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  • In-line fuel heater?

    I have a "Vegetherm" in-line fuel heater in my van just before my my fuel filter which is made for svo users it heats oil to 70 degrees(cel) but I use it for biodiesel. I dont really think I need it since my fuel is washed, thin, clean and clear already but since I bought It I thought I might as well use it.
    I can switch it off if I wish to run petrodiesel.
    I think this heater would be good if I run biodiesel made from lard with higher gel points in cold weather in the future.
    Does anybody out there think that using this in-line heater with biodiesel could cause any problems with the motor or anything else?
    Thanks to all readers and repliers!!

  • #2
    Re: In-line fuel heater?

    Most of your questions I dont know the answer to, but as a WVO user, would you be better putting your heater as the fuel comes out of the tank, so it is liquid throught the fuel line? My oil is heated the moment it gets in the engine compartment (no heated lines to the tank) and on frosty times I have had problems with fuel supply, due to the oil getting thick in the fuel line.
    Did you purchase the heater in Australia or import it?
    cheers<BR>Chris.<BR>1990 landcruiser 80, 1HD-T two tank, copper pipe HE+ 20 plate FPHE, toyota solenoids and filters. 1978 300D, elsbett one tank system.<BR>

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: In-line fuel heater?

      I bought it off a victorian guy who Imports them from the U.S.
      I have his contact details if you ever need them
      At the moment my heater is in between the hose a foot before the fuel filter so it is nice and warm before it enters the filter and engine I originally had the heater in between the lines down near the fuel tank in my van (LWB) but thought it might cool down by the time it gets to the filter/engine but it probally wouldnt anyway but I only had one heater and had to choose one spot.
      If I ever run SVO I would run a seperate tank for the SVO with a solanoid and a heater in the SVO tank.
      I spose your point is If I ever have high gel point biodiesel in my tank in cold weather where my heater is now wont help the gelled fuel flow from the fuel tank and through the lines to the front of the car which is a valid point.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: In-line fuel heater?

        FWIW, when you look at what VW modify to produce factory "biodiesel-approved" vehicles for the cold EU market, it seems that a fuel heater is all that they add. See my thread referencing the "Panamericana" vehicles:
        http://www.biofuelsforum.com/using_b...mbination.html

        cheers,

        ..Neil
        ..Neil

        VW Touareg R5 TDI

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: In-line fuel heater?

          Originally posted by intuo
          I bought it off a victorian guy who Imports them from the U.S.
          I have his contact details if you ever need them
          .

          Can you post his contact details please?


          Glenn

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          • #6
            Re: In-line fuel heater?

            fair point about the fuel gelling everywhere and the filter being the critical point to be warm. For my problem, (where my car was stored in a warm place, and I drove 2 hours to a place which was freezing, hence the fuel line was the problem) it would have been better to put it near the tank.
            cheers<BR>Chris.<BR>1990 landcruiser 80, 1HD-T two tank, copper pipe HE+ 20 plate FPHE, toyota solenoids and filters. 1978 300D, elsbett one tank system.<BR>

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: In-line fuel heater?

              I recommend some fuel heating if running B100 in winter . Even the best BD made from UCO will have high melting point esters derived from the tallow content of veg oil , most of which is from chip fryers cooking chips factory precooked in beef fat.These tend to gel at lowish temperatures , not all at once , but can build up a blockage over the course of a few frosty nights and cause a fatal loss of flow.The build up of small amounts of partially converted oil ( mono and di-glycerides ) tends to foul the filter in winter,too.
              A Vegtherm is probably overkill , more heat than needed and a load on your charging system. Modest "free" heat from a small coolant-fluid powered heat exchanger prior to the filter is a good strategy.Warm BD runs smoother too, and soon melts any build up of gel before any problems.A simple heat exchanger is good insurance for any BD user in frosty (or chilly) locales.
              I have had one on for years even though I only occasionally go to really cold
              places ( Blue Mountains) and have it inline yearround.I have installed a simple Aussie-made device in parallel to the heater circuit with tee fittings to a few vehicles , which have all avoided the inevitable blockage problems. Just a small cannister containing loops of copper fuel line ,surrounded in hot water -set and forget.Not too hot , no probs with IP temps - less than engine temperature.Many a good filter has been discarded unnescessarily from winter clogging with cold BD , not junk .This gel point issue is why vehicle manufacturers and BD producers are wary of B100 use.
              I wouldnt leave home without one.
              Send an off-list message ,if anyone's interested in details.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: In-line fuel heater?

