater over the transmission, and into the cabin. A separate gas heater in the front trunk also blew into the front of the cabin. Talk about toasty; but you could watch the gas guage drift lower.

[bob joyce]

yes Fredric.. actually warmer surfing than snow skiing in general. maybe i was better off that it stopped working.... at least i got it to run..

[Longballa]

Grew up surfing in Santa Cruz and still wouldn't want that heavy gas bomb in my car. Unless you live in Austria or the North Pole why? You're in South Florida, right?

[bob joyce]

???????????????

[bob joyce]

no one it seems likes those heaters...

[Peanut]

The previous (long term) owner asked me if I used it, which I haven't as I live in S. Florida. It was apparently liked and used frequently.

On another note, I windsurfed a lot in the 80s and surfed a bit, but drove a GTI. And yes, wetsuits were so-so. But the heater in the VW worked pretty well for cold feet.

Scott

[John912]

Would never consider using mine, but on a side note Webasto heaters are still used today in city buses worldwide, including the US to provide supplemental heating because diesel engines have become so efficient.