[MR. MUD]

I know there has been some discussion on people adding fuel tank heaters and blending fuel, but does anyone actually have one either in the tank or an inline heater here? How does it preform? What brand name? Reason for asking- 400 gals bio diesel in tank at the farm, it is treated quite a bit for gelling up, but when below 0f as soon as you run a mile down the road with the wind hitting the fuel filters it gels and of course stops engine. Yes I blocked the grill but enough air manages to freeze up. I have concluded that this is my issue as I have taken the fuel out of the tank on the mog and put in 20 gal of prewarmed fuel and it will run fine all day, but when parked outside overnight, even though I plug the block heater in to start it will die again as I travel down the road. Removing filters, filling them back up with warm fuel it will start and idle for hours and then starting down road at speed will gel back up. I don't want to get another tank of fuel for the rest of the winter, but may have to. Let me know what else anyone else has done, Thanks MUD.

I am looking at an inline one from "Arctic Fox" co. what does any one know about them?

 

[MogMountain]

My Lake Placid 406 has the MB optional coolant in-line heater. Have been running without any gelling issues, but I honestly don't know whether the fuel has been pre-mixed. Also not sure how well it might work if the cooling system had not already been pre-heated, as I leave the coolant heater plugged in so the Mog is ready to run on a whim.

Might also add that I plan on installing the same set-up in my other Mogs, so generally I generally been impressed.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

It shouldn't be too hard to run a coolant line through the tank, sealing would be the biggest bugger. I know a bunch of folks who have run copper around the turbocharger and manifold to effect very very hot windshield washer fluid so engine heated fuel shouldn't be a major trick.

 

[dxmedia]

Glow plug fitted in the fuel line with a permi feed?

 

[VON]

I have a few of the heat exchangers from some of the Lake Placid trucks, it just passes the hot water from the cooling system through the heat exchanger to heat the fuel before getting to the filters. I bet one of these would be all that you need. You could also insulate the fuel lines and filters to stop the cold air from hitting them.

 

[imjustdave]

I have a few of the heat exchangers from some of the Lake Placid trucks, it just passes the hot water from the cooling system through the heat exchanger to heat the fuel before getting to the filters. I bet one of these would be all that you need. You could also insulate the fuel lines and filters to stop the cold air from hitting them.

Von I would love to see some photos of this setup.

 

[m37charlie]

Biodiesel is notorious for having a high gel point.
Mercedes says its' inline primary filter/water separator/heater (made by Racor) is worth 8 deg C.
I have an Arctic Fox 500W 110V heating pad glued to the bottom of my tank, just in case. It can run off the camper's inverter if necessary.
If your fuel system has a return to the tank, eventually the fuel in the tank will warm, having been recycled thru the warm engine. In that case the 110V heater overnight will do it. If you don't have a return, you'll also need a 12V pad but don't go over 250W, that's [email protected]

Charlie

 

[MiniMan]

The SVO guys have a myriad of options available to them for heating the fuel system. Visit eBay or one of their websites and you should find everything from heated fuel lines and filters to tank heaters, etc.

Good luck,

Corey

 

[MiniMan]

Biodiesel is notorious for having a high gel point.
Mercedes says its' inline primary filter/water separator/heater (made by Racor) is worth 8 deg C.
I have an Arctic Fox 500W 110V heating pad glued to the bottom of my tank, just in case. It can run off the camper's inverter if necessary.
If your fuel system has a return to the tank, eventually the fuel in the tank will warm, having been recycled thru the warm engine. In that case the 110V heater overnight will do it. If you don't have a return, you'll also need a 12V pad but don't go over 250V, that's [email protected]

Charlie

Hey Charlie,

That's great insight. Just to clear your latter point up for others, I believe you meant "don't go over 250 watts" (which is roughly [email protected]). Interesting to know that they make 12v tank heaters!

Cheers,

Corey

 

[VON]

Von I would love to see some photos of this setup.

Here are some photos of what I have. The one in the box is new and made for Mercedes. It just has a tube for the coolant and a smaller otube that is wrapped around it for the fuel. Then the heavy insulation over that. The other one is what comes on the Lake Placid Unimogs. This thing is built! Very heavy and is made to transfer some heat! I pulled one end off so you could see the inside where the fuel goes through. It was mounted just off of the frame on the side of the motor between the tank and pump. The lines were covered with this thick insulated covers. I don't know who made it, as the tag is half off of it.

 

[MultiSmog]

Hola MUD:
Artic Fox makes a pick up tube that goes inside the tank that is heated by the engine coolant, this will heat the fuel around it so it can be picked up and heat it up so it can flow in the fuel line. Insulate the fuel line and filters. You will either have to use a coolant heater or a two tank system but still you will have to either use heated fuel lines like those from Arctic Fox or insulte them and use a recirculation pump. Looks like the first option is more reliable. Maybe you will need to insulate your fuel tank as well.

Saludos from 75 degree weather
Roberto Espinoza

 

[mogish]

Artic Fox makes a pick up tube that goes inside the tank that is heated by the engine coolant, this will heat the fuel around it so it can be picked up and heat it up so it can flow in the fuel line.

I believe that we are talking about this Coolant-Heated Fuel Pick-up (Artic Fox)

233$

Some other components related to the present subject:

Welcome to Golden Fuel Systems! - PRODUCTS: Individual Components

 

[Mogasaurus]

The 5.9L & 6.7L Cummins engines fitted to Dodge trucks have a integral fuel filter/water separator/heater assembly bolted onto the side of them. I believe all its functionality remains when removed.

People run these trucks daily at -40C so it must work. Retrofit ? ?

 

[coachgeo]

as mentioned earlier... coolant fuel flat plate heat exchangers are a huge part of the waste vegie oil world. Easy ebay find. You will NOT need one near as large as vegie oilers use since your using less viscous fuel than veg. oil.

It is also rather easy to make in tank heaters or even around tank heaters. Easy I say not from experience but from reading tons on the subject as I've been around the veg world forums for years.

Veg world forums would be great source for this project. here is one to search. Good fellows there.

http://www.burnveg.com/forum/

 

[LPGMOG]

Mud,

What blend ratio is the 400 gallons? B100, B20, B10 etc? Several of my friends who have 300TD's run blends up to B20 here during the winter and B100 during the summer.

 

[MR. MUD]

Mud,

What blend ratio is the 400 gallons? B100, B20, B10 etc? Several of my friends who have 300TD's run blends up to B20 here during the winter and B100 during the summer.

They told me it was B20. I am having them come pump the crap back out and bring me some goood stuff. We go through enough fuel every year that they are not going to charge me. The driver told me he wasn't sure they even put any additive in it since it was delivered at the beginning of November, lucky the whole tank isn't one big bowl of jelly! That is just stupidity on their part for not treating this fuel upon delivery going in to winter, I really was not nice to the dispatcher. I won't have to face this problem next winter as I will have the heated shop finished! MUD

 

[coachgeo]

... Several of my friends who have 300TD's run blends up to B20 here during the winter and B100 during the summer.

DON'T ever compare veg fuel success from the 5cyl MB diesel of those TD's to any other engine unless it is of the same conceptual design/engineering of IDI's prechamber, IP, injectors etc.

There is something magical about the whole 617's fuel and Combustion system when it comes to drinking any kind of veg fuel. That engine just loves it like a baby to Mom's milk.

No other engine comes close to how compatible the 617 is to veg fuels.

 

[sdibaja]

George:
your experiences are quite interesting!
How many miles do you have on your 617 conversion?
How many gallons of veg fuel have you burned (roughly)?

 

[sdo]

You can also get 200 and 300 watt magnetic heaters that you could stick on the tank to warm it up before you hit the road. I have not seen them in 12 volt only 120, but if you say it will stay warm if you ad warm fuel before you head out, this might work.

 

[MR. MUD]

Problem solved! Bio pumped out and new treated straight diesel filled up, changed fuel filters(AGAIN), popped right off drove 10 miles and didn't miss a beat. For the few pennies a gallon that we save running the soy during the summer it just isn't worth it to me to have this in my tanks anymore at the end of the year. Fuel filters had a wax like coating, guessing from the gelled up bio. They probably don't have 3 tanks of fuel run through them. If it were really cold here for more than a month out of the year I would probably put an inline fuel heater on but I just can't justify it for the few times I would need it especially when I will be storing my unit in a heated shop soon. MUD