                Steven Hobbs sells in-line fuel heaters www.bebioenergy.com
                Timorcoco's heater idea seems like a good idea too.
                Cheers
                Luke

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: In-line fuel heater?

                  It is easy to separate the high melting point oils from the liquid oils before making biodiesel. Just cold filter the oil.

                  The biodiesel made from the liquid oil will have a cloud point 10 - 25 °C below the cloud point of that oil.

                  Test your biodiesel before refuelling - Put a sample in the fridge (~5°C) or in the freezer (for those where temeprature drops to -5 or lower). If it is cloudy or solid at temperatures you wiash to use it, then you may need to blend it with petroleum products to ensure a liquid fuel.
                  Heating of the filter should be sufficient in this case.

                  You should never be surprised at the performance of your home made fuel in cold weather. Even putting a jar of biodiesel next to the car, so that you can see it in the mornming can alert you to possible problems and alllow you to avoid them.
                  Life is a journey, with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy.

                  Current Vehicles in stable:
                  '06 Musso Sports 4X4 Manual Crew Cab tray back.
                  '04 Rexton 4X4 Automatic SUV
                  '2014 Toyota Prius (on ULP) - Wife's car

                  Previous Vehicles:
                  '90 Mazda Capella. (2000 - 2003) My first Fatmobile. Converted to fun on veggie oil with a 2 tank setup.
                  '80 Mercedes 300D. 2 tank conversion [Sold]
                  '84 Mercedes 300D. 1 tank, no conversion. Replaced engine with rebuilt OM617A turbodiesel engine. Finally had good power. Engine donor for W123 coupe. (body parted out and carcass sold for scrap.)
                  '85 Mercedes Benz W123 300CD Turbodiesel
                  '99 Mercedes W202 C250 Turbodiesel (my darling Wife's car)[sold]
                  '98 Mercedes W202 C250 Turbodiesel (my car)[sold]
                  '06 Musso Sports Crew Cab well body. [Head gasket blew!]
                  '04 Rexton SUV 2.9L Turbodiesel same as Musso - Our Family car.
                  '06 Musso sports Crew Cab Trayback - My hack (no air cond, no heater).

                  Searching the Biofuels Forum using Google
                  Adding images and/or documents to your posts

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: In-line fuel heater?

                    Tony is of course spot on about cold filtering high melting point oils out of feedstock prior to BD making , to avoid high-ish melting point esters in your fuel which can gel in your filter.
                    However , this is a bit of a hassle - messy , time-consuming , needs some kind of filter and leaves you with a whole lotta fat to deal with/dump or store til summer.Fat is the hardest thing to dispose of , enough to put most people off this crazy , greasy pursuit!
                    Better to avoid the trouble if it is only a small proportion , and chuck it all into your processor and enjoy the extra grunt you get from fat esters , just melt it in a simple fuel-line heater to avoid clogging.
                    There is seldom enough to block the unheated tank pickup or fuel lines.
                    Most Oz commercial BD is 30% tallow-based now, but is destined for low rate blending with fossil, probably the same in Europe where all BD friendly diesels ( ie all new cars/trucks) have fuel line heaters for this reason.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: In-line fuel heater?

                      Ok I am Intrested in what type of heater people would recomend or use themselves.

                      Taking advice of someone I spoke with today I want to look at fuel pre-heating to avoid plugging in winter in the filter and damage to the IP.

                      I run a 12 month old Holden Rodeo 3L TD. There is limited room in the engine bay etc etc.

                      I would love to look at something that involves Elec/coolant heater. So something like Elec comes on at startup to get things moving and the coolant heater to keep it going long term.

                      Would have to work for B100 but also not effect the dinoDiesel that I sometimes have no choice to run

                      Any advice or places to look would be very helpful.

                      Thanks

                      David
                      Dave

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: In-line fuel heater?

                        Originally posted by intuo
                        I have a "Vegetherm" in-line fuel heater in my van just before my my fuel filter which is made for svo users it heats oil to 70 degrees(cel) but I use it for biodiesel.
                        Is this too hot? Most BD should only need to be heated to 25-30deg to become clear and liquid, and some cheap brands of fuel filters will be at risk of the glue fixing the filter element in the housing coming apart at 70deg. Maybe moving it back towards the tank will allow the fuel to cool somewhat before reaching the filter?
                        Mazda's Secret Service motto: "Tell 'em nothing, charge 'em double".

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: In-line fuel heater?

                          As I have posted before , I recommend a fuel line "warmer" for anyone using B100 or higher blends , in winter.
                          A device designed for UCO , such as a Vegtherm , is overkill; a small coolant heat exchanger with a short fuel path will provide the heat needed to melt any tallow esters or part-reacted or un-reacted oil without any risk of filter medium disintegration. Over many years on many vehicles, I need far fewer filter changes and the discarded filters I've sawn in half have no sign of coming apart either from BD causing glue failure or paper shedding.They weren't even blocked , just changed 'em from habit.Change the plastic prefilter throwaway now and again.
                          Usually plumbed in parrallel to the heater with Tee fittings on the heater hose, with a reduced bore hose supplying the exchanger.Can include a ballvalve to shut off in summer , but not essential.No wiring , no load on power system.
                          I have made a few , but now get them made for me to fit to mates' vehicles.Can be made in a shape to suit available space , with inlet/outlet and bore sized to suit fuel line.I have wrapped a temperature probe for a digital thermometer to the fuel exit line , and it shows 35C on average. An inefficient heat exchanger , basically.All copper ( which shows no sign of corrosion)with silver solder joints.No noticeable flow restriction , so flat-out performance is not impaired.
                          Just put one on a Rodeo for my chemistry professor friend - conveniently , steel pipes on the cooling circuit just prior to the hoses thru the firewall could have short lengths of 12mm stainless steel tube welded in to form a neat & compact Tee connection.They run from the thermostat to the rear of the engine , under the intercooler ; easy to remove/refit.
                          This will prevent build-up of gunk on filters to avoid blockage, but has no effect on cold starts (apart from preventing hard starting from blockage).In my experience starting on B100 after not running after a few frosty nights, no problem.Hard starting is usually buggered glow plugs- I've diagnosed this on a few disgruntled BD users.That or the BD is low conversion.Or old injectors.
                          If you live in Jindabyne and hven't put some kero in the BD , maybe heating wire wrapped around the injector lines and an extra glow plug in a small fuel cannister just before IP may be the go ( only done this for a straight UCO conversion).
                          Anyone want to get hold of these fuel "warmers",send a PM.
                          Before its too late , or summer !
                          John

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: In-line fuel heater?

                            I'm interested in running BD and am considering installing a Racor filter/water separator before the stock fuel filter.

                            I would like to warm the BD before it gets tot he injector pump to make things easier on the pump.

                            Would the heaters that are optional for these filters sufficient for this purpose?

                            For winter use, I'll probably add a tank heater and may also add a fuel line warmer.

                            The tank and fuel line heaters will be switch operated, but the fule filter heater has a thermostat on it. I think it is set for 80 F.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: In-line fuel heater?

                              Originally posted by magconpres View Post
                              I'm interested in running BD and am considering installing a Racor filter/water separator before the stock fuel filter.

                              I would like to warm the BD before it gets tot he injector pump to make things easier on the pump.

                              Would the heaters that are optional for these filters sufficient for this purpose?

                              For winter use, I'll probably add a tank heater and may also add a fuel line warmer.

                              The tank and fuel line heaters will be switch operated, but the fule filter heater has a thermostat on it. I think it is set for 80 F.
                              Are you confused between SVO and biodiesel?

                              If you are going to all the trouble of heating biodiesel, you may as well just run on SVO instead.

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