Heated fuel tank ??

[smiffy]

Got a 100ltr Aux tank for veg oil,placed where some underslung wheels go. I'm worried about the oil thickening up while it sits in the tank. I use,SVO,WVO and gonna try some Bio.

I'm wondering if there is an easy way to heat the tank to thin the oil before i set out on my journeys. Was thinking of some kind element fitted externally,underneath the tank. Can be mains voltage is i've got outdoor sockets.
Also read somewhere about 'heating pads' that are used in bitter cold climates of Canada/USA. Anyone know where to get these in UK?

Cheers.

[Apache]

Wondering if you can fit a small immersion heater type element in the tank. Obviously it would need to be covered all of the time - you couldn't use it if it was exposed at all.

[slobodan]

Wondering if you can fit a small immersion heater type element in the tank. Obviously it would need to be covered all of the time - you couldn't use it if it was exposed at all.

Good idea, under a 'false floor' in the tank.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Stick-on heating elements as used on the back of heated door mirrors?

You could even wire them to switch on via a key fob remote.

[smiffy]

Hmmmm,wouldn't need to be anythin great. As long as its slightly above freezin'.
I know once the veg returns to tank it'll be warmed,through the heated filter and exchanger.

[smiffy]

Stick-on heating elements as used on the back of heated door mirrors?

You could even wire them to switch on via a key fob remote.

Ha,nice big lorry ones..........but would they be enough to penetrate the plastic tank??

[Apache]

I seriously doubt you'd get enough heat from the type of thing that defrosts mirrors. It stays thick until about 10 degrees, and to get it to diesel consistency it needs to be 80 or 90 degrees C.

I know you're not interested in that sort of temperature, but I reckon you'll want it above 10C, and if its -10C, you need a lot of watts!

[biosurf]

I have heard of someone putting a small always on bulb in the tank for this purpose but to be honest anything you do will not cure the main problem. You can have the oil in the tank heated to any temp you like but your fuel lines will still be cold and will have residual veg/bio in them.
If this is gelled it will not let the heated oil in the tank through.

You're better to mix 5-10% petrol with the wvo before adding to the tank or (the only proper option to truly guard against the cold issiues of using veg/bio) you need to twin tank i.e. you have a small tank of diesel in the boot which you use to start the engine. Once the engine is up to temp you switch over to veg for the rest of the journey. For the last few minutes of the journey you switch back to diesel so all fuel lines have diesel in them again.

You can buy twin tank kits for most cars for 200-700 ish or make your own. Some of the better bought ones will switch the tanks for you when the engine reaches the right temp.

Note that I don't do this and have been fine in pretty cold conditions

[smiffy]

I have the twin tank system,i return to diesel 1/4 mile from home to fill the lines for easy starting in the morning. I switch to veg once the engine is to temp. But if the aux tank is solid,no point in switchin over, The SVO i had in garage,placed on the concrete floor was hadly pourable when it was -6,so the tank must be similar. I emptied the tank tonight and poured back in with 5-10% petrol. Will this stop it thickening ?

So i've got standard 60 ltr tank for diesel and 100ltr aux tank for veg

[biosurf]

OK, now I'm jealous

Have a look over on vegetableoildiesel if you have no joy here maybe?

[smiffy]

OK, now I'm jealous

Have a look over on vegetableoildiesel if you have no joy here maybe?

I ran SVO last year at -11 no probs,but the temp at house was 1 degrees when i left,so oil was thin and stayed thin as it was gettin returned to the tank warm.

Solenoids/ Switches/heated filter/heat exchanger




Tank

[yoshie]

The unleaded will help mate.

You could get away with 10ltrs in that 100ltr mix

[biosurf]

Out of interest, I guess you're outside rather than in a garage?

[smiffy]

Out of interest, I guess you're outside rather than in a garage?

Aye outside,Surf dont fit in garage

Brian,i'm heading to Helensburgh on friday night so will see how it copes. At least i'll be able to switch to derv in any probs arise.

[smiffy]

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