3 way valves.

[Guest Close David]

I am looking to do a 2 tank conversion on my car and looking for 3 way valves, rather than the traditional 6 port.

What I would like to do is have a valve I can use to select which tank I want to feed from, another to select the return tank and another valve to select tank return or looping of the excess fuel.

I have seen 3 port valves on ebay and different web sites but the cost of over $50 seems like a big ask for a simple component to me. I would prefer solenoid valves but If I could get some manual ones at a more realistic price I would grab some of those for testing purposes at least.

I have a strong feeling that these valves would be a common component in a lot of different applications and the right suppliers probably sell heaps of them and a lot more cheaply than they are being sold for bio/Veg fuel use.
I have seen this heaps of times before where something that is a common component suddenly takes a huge price hike when sold for a " specialist" application but is the exact same thing.

Does anyone know a supplier of say 3/8", 3 way valves that are readily and cheapy available?

They must be used by the boatload in certain industries, I'm just trying to figure out which ones

[Tony From West Oz Vice Chairperson of WARFA Find all posts View Profile Close Tony From West Oz]

Re: 3 way valves.

LPG fuel solenoids are available relatively cheaplt, but they are a 2 port valve, so 2 valves are needed for a changeover function. They are around $25 each. The orifice is fairly small but this makes little difference in flow, or so I have been assured.

Tony

[Captain Echidna Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Captain Echidna]

Re: 3 way valves.

I got my LPG valves from a wrecker for about $10 each, but then needed hose clamps and T's. (going to a motor traders and asking for a box of hose clamps seems to be the cheapest way)
However. LPG valves do not seem to like pressure on their outlets, as mine leaked backwards (or appeared to at least) This is ok so long as the "attempted flow" is the same as the normal flow direction. If you go for the same way as fintan (mb300d, lift pump just before the IP, selection before the lift pump) this will not be a problem, If you use the same as Tony and I use (liftpump feeding veg filter, another pump feeding startup filter) selection just before the IP) you may have problems. Well I had problems....

[geewizztoo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close geewizztoo]

Re: 3 way valves.

Is this the sort of thing you are looking for David?

Blackwoods: Industrial Supply, Tools, Safety Equipment, Abrasives, Clothing and more


I just rang Blackwoods and the 10mm is $26.95 + GST, 15mm is $23.09 + GST and the 20mm $29.02 + GST.

[John H Member Find all posts View Profile Close John H]

Re: 3 way valves.

Hi Geewizztoo,

Just got a quote from Blackwoods Brendale Qld, for a 3 way valve, Part No. 06427810 , Valve Ball Brs Delta 3 way Lport SCD 20mm, $49.82 ea including GST, They have sure gone up since January.

Regards
John H

[Guest Close David]

Re: 3 way valves.

I have found them on ebay US for around $12 our money for 3/8 3 ways.
There are several people selling them around this price which sure shows how much we are getting ripped off here.

[Fitian Was here Find all posts View Profile Close Fitian]

Re: 3 way valves.

David,

While I am waiting for my replacement 6 port electric valve to arrive from USA I went ahead and fitted manual valves.






I paid around $25 for all the fittings used. So there is around $50 savings compared to the electric valve BUT is it really worth stopping the car on the side of the road, open the bonnet everytime you want to change over to vegy and stopping again the switch back to a thinner fuel etc..?

We already have enough manual jobs since we need to collect the oil, filter it, mix or blend some of it, store it, Do some clean up around after all then fill up.

You will need to also have no air in this system. Fittings are different when they are hot.

Cheers,

[Guest Close David]

Re: 3 way valves.

Hi Fitian,

I believe you are right.
Since fixing my temp gauge on the weekend I now realise I get the coolant, if not the engine proper, up to temp a lot faster than I realised. I have made a heat exchanger I am going to fit to reduce any fats blocking the filters now the weather is fast getting cooler. I want to be able to operate the valves without getting out of the car but locating them could be very difficult.
I been looking at my car yesterday trying to figure out the practaclities of using manual valves instead of electric. From what I can see, I have 2 options, none of which I really like.

First is to put in 2 new extra fuel lines to run everything to the front of the car where I can locate the valves in the floor or firewall.
Second option is to have a small start up tank fabricated that can be put under the bonnet so I don't have to run extra fuel lines and again can locate valves at the front of the car. As space is at a preimum under the bonnet and having a tank made would cost more than it was worth, probably not a very realistic alternative.

I want to locate my tank changeover valve in the boot so I can select which tank I want to use without having to run more fuel lines to the front of the car but I am amazed it is so difficult to find realistically priced 12V 3 way valves. I really don't want to use a single 6 port as I believe this system has shortcomings but it seems I may have to either go this way or fork out too much for something I will likely find a cheaper and better alternative to the week after I have paid for the over priced items .

The manual valves do seem the lesser option but unless I can find some suitable 12V 3 ports that are not a rip off, It looks like I will be stuck between a rock and a hard place in setting up a system as I want it, rather than what I see as a wanting, but standard way of a 2 tank configuration.

BTW, Fitian can you please reduce your picture sizes a bit? They make the screen too wide to read all the text and there is no provision to scroll across.