| Author |
Message |
Geobus (4108gmc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:15 am: | |
I am thinking of making some homemade biodiesel. It is pretty easy to make. I am not going to use it first in my coach and don't intend to make that much. I am posting this here because most of you use diesel fuel and are pretty smart. I am not interested in using sraight veg. oil. and a heating system, too much work. The only issue I have now is how to use it below 35 degrees. Has anyone found and/or used a good winterizing agent that not only keeps it from gelling but also conditions it to not plug the filters. Some agents will keep it in a state so it can be pumped and handled but doesn't condition the biodiesel so it will flow through the filters. Has anyone tried using a type of "point of use" heater just before the filters and a heater on the filters so the fuel will flow through the filters? Any other solutions out there?
Have a great day. |
Don/TX
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:33 am: | |
Go to the DAVCO web site, they are selling a biodiesel unit now, just what you want I think.
http://www.davcotec.com/model234.htm |
Kevin Black (Kblackav8or)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 1:58 pm: | |
Nascar oil tank heater for you fuel tank? They have various types that all run on 110 for the most part. 4-5 gallon tank, they will heat to over 120 deg. I imagine that a bigger tank powered overnight it would just keep up and keep it at room temp which should be just about right. More research may be required but that might lead in the right direction. |
John Feld (Deacon)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 5:31 pm: | |
The problem with commercial 'anti-waxing' additives, they are generally intended for Dino, and have little effect with BioDiesel fuels.
There is a specific compound for BioDiesel, called Wintron XC-30, which does a OK-ish job, but the filter can still wax as its basically only a pour-point depressant-
-I would recommend a little heat, maybe derived from the coolant system to the filter--Even a piece of copper tubing carrying coolant wraped around the filter would help, as its only a couple of degrees from wax to clear fuel generally--Saves messing round with blending or expensive additives.....
If its that cold--you could try 50/50 dino diesel/BioDiesel--This normally keeps things under control when useing less than great fuel!
Bottom line is, you must intall your sytem correctly, no shortcuts, to have good results. |
Norm Edlebeck (Bandleader)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 6:19 pm: | |
Anyone thinking of doing ANYTHING at all w/alternative fuel should check this site out!!! V-E-R-Y----I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G !!!!!!!
www.hydrogenappliances.com/bioD.html#anchor359219 If you print it out, it's 29 pages total!!!! |
Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 11:25 pm: | |
Anybody know if you could use the heated Davco for SVO without heating the tank? I really don't like the idea of having the whole tank heated. I worry if a car hit it the people would get deep fried. I was also thinking of using a water cooled A/C condenser to heat the oil on it's way to the injection pump. |
Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 5:01 am: | |
The davco unit will not be sufficient for your fuel consumption. If you want to use B100 biodiesel below 35F you will need to heat your tank as well as the filter. Be aware that b100 will cause problems with all your fuel lines, they will begin to sweat then become soft and either leak air or fuel, You need viton lines and seals or you will have issues. In addition you will need heat below 40F or your filters will plug up and your engine stop. If you choose to go SVO you will need to get it to 160F before injection and be sure the engine is up to operating temp before injection. |
Kevin Black (Kblackav8or)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 10:09 pm: | |
Imersion heaters designed for flamables like oil or fuel are not that dangerous. I would be more concerned about finding one adaquate to heat 50-150 gallons of fuel to above 50 let alone the more appropriate body temp or so. The deep fried thing isn't really how it works. You don't heat the fuel that much. If you keep in the room temp range, you should be fine. There are also oil/fuel heat exchangers, you could use a sump tank that heats 5 gallons or so and then have a heat exchanger that heats the tank and also another one on the engine. For a litte more effort, and some parts it can be made to work. |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 12:25 am: | |
Let's see...heaters, (several), additives, (several) deteriorating fuel lines, possible engine damage, clogged injectors ($350.00 each for new ones) bio storage tanks, pumps and filters, etc. Whew! Seems like a lot of trouble to go to just to save a few bucks per tankful. How much electricity does it take to warm 150 gal. of fuel to 50 deg. F when it's 20 ambient? Emgines cost too much to rebuild to take the chance, so I'll just continue to stop at The Flying J thank you. ...JJ |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 7:33 am: | |
I'm with you, JJ. And it was worth repeating! |
Don/TX
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 8:26 am: | |
I think I admire those willing to experiment and try new things such as this. If it is found to be totally lacking in feasibility, so be it. It certainly seems to be worthy of effort when noticing the trend of diesel prices recently. It is the knowledge gained in such activities that we all well may thankful for some day. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 8:39 am: | |
I admire the people that have that much money to burn.
To spend that much money attempting to save the few meager
pennies per gallon of the very few gallons of fuel that's used in
these "part-time" vehicles... is... awww, ya'know....
If I were going to drive a few hundred thousand miles per year,
I'd be concerned with spending .20 per gallon more than I'd
have to. But for the average 5,000 to 10,000 miles an RV is
used? Why the hell bother?
Like JJ said, what's spent on the "experiment" will take years
to make back... I'll just fill 'er up at Murphy's. |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 1:28 am: | |
Well... I see I gotta' change my attitude if JohnMC9 agrees with me. That's scary! ...JJ |
Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 9:25 pm: | |
Typically bio-diesel is more expensive than regular diesel, so savings is likely not the motivation. Making it yourself is a fine hobby, but you will not be brewing 150 gallons of biodiesel in the parking lot of McDonalds. Most people interested in bio-diesel are more interested in not pumping sulfer into the atmosphