Starting Your Heavy Truck or Equipment in the Cold

Hydronic Heaters like Webasto are the solution!

Over the past month, Calgary and southern Alberta have been blasted with some of the coldest weather on the planet – and when it’s creeping down to -40 on the thermometer, nobody wants to step outside and try to start their vehicle! Unfortunately, many industries can’t stop until it gets even colder than that, which means you might be doomed to the grind of plugging your truck in 24/7, hoping it starts (or having to call someone like us if it doesn’t), and waiting for it to warm up…all the while, knowing that the cold starts are doing damage to the engine.
 
Why not look into a better solution? After all, the service experts at West Tech Mobile have got one!

If you haven’t already heard about hydronic heaters like the Webasto coolant heaters, then you’re definitely in the right place! These heaters are connected to your coolant system, and greatly assist your engine’s starting capabilities in even the toughest cold weather – and you should/can even use it year round, as data has shown that up to 80% of all engine wear happens when trying to start it cold. Why put yourself, and your vehicle, through that stress if you don’t have to?
 
Think about how much more reliable, efficient, and durable your engine will be over the years with a coolant heater installed. You’ll save money on fuel and engine wear, by not starting it cold and having to idle so much, and that also means less pollution and maintenance overall, simply by adding this one feature! As a bonus, it even contributes to anti-theft protection, since you’ll no longer have to run your truck or equipment, unoccupied, before you get in it.
 
And speaking of getting in – you can also heat more than just your coolant! We can install an auxiliary cabin air heater at the same time, which will keep the air in your cab or sleeper warm even when the engine is not running. This means you don’t have to wait for the cabin heater to warm up the interior before you can comfortably be in there. It’ll be ready to go when you are! And it doesn’t matter if you start at 4 AM or finish at 4 AM, because you can program your Webasto to turn on and off whenever you need it to. Just compensate for the outside temperature when you’re setting times, and you’re good to go!

 
So how does it work? Well, for the low one-time cost of about $2295, we will install your Webasto coolant heater into your vehicle – and that price includes the peace of mind of knowing that our technicians are doing it right, with all the knowledge and software that they need to have everything running smoothly. It only uses 0.7 L of fuel per hour to run, which is approximately 20 times less than running your engine, and unlike block heaters, they do not require access to electricity or any external connections – so you won’t waste time hunting for an outlet or wondering who stole your expensive extension cord. All the heat generated by a Webasto goes into the coolant and circulates it, heating the entire engine block, rather than wasting heat out into the environment. It’s also noteworthy that if you start your engine cold, your DPF systems can clog up due to the exhaust soot. That’s why a Webasto system is perfect for equipment that’s sitting out in the elements, with versions that go up to 24 V for heavy-duty jobs. 

 
So next time it gets cold, and you’re cursing the frost and the snow as you hope your engine starts – give us a call! Because if your truck doesn’t start, not only are you missing work, but you’re paying a service vehicle to come out and help, which is like a double hit. Save your money for yourself, and install a Webasto coolant heater. You’ll be glad you did! Give us a call at 403-265-5699 to get started today.
 
For more information on Webasto, visit their website by clicking here.