Webasto or Eberspracher in modern Porsches

[p993c4]

I'm planning to replace my daily driving car (M-B E) with a Cayman 2,7.
A Webasto or Eberspächer heater would be great in these winter times. Is it possible to install such an additional heater in modern Porsches (997, late 996, Cayman...)? Experiences?

[Britain Smith]

Why would you need anything additional to the stock unit on a modern car?

-Britain

[p993c4]

An additional heater is for me almost a minimum requirement for a car used for daily driving.
I have heard that there could be issues with the Porsche electrical system. At least some Porsche Centers even refuse to install Webasto or Eberspracher.

[JohnJL]

Where are you located?

I had an Audi TT convertable as a DD when I lived in CT and with the seat heaters on and heat on high I would fly down the Merritt parkway with the top down in snowstorms, comfortably. For fun.

I would be surprised if you needed auxillary heat in a modern coupe, unless you are doing a Top Gear trip to antarctica in it.

[Oh Haha]

Did the Porsche centers give you a really funny look when you asked about adding an extra heater?


You don't need one. Turn the seat heaters on and crank the blower on high and, unless you are a real life Montgomery Burns, you'll be frying in most any cold weather. Especially in a Cayman.

Our minivan uses one heater/blower and it does a fine job of keeping us toasty warm.

[p993c4]

I guess the replies so far reflect that some do not have snow outside their homes during the winter....
The additional heater would first of all be used for warming up the motor as well the coupe, before I start to drive the car. A very appreciated device when there are snow and ice around.
Many use electrical devices (e.g. Defa), but Webasto or Eberspächer provide "more freedom".

[Oh Haha]

I live in Michigan so , yeah we have snow on the ground and below freezing temps inthe winter. I still don't find the need for anything extra for heating.


Do you live in Alaska?

Modern cars simply do not need"extra" heaters to provide comfort. An engine heater is an entirely different product. You can find "stick-on" versions at most auto parts stores that plug in to a house outlet.

I would be more concerned about a good set of studded/snow tires if it gets that bad in your area. The factory fitted tires WILL suck in snow.

EDIT: I was going to post this question in the Cayman forum but I see you already did.

[p993c4]

Thanks Wayne, my original message was actually intended for the Cayman/Boxter forum but was accidentally added to this forum.

I live in Finland (Helsinki) and here winter tires are a must from December to March. At home I have nowadays my cars in a warm garage, but when I leave the car outside somewhere in the winter, a Webasto or Eberspächer with a timer & remote control is very nice.

[Oh Haha]

Yeah, I would say your winters are probably tougher than ours in Michigan, on the average.

I wish I could be more help .

Once the left coast guys wake up you might get some better ideas.

Good luck and enjoy your Cayman if you get one.

[Emery G.]

I can tell you that the webasto aux heater is an option on all Cayennes

[Grady Clay]

Originally Posted by Emery G.

I can tell you that the webasto aux heater is an option on all Cayennes

Verrry interesting.

Can someone post the information? I wonder if it is only a hot air heater for the cabin/cockpit or does it also warm the engine cooling system. If so, it might retrofit a water-cooled 911, Boxter, etc.

When Porsche introduced the aux. fans in the 911 heater (just ahead of the door post), I schemed using the gas heater and reversing the aux. fan flow to get some heat to the engine when the car was just sitting with only the gas heater on.

With a good battery (and a full gas tank), the Webasto P1018.04 will run for 8 hours and perhaps more at Vail, Aspen and Winter Park, CO at -10°F and lower. I had a ‘71S with one and left the ‘furnace’ running in the parking lot while skiing. I added a 3rd battery – 88 AH.


All you woose Southlanders need to remember we also use our 911s for skiing in the high country. There are also many in the ‘Far North’ who like a 911 year-‘round. Many did this with the “rusting-from-new” chassis. With current protection, a 911 can be an ‘all-weather’ car. A 911 is great in the snow and ice on mountain passes with all the 4WD SUVs in the ditch.

Best,
Grady

[Canada Kev]

Just to provide some point of reference here, I live in a place that gets real winters. For example, a couple weeks ago we were tied with some place in Siberia for the coldest place on the planet. It was minus 47C or something. That's about -50F. This is rather atypical for this time of year, but it was -30 to -40 C (-20 to -40F) for a couple weeks. It has now 'warmed' up to somewhere around -10 to -15C (a bit above 0F).

If you park in a garage at home you won't NEED an auxiliary heater, but I agree with what Grady has said.

The Cayman is a pretty small car inside and thus heats up easily, and the seat heaters are truly amazing in the cold. But if it is the engine you are concerned about keeping warm, there are other easier, less complex and undoubtedly less expensive ways to go about doing it. Mind you, a Webasto or similar does not rely on outside electrical sources. This can sometimes be a HUGE bonus and a necessity when you want heat where you can't plug your car in. At -25C, it takes about four hours to cool off to ambient temperatures.

In response to your question, I have not heard of anyone who has done this. I also suspect that a skilled installer would be able to do this without a heap of trouble. They really are pretty simple devices.

[Emery G.]

the aux cooler is actually a small gas burning furnace it uses gas from the tank and has its own exhaust system. On Cayennes it is mounted in the left fron fender well. the unit is plumbed into the cooling system of the car so when iti is opperating it will warm the entire cooling system and alow heat inside the vehicle even thought the vehicle is not running. on vehicles equiped with telephone you can "call" the system and tell it when to opperate and turn the heat on inside the car. http://www.webasto.us/oem/en/oem_auto.html#1685

[1990C4S]

Why not get a remote starter?

[Grady Clay]

Originally Posted by Emery G.

the aux cooler is actually a small gas burning furnace it uses gas from the tank and has its own exhaust system. On Cayennes it is mounted in the left fron fender well. the unit is plumbed into the cooling system of the car so when iti is opperating it will warm the entire cooling system and alow heat inside the vehicle even thought the vehicle is not running. on vehicles equiped with telephone you can "call" the system and tell it when to opperate and turn the heat on inside the car. http://www.webasto.us/oem/en/oem_auto.html#1685

COOL (or warm)

That is what I would expect from the current Porsche technology. Gone are the days when we did a fill-up before we parked in the ski lot and left the 911 with the furnace on all day. I only did this when the high temperature for the day was very 'minus'. There were a few occasions where I turned it on après ski, tied the skis on and retreated to the bar for a bit.

I suspect anyone so inclined can adapt this call-up and water-cooled technology to any Porsche.

I had a ’63 VW sunroof with a big gas heater and other goodies. I drove it from Denver to Aspen in a blizzard once – leaving a steaming trail. Nothing like a gas heater in winter.

Best,
Grady

[p993c4]

Thanks for your replies.

I have seen several modern Porsches with Webasto or Eberspächer installed, even if it's not recommended for at least 997, most 996, Cayman and latest Boxters.

However, if authorized Porsche Experts say it's not recommended, I respect this very much. On the other hand, I have a hard time to accept that such additional heaters are bullet proof devices for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi... but it's an issue, or at least some risks involved, for most modern Porsches.

[p993c4]

Please reply next in the the Cayman/Boxter forum.

(As mentioned before, the original message was originally original message was actually intended for the Cayman/Boxter forum but was accidentally added to this forum)

[pksystems]

uh? you should get plenty of heat from a water cooled car. It's how I plan to get heat in my '66

If you really need more heat tho... you can get additional heat exchangers that you plumb into the water lines to pull even more heat. That is just asking for leaks IMO tho. Princess Auto in Canada sell em.... Harbour Freight probably has something similar.