TDI heater vs. Zerostart avail. @ Canadian Tire???

[TDIinRI]

While here in Canada, I saw that the Zerostart heater sold with the TDIheater kit on sale. It was on sale for only $52 canadian ($48 US with PST). Even with the not so favourable exchange rate and 10% PST, it is significantly cheaper to buy than the TDIheater at $99.95 US plus $10.95 shipping! SO here is my question:

What does the TDI heater kit give you that the Zerostart at Canadian Tire does not? Obviously the hoses, but what else. Is the TDIheater kit so good that is is worth spending an extra $60 US for the TDIheater version. Are the hoses I need readilly available? THe zerostart heater at canadian tire comes with a whole bunch of hose clamps and the braket.

Your opinions please fellow members

[tomo366]

Custom Bracket and Custom hose makes TDI Heater PNP so you don't have to make it fit

[MECAMINO]

The only thing left out is the 90 deg heater and coupler which I picked at Canadian Tire as well for an extra 15 bucks - as far as the brakets they are the same as the TDI heater version. The hose that you cut out between the thermostate housing and the oil cooler I use that piece to connect from the oil cooler to the Zero start unit so in all you need is a 90 degree heater hose, a coupler, and five clamps.

[ymz]

I assume that the Canadian Tire heater is the one without the check valve... any confirmation? C/T part number? Hose p/n?

Yuri.

[pghPAtdi]

The only thing left out is the 90 deg heater and coupler which I picked at Canadian Tire as well for an extra 15 bucks - as far as the brakets they are the same as the TDI heater version. The hose that you cut out between the thermostate housing and the oil cooler I use that piece to connect from the oil cooler to the Zero start unit so in all you need is a 90 degree heater hose, a coupler, and five clamps.

Ditto, the zerostart heater comes in a package with 8 band clamps, two "L" brackets with two nuts and two bolts. One to hold the two brackets together and one to hold the bracket to the heater. From what I've seen the tdiheater kit uses the same brackets from the kit bolted together the same way. I then bought the hoses from Crappy tire, one 90 deg p/n:4105 and one 90deg p/n:4102 7 bucks each and like meca said the coupler too. (98 cents) I bought the heater from a diesel parts place for 45 bucks cdn.

Alot cheaper than 100 bucks. And as far as plug and play, if you can cut a piece of hose and turn a screwdriver the home made kit is just as easy. The scraps of hose left over can be used to wrap around the lines to prevent any rubbing.

Dave
This is the zerostart #1000w p/n:3305002, Cdn tire number should be 30-3295. The place where I bought mine uses the zerostart number in their system, I found that to be common when I was searching. No check valve.

[NoSmoke]

[quoteAlot cheaper than 100 bucks. And as far as plug and play, if you can cut a piece of hose and turn a screwdriver the home made kit is just as easy. The scraps of hose left over can be used to wrap around the lines to prevent any rubbing.

Dave

[/QUOTE]

That's exactly what I did (02 Golf, 1500 Watt) - worked fine. Save your money.

[Darren_J]

OK, after seeing these posts I called Temro themselves to verify and spoke to a fellow named Michael in the engineering dept.

Temro (Zerostart) (And TDIHeater) 3305000 series rectangular tank circulation heaters PN 3305001(750W), 3305002(1000W), 3305003(1500W) DO NOT HAVE any type of check valve whatsover.

41 series heavy duty circulation heaters DO NOT HAVE a check valve.

8000 series cylindrical circulation heaters DO HAVE a check valve. PN 3308001(750W),3308002(1000W),3308003(1500W)

The only thing that TDIHeater does is use a custom hose (meaning trimmed up a bit) on top of the heater to eliminate the 2 hoses being coupled together, and I happen to have the heater and hose in my hands at this moment that I sourced locally at Acklands-Grainger. There is a bracket included in the heater kit along with hose clamps etc. I found out that the upper 1 pc. hose is used OEM on 10 different Ford and KIA vehicles. It can be found under NAPA + Carquest PN 10785, AC Delco 18044L, Gates 18785, Dayco 71678 etc. You can ask for a heater hose for a 1983 Ford Mustang 4 cyl Turbo and it will be the same hose, just needs to be trimmed on the ends a bit.



Heater $50-75, Hose $18-22,(CDN Funds). Canucks, that's all you need. I hope this clarifies it once and for all.

PS. Canadian Tire has them under PN 30-3295-8 for the 1000w Heater and PN 30-3296-6 for the 1500w Heater. If they don't stock it on the shelves ask someone at the autoparts desk to order one using the PN.

[04Wagon]

I was told the same thing by Zerostart/Temro/Phillips no checkvalve so I purchased the unit from CT and took the heater apart and nothing in the tank except the heating element, check this link for a schematic of the inner workings of the heater by clicking on "Automotive Aluminum Tank Heaters".

[red golf tdi]

TDIheater should've known about this check valve baloney, I hope it's not just scaremongering to maintain sales.

It's why we use the ZeroStart model <u>without</u> the check-valve, coolant must be able to flow both ways through the heater. Some ZeroStart models and many other brands contain the check-valve.

What does the TDI heater kit give you that the Zerostart at Canadian Tire does not?

-Custom Hoses for exact fit (Both upper &amp; lower are specific to the year and model TDI)
-Rub Protection on the hoses for longevity specific to the year and model TDI
-Custom Stainless Steel Laser-Cut Bracket specific to year and model TDI (on most kits)
-Drops in with simple hand tools so it works, guaranteed
(Tank heaters need to be properly located and installed or they will not work.)
-Step-by Step Instruction booklet with color photos makes it very easy to install

-Engineered with the following kept in mind:
-It must appear factory, like it was designed to be there with clearance around the unit
-It must have a low or no impact on the cooling system (no cutting or splicing required)
-It must be mounted in such a way to minimize engine vibration
-It must consist of top-quality components for at least a 100,000 mile service life
-It must not have a check-valve

[Darren_J]

That's the only way that they come from the factory my friend, without a check valve. Is JC Whitney putting check valves in Zerostart heaters by themselves? Just trying to clarify, seems to be a bit of confusion about these heaters floating around the Forums here.

[red golf tdi]

Is JC Whitney putting check valves in Zerostart heaters by themselves?

JC Whitney only sells the 8000 series ZeroStart which has the check-valve. They do not sell the 5000 series I use.

[Darren_J]

I have no idea what JC Whitney is peddlin' then. They say Zerostart, with the picture of the rectangular 3305000 series tank, but have some funky pn attached to it. Must be their own internal numbers. There is a Zerostart 3308000 series heater, but it is cylindrical in shape, and they are not showing that picture. It uses a check valve according to the Zerostart catalog. If they are showing the 3305000 series picture on the order page, with the rectangular tank that doesn't use a check valve, but sending you the cylindrical 3308000 series heater that does use a check valve, then they need to correct that to end all this confusion once and for all.

[Gazoo]

God I luv this forum.

[tdi_tim]

I bought a TDI Heater this year. It was a great kit. I went online, couple mouse clicks, CC number. Thing shows up a few days later mostly assembled with detailed instructions, a swift bracket pre-adjusted and all the hose protecters in place. I knew that as long as I had all the proper tools at the time, I wouldn't need to run around fetching parts at stores or cutting hoses to size while my coolant is running out all over the garage floor.

That kind of convenience is worth $25 - $30 extra bucks, no question.

-Tim

[pghPAtdi]

God I luv this forum.

It's fun isn't it.