https://youtu.be/Z8z2ZmDtgnY

Do anybody ever installed one in a gasoline 4runner?
They are pretty common in the trucking world and also in Europe with smaller diesel car.

I spent about 1-2h per day in my truck on idle just to run the heater when it's -20c (-4f).
Also did some car camping in the winter.

Tried propane heater but they create alot humidity and electric heater will kill the battery in no time.


I know they exist in gasoline version but never seen one installed.

What do you guys think about it?

Hello,
I had such a heater on my previous car.
Good and useful addition. But for the runner I could not find a Climatronic chart and this heater is electrically connected to it.
Camping would be good, but the original battery will not be able to work for more than a couple of hours.
Because it consumes electricity in addition to the heater and the climatronic fan.
And the heater has a system that monitors the battery voltage and if it starts to drain below 11.3 volts the heater stops working.
If you have questions about how it works, I will answer you for 10 years I have used this model.
here are my topics on the subject


Questions about the use of 4runner 2016 limited in Europe (Bulgaria)


Please help for START+ Long Range Remote Engine Starter

Do you want the entire vehicle (engine and cabin) heated or are you fine with just the cabin being warm?

I think you’d be better off with an air heater rather than the coolant heater in the video. The coolant heater uses more energy (fuel & electricity) whereas the air heater uses less as it isn’t heating the engine block or running your blower motor.

I have an Espar D2 (essentially a diesel-fuelled 12 volt furnace) in a Sprinter van and that thing pumps out heat. It can warm up and keep the van interior at 20*C even in the winter. The van is insulated but otherwise empty so it’s a lot of air to warm up. The gasoline equivalent would be the Espar B1LC.

Yes, the air heater, couldn't find a video of it.

The engine heater version would be awesome to have but much more complex to install.

How user friendly the espar kit is? Did you do the installation yourself?

Never saw a gasoline heater operating, I wonder how safe they are. Fuel burn but gas explode...

@evgeniml I don't get why webasto heater aren't popular on car in Canada/USA but they are offered as option at European car dealership on many models.

I installed a Webasto gas heater in my Ford Transit camper. Easy install, and it has been great.

My only regret is that I didn't get the controller that has a remote! Sure would be nice to turn it on from bed in the AM. Instead, I usually pop out of bed for a split second when I wake up in the early AM, go back to bed for a bit, and wake up to a toasty van.

Kept it on all night at a low level once, just to see. Insignificant use of battery and gas; they're efficient.

There are a lot of well-documented installs on the Sprinter Source forum and on YouTube ( https://youtu.be/urSoTDy-pnc is a good one). Sprinters are a pretty easy vehicle to install as they are designed with these types of heaters in mind. I installed mine over the course of a week and could do another one now in a day.

Putting one in a stock 4Runner could be tricky simply due to the size of the unit and the external piping requirements (combustion air intake, combustion exhaust, fuel line). It wouldn’t be too hard if you had a permanent drawer system in the back that could contain the heater and allow you to install it right on the sheet metal floor. You would also have to drop the fuel tank to install a standpipe to siphon gas out of the tank.

Didn't realize the exhaust/gas pipe was right under it. I was thinking about hiding the unit it the jack compartment. I will take some measurements before getting too excited.

Yes, I already have a goose gear plate in the back. Only a fridge slider , no drawer... Yet

That's awesome. I wish they made an A/C version.

Keep us posted. Especially if you do the Webasto version...

Just an FYI, I talked with a Webasto Rep and a local vendor - The model they recommended was a Thermo Top C (12v Gas) P/N 5010202A

All was looking good until the vendor got back to me on the price, not installed - just for the kit is $1457.52. while I like the idea ,that price is a remote start installed + $1000 in fuel and wear and tear replacements.

If you are in a line of work/climate where you are idling for long periods it would make sense but if its just to warm the truck up in the driveway I have a hard time justifying that over a remote start - its less wear and tear as the motor is already warm but unless you start it every day in sub zero temps and plan to keep it for 500k+ miles I don't see there being value.

......I still want one, but not at that price point.

How crazy ya wanna get? These were an option on Porsche Cayennes for a few years, if you're good at fabrication... the units can be had for a few hundred dollars on ebay. Come up with some fabrication and have at it.

https://www.ebay.com/i/282541011456?chn=ps

Any update on this?

I’m use to a webasto but since I left Europe I was living in sunny states so there was no need, now it looked like it could happen that I’ll move north and I couldn’t see myself without.
Yes it isn’t cheap in the beginning but on a long term it save you money, cold start will be something in the past since they not only heat the cabin, the engine get warm too.
I can’t see that installation is a space issue, i seen all kinds of smaller vehicles with a installed webasto gas heater. Unfortunately the 4runner isn’t on the european market so there will be no specific installation kit.

how do they heat the engine too?

It heat up the coolant which is pumped tru the little coolant circle, warm water flows around engine and bring heat into the heater core as well so in combination with the vents it warm up your cabin.

That’s the reason I love that thing, no suffering with ice cold temperatures nether for me or the engine, otherwise there would be way cheaper solutions!


Thought that there is maybe a kit for european models like the Hilux or Land Cruiser which could be similar but as I check it out it appears that the only comes with Diesel engines.

oh it's a coolant heater, i thought webasto heaters were just air heaters