Better, Diesel-Fired Liquid Heater for 2011-2012 Leaf

[Oilpan4]

Yeah I saw that post. Very nicely done.
I may install an air heater, since the unit its self tends to be cheaper and more common.
But I would like to use a hydronic heater if possible.

[PaulSp]

Yeah i didnt find any chinese knock offs. And a genuine liquid heater would set me back 1000-1200 euro's.

The air heater takes some space, but i can use my trunk for my standard luggage(stroller and what not).

I have now filled my tank (2.5 litres) and reset the time and distance traveled so that i can give a diesel/km/time driven usageage.

Mounting an air heater is super easy, and i can use a remote and timer control to set the heater

[Oilpan4]

How far did the remote control work?

I might get that same air heater you have and add it to my wifes car.

[PaulSp]

I dont know. From my house to the car is about 15 meters. They say 100 metres but i dont think that'll do

[Oilpan4]

Wow, that will work.

[Oilpan4]

Well I broke down and got the Eberspacher Hydronic S3 diesel heater kit.
It burns 0.5L per hour on high and 0.2L per hour on low.

It was on sale for 614 fiat dollars with shipping and tax.

Probably be good for 10 miles on a cool wet day and up to 20 miles on a single digit night.

Definitely cheaper than trying to get a 12 soh bar heatpump leaf.

[BrockWI]

Have you installed it? How do you plan to vent it?

[Oilpan4]

Should be here any day.
I figure I will pull off under panels and install a 1 or 1.5 inch stainless steel pipe process pipe I got from the scrap yard and have it stick out the back like a regular car exhaust pipe.

[PaulSp]

I have mine for over a year now,

disconnected it through summer, fired it up again now due to low temps.

it still works like a charm, burned about 10-15L in total.

only problem i have at this moment is that the backlight from the screen is starting to dim, makeing it allmost impossible to read during daylight. But i only use the on/off button so u can use it 'blind'.

I actually want to remove it from the trunk, and place it somehwere in the engine bay, making it blow hot air via there into the cabin. if anyone has any idea's how to do that i'd love to hear em.

[jjeff]

I have mine for over a year now,
I actually want to remove it from the trunk, and place it somehwere in the engine bay, making it blow hot air via there into the cabin. if anyone has any idea's how to do that i'd love to hear em.

The issue I'd see with that would be the exhaust, I'd imagine if it were anywhere upstream of the cabin there would be the possibility of fumes getting into the car, unless you ran a long exhaust pipe all the way to the back, which could be challenging. It would be nice to tie the heat into the existing ductwork but again would be challenging. No I personally think the best and easiest solution is to just add heat to the back of the car for cabin heat and then use the existing HVAC to keep the windscreen clear and maybe supply a little heat to your feet. I wonder how they distributed heat to the old VW Bugs that had the Stewert Warner gas heaters and where they put the heater.....from what I remember the cabin heat came from the back floor area, not sure if/how they got it up to the windscreen....