Well, it's getting colder out. I want to be able to run my dual tank WVO setup a little longer, but as it gets colder my WVO gets thicker. I don't have a heated tank (yet - I plan to add one at some point).

What do people do other than installing a tank heater? I was thinking I'd start mixing in kerosene, but I'm a bit worried about the legal issues with that (seems to me you aren't supposed to run that on the road)... I was also wondering whether diesel fuel anti-gel has any effect on VO (if I had to guess I'd say it probably has no effect on it). Mixing petrodiesel in would probably help, but I'm not sure if it would do enough.

I don't expect to be able to run WVO all the way into the winter, I just want to be able to run it as it gets somewhat colder (my oil freezes up at 40-45 degrees).

Thanks!

Hmmm... No replies... I guess everybody has a heated fuel tank...

What does that tell ya?????

Diesel anti-gel supposedly has no effect on WVO or BIO. I think Primrose has come out with a specific anti-gel for BIO. Don't you have a heated WVO tank even for warm weather use? If not, you are headed for trouble. Without heating the WVO, the most you can do is blend some in. Check my sig.. Check this forum. More info on WVO/BIO/SVO, than you could ever digest.

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/groupee/forums

Thanks for the replies!

Well, I know it sounds like a stupid question, however as of right now I don't have a heated tank (that will come, but I don't have one right now). I do heat my fuel before it gets to the IP (coolant heated fuel line heater... Gets plenty hot) so it is pretty safe. I have plenty of fuel pressure as well. I'm really just looking to be able to run the stuff down to the 50-60 degree range, not much lower than that.

So does anybody know if it is legal to mix kerosene in with the VO?

If you want to be technical about it, it isn't legal to run VO at all (unless you're paying federal road taxes on it). Some states do relax the state tax on the fuel, but as far as I've ever known, federal law requires taxes to be paid on any fuel burnt. Up to a certain percentage could likely be called an additive, but you'd have an uphill fight on your hands saying VO is an additive in a two-tank set-up. Now I've never known anyone to get nailed on this, but it is possible if the right people ever felt like being a-holes.

So, as to your question about the legality of mixing kerosene in, it is no more illegal than running the WVO in the first place.

I see.

I thought there was an exemption if you produce it in quantities that are low enough... Seems to me the first 400 gallons or something... I'm probably wrong, though.

If you want to be technical about it, it isn't legal to run VO at all (unless you're paying federal road taxes on it). Some states do relax the state tax on the fuel, but as far as I've ever known, federal law requires taxes to be paid on any fuel burnt. Up to a certain percentage could likely be called an additive


Not sure if that is true.... but anyway back on topic...


You could cut your 100%BD with some petro Diesel...even petro diesel has additives to prevent gellin...

Are you gellin? I am not gellin!

There is an additive company working on an additive just for BD to decrease gel temps or cloud points!

www.nbb.org (http://www.nbb.org) has alot of useful info on this topic.... They have spent millions of dollars researching this BD and the cold air!

Hmmm... No replies... I guess everybody has a heated fuel tank...


Hi Sierra,

No, not everyone has a heated fuel tank, but it's a good idea.

It's been into the low 30's here already a couple of times. I'm running 25%gasoline/75% WVO. So far it hasn't had a problem. I put a sample in the freezer (-10F overnight) and froze it solid. Haven't gotten back to testing any more mixes, but expect to have to run something like 25%Gas/10%-20% Kero/remainder WVO. I need to keep it from gelling to at least -30F to be useful here. Two tanks and fuel heat would make life simpler.

55% #2 Diesel/ 45% Soybean oil is supposed to have a pour point of -5C (23F) 85/15 only gets you to -7C so adding #2 looks like a waste of time.

I suppose most people frown on putting the fuel tank in the engine bay?:eek:

Al

I'm really just looking to be able to run the stuff down to the 50-60 degree range, not much lower than that.

Then it should be relatively easy.

Well, I guess I'll try mixing up a few blends and testing them in my freezer. I just need the stuff to flow so that it doesn't clog up the pickup in the tank... It will be heated before it enters the IP by my inline fuel heater.

Thanks for all the input! :)

Here's what I do to get around using a tank heater. Only works if you use an electric pump for your WVO system.
Just in front of my tank switch, I put a solenoid between fuel supply and fuel return lines. While running on diesel, I turn on the electric WVO pump and open the solenoid. The WVO circualates through the system and heats up before switching tanks. An extra large capacity heat exchanger or even two is a plus.

That's an idea. I never though of that. Seems like it would take a long time to warm up a whole tank of fuel that way, though...

It does take long time to heat up the tank, and it's really not practical to attempt to get the tank oil that hot. But if WVO temp is hot when it gets to the IP, I guess that's all that matters. I got a head temp guage and sender. I put the sender/sensor on the fitting at the output of the solenoid. Put foam around it to insulate it. I monitor the temp from a guage on the dash, so I know when the WVO is hot enough to switch. It does take longer to get the WVO up to temp in the winter. 40 drg is as cold as I ever tried it. That's as cold as it gets here. But it took 15 to 20 min before i could switch tanks as opposed to 5 min in the summer.
I had to use two heat exchangers. One in the back to get the WVO thin enough for the pump to even pump it in the winter. The other under the hood.

I guess running lines to and heating it in the tank really isn't any more trouble than the way I did it. But I must have my tank inside my vehice (SUV), and didn't want to route the hot water hoses inside.

40 drg is as cold as I ever tried it. That's as cold as it gets here.

You're lucky... There's already been a couple of frosts here this fall. Temps in the 0 to -10 degree range are not uncommon here in the winter... :eek: Obviously I don't run veggie when it's that cold.


I may just build a heated tank here pretty soon... In the mean time I guess I'll just mix in a little kerosene.