Fuel preheater

LS&A · Post by **LS&A** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:04 am

Does anybody have experience of or recommendations for fuel preheaters? I've been looking at these: http://www.diesel-therm.com/diesel-therm.htm.

I'd appreciate thoughts and advice.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:46 pm

They are not really needed in the UK, unless you live somewhere where it drops below -20C.

teenmal · Post by **teenmal** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:10 pm

Hi, these are also useful if you use vegetable oil etc,you could try and get a complete Ford Ranger fuel warmer unit, the warmer is built (fits)into the filter body.

teenmal · Post by **teenmal** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:14 pm

LS&A wrote:Does anybody have experience of or recommendations for fuel preheaters? I've been looking at these: http://www.diesel-therm.com/diesel-therm.htm.

I'd appreciate thoughts and advice.

Previous post...

Quote
Hi, planning to use the Bongo in a region that has been known to get down to -27'C overnight. Was thinking whether it was worth looking at a pre-heater.

I'd be interested in any experiences anyone has or techie advice. Thanks.

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:01 am

teenmal wrote:Hi, these are also useful if you use vegetable oil etc,you could try and get a complete Ford Ranger fuel warmer unit, the warmer is built (fits)into the filter body.

......Useless from cold when using veg, like peeing into a gale………….

LS&A · Post by **LS&A** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:10 am

Thanks, I think I'll give this a go....and fingers crossed it over comes gelling!

Paulinwales · Post by **Paulinwales** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:52 pm

I use an engine pre-heater, heats the engine block and all the coolant to 40'C in about 30 mins just plugs in to the mains I use a caravan style adapter. cost £75 ebay btw when i bled the system i found about 10L of coolant!!! I would not use this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AutoHeat-Engi ... 19d790e082 as i have this one installed and it would would under circulate the coolant causing the thermostat to stop the unit and slow the heating - I fitted a heat sink and it works well now to 40'C then starts to cut out but 40'C is ok for veg oil starting at least with 50:50 mix

I also have a coolant fed heater warming up the veg oil/fuel prior to the fuel filter cost £50 from biotunning i think or look on ebay

anything glow plug like is waist of time as engine block is cold do the job properly is my approach

rgds Paul

LS&A · Post by **LS&A** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 9:59 pm

Thanks, this per-heater is connected in series in the fuel line just before the fuel filter. It heats the fuel melting the crystals due to low temperatures before the fuel passes through the filter. I was wondering if anyone has had one fitted and could give a review.

Paulinwales · Post by **Paulinwales** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:44 pm

you could always add up to 10% petrol to the tank just in case that's the old method and easy it will also clean the injectors yo will however lose some power at higher revs due to petrol vaporizing on the low pressure injector pump side (vapour lock)

ibtw I mistakenly had 20% in with my veg oil and it started on frosty mornings 1st time (however 10mins later when the engine got hot it lost all power and crawled along

till i got to the supermarket and diluted the mix down with more veg (no recommended)

rgds Paul

personally i think the idea is useless due to the specific heat of the components involved metal housed filters the heating energy used would be too great.. + there are better options as discussed

for example it take 30 mins to heat the engine and coolant up 40'C ! Using a 2kw heater element and a pump (engine preheater)

LS&A · Post by **LS&A** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:36 pm

So... After lots of searching and deliberating I've had the ATG diesel therm fitted. System seems like it should work well with a heating unit up flow just before the fuel filter. Off to Bavaria in a couple of weeks. Hopefully I won't end up chugging to a stop as I have the last 3 out of 4 years!

chipvan · Post by **chipvan** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:18 pm

will cook the oil!! trust me i had one on my atg twin tank kit and i took it out!..

makes black sludge when using it for oil,and is a battery zapper...

not needed at all!!

you will not benifit from using anything like this...if you want,fit a heatexchanger and some valves to run on high% of veg oil.

chipvan · Post by **chipvan** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:27 pm

dont do it,will try and get you pics of what it does to your fuel system...! only found when i took it apart to clean up,ready for a re install

chipvan · Post by **chipvan** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 8:32 pm

The Great Pretender wrote:
teenmal wrote:Hi, these are also useful if you use vegetable oil etc,you could try and get a complete Ford Ranger fuel warmer unit, the warmer is built (fits)into the filter body.
......Useless from cold when using veg, like peeing into a gale………….

well said

LS&A · Post by **LS&A** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:15 pm

Thanks for the replies but I'm a little confused... It's to pre-heat the diesel in extremely cold temperatures... If the OAT gets below -20'C I turn the system on manually in the cab. It melts the paraffin crystals in the fuel lines before they get to the fuel filter and clog it. It's got a thermostatic control that cuts off if the fuel doesn't need warming, i.e. if the fuel is not cold soaked or when the engine bay has enough warm air around the fuel filter and input lines to warm the fuel. The research I've shows the same system used on piste bashers.

chipvan · Post by **chipvan** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:19 pm

no that glow heater will not do that,will only heat /warm the fuel that passes it..

maybe look at an engine pre heater..kenlow hot start?

Fuel preheater

Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater

Re: Fuel preheater