The best engine preheater in 2021 - Webasto, Eberspächer or Binar?

The engine preheater heats the liquid in the car's cooling system, due to which heat is generated. Performance is one of the most important parameters, showing how quickly the device can reach the required temperature. It also has a direct correlation with fuel consumption and dimensions, since the design of the nominees we are considering is almost the same.

Preheater performance is measured in watts of heat generated. It is indicated in the range from the minimum to the maximum value, but Binar has only one mode. This can be clearly seen in the table:

Webasto looks the most attractive here. It has the highest maximum value, but its lower threshold is also higher, which means that at any ambient temperature, heating will occur faster.

We will give the second place to Eberspächer. It also works in a certain range, but lower than that of Webasto. And Binar has no range at all and works only in one mode, giving out 5 thousand watts of performance. This parameter somewhat narrows the capabilities of the device, but by and large, this does not really matter, since even in severe frosts it will do its job perfectly.Be that as it may, this is the third place in the nomination.

The starting preheater is connected to the vehicle's fuel system. It has its own pump that pumps gasoline into the combustion chamber. There it heats up from the ceramic element and flares up. For devices with a heat flow range, the fuel consumption varies depending on the selected mode. Binar, operating only at maximum power, will always have the same fuel consumption. That is, if it is only -4⁰ outside, the heater will produce 5 thousand watts of performance. True, it will take less time to warm up the engine and interior.

The most economical among our nominees is Eberspächer. With a performance of 1800 watts, that is, in the minimum mode, it will consume only 0.15 liters of fuel. At peak load, this value increases to 0.57 liters. Webasto is more voracious: 0.24 liters at the lower load threshold and 0.72 liters at the top. There is already a clear correlation between fuel consumption and performance. Both values ​​grow evenly to each other.

And Binar becomes the most voracious. He eats 0.7 liters per hour, although his performance indicator is slightly lower than that of Webasto. In addition, it always works at maximum load. It will warm up the motor faster, so the consumption will be approximately the same as other models. But in any case, this is only the third place.

It doesn't matter if your car is petrol or diesel. The heater, in addition to fuel, also needs electrical energy to run its own pump. The principle of operation of such systems is that they work when the engine is still turned off, which means that the battery is not charging.

The voltage consumption also depends on the number of modules that consume electricity. For example, an Eberspächer equipped with an additional fluid pump consumes 42 watts. Webasto has a lower value - 35 watts. And Binar, like Eberspächer, will take 42 watts from the battery. At the same time, it has a peak load that occurs at the time of launch. It lasts no more than 100 seconds, and during it the device will eat up 122 watts, which is a lot.

That is, Binar becomes the most voracious again. Putting it on your car, it is very important to monitor the condition of the battery. It is advisable to recharge it regularly and monitor the fluid level, if possible. And the most economical for the onboard battery will be Eberspächer. Even its maximum value is lower than that of Webasto. A huge advantage associated exclusively with the design solutions of the company's engineers.

The engine preheater is a full-fledged module, for the installation of which you need to find a place under the hood of the car. Accordingly, the larger it is, the more difficult it will be to do, and the best option is the one with the smallest dimensions and total weight. Consider our nominees in the table:

As you can see, the overall dimensions of all are almost the same. Eberspächer wins over Webasto only a couple of centimeters, which is not at all critical. Such heaters will fit in almost any car. Binar is not inferior to them in this, but completely loses in terms of weight. It cannot be said that this is a very critical value, but in fairness it should be noted that German engineers managed, all other things being equal, to significantly reduce the weight of the device. While Binar weighs almost three times as much. Again, third place, and the winner in the nomination is Eberspächer, weighing only 2 kilograms and outperforming Webasto in terms of length and height of the structure.

The preheater is a rather expensive device, but if the equipment is as complete as possible, and you do not need to buy anything, then it is partially leveled. Webasto becomes the richest in this regard, or rather, a specific Webasto TT-Evo Comfort + model.The plus in its name just tells us that this is the most complete version, which includes a complete set of mounting modules, the device itself, as well as a GPS module that allows you to control the device remotely.

Eberspächer has a no less rich package, but only if you take the supplemented version with EasyStart Text +. By default, it is not included in the delivery list, so the device goes to a well-deserved second place. And Binar becomes the poorest. In its basic configuration, not only is there no remote module, but also there are no relays for connecting to climate control, a muffler with an outlet to the exhaust pipe, and all parts related to exhaust gases. However, if your car is not equipped with climate control, and you need an engine heater, then it makes no sense to overpay for unnecessary options.

Any starting preheater can be turned on directly from the car interior. The corresponding buttons are displayed in the salon. But we live in the 21st century, the century of remote control and smart electronics. Why leave the house to turn on the device when you can do it without even getting out of a warm bed?

The Webasto heater is controlled using its own remote control. It is a small device similar to a pager. It has several buttons and the most intuitive interface. Here you can set a timer, planning it for a whole week, or independently launch it. Everything you need is already included in the basic package. You won't have to buy anything.

Binar has exactly the same remote control. Also the most understandable and convenient. And if you decide to buy a GPS module for it, then control from your phone will become available.You will simply send SMS to the set number. Not the most modern solution, but you don’t have to carry another keychain with you, which is probably already enough on a bunch of car keys.

And the best solution to this issue is offered by Eberspächer. Its preheater is controlled from any smartphone. Just install the application and that's it, you have full access to the device. Through it, you can start and stop the device, change modes and set a timer with a scheduler for several days or even weeks.

All motorists know that the battery in the car only nominally produces 12 volts. In fact, this value can vary significantly depending on the wear and tear of the battery, its type, and even the ambient temperature. All preheaters have protective options that do not allow the battery to be completely drained and protect sensitive electronics from excessive voltage in the on-board network.

Binar has the best indicator of the working range. It will not stress the battery if its power output falls below 9.5 volts. Also, if 16 volts is exceeded, the protection system will work, blocking the flow of current. Eberspächer has approximately the same parameters - from 10.5 to 16 volts. Similar, but still higher, which means he takes second place.

And Webasto loses here. It can discharge the battery up to 6 volts, that is, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the battery.Having missed this moment a little, you can easily run into a situation where in the morning you will not only be unable to turn on the heater, but your car will not start at all.

Specifications and manufacturers' assurances are, of course, good, but it is also important to know what real users and professional auto mechanics think about a particular model. Analyzing various thematic forms and sites, you come to the conclusion that the best option in terms of price-quality ratio is Binar. Yes, it is inferior in a number of characteristics to its German counterparts, but it is cheaper and easy to maintain. Sooner or later, any heater will require repair or maintenance. With Binar, this process will be the easiest and cheapest.

And the most controversial opinion about Eberspächer models. The fact is that until 2000, the company produced heaters with a unique ignition system. It was only used by this brand. We will not go into technical details, we will only say that Eberspächer models are very demanding on fuel quality. If the gasoline version does not stand out so much against the general background, then the diesel one clearly lost to its competitors. He worked only with high-quality fuel, and if the diesel fuel was dirty, then this quickly disabled the device. Note that the manufacturer has long changed the design of the device and now it is identical to the one used by Webasto and Binar, but, apparently, users still have an unpleasant aftertaste.

In terms of quality and reliability, Webasto looks the most attractive. Not without reason today all starting heaters are called by his name. But at the same time, it is practically the most expensive both in terms of acquisition and maintenance. Maintainability here is low, and it is better not to disassemble such a device yourself.

One of the most important nominations, which many pay attention to in the first place. Without much surprise, Binar wins here. This is a Russian brand. It is produced at a factory in Samara, which is why it costs less than its German counterparts. The average market price of a device without a GPS module is 32 thousand rubles.

Webasto is more expensive - about 45 thousand, but this is the price for a complete set, since we are considering the Comfort + model. And Eberspächer goes to third place. It costs only a thousand rubles more than Webasto, but its equipment is more modest.

Despite the fact that the engine preheater from Binar took only third place in the comparison, it can be called the best value for money. In terms of basic parameters, it is inferior to competitors, but it also costs much less, and its service will not horrify you. In addition, both petrol and diesel versions look equally attractive. It was designed specifically for the local fuel and works great with it. While the Germans are quite picky.

According to the cumulative score and the number of victories, Eberspächer wins. This is a reliable, quality heater, but many users still try to avoid it, bearing in mind that the brand used to be less efficient. And Webasto kept an honorable second place throughout the comparison. On the cumulative score, he was only slightly behind his closest competitor.

This is not surprising. The two brands have always gone head to head. They appeared on the market almost simultaneously. We were the first to develop and implement a pre-heating system and constantly come up with new products. But they are also priced accordingly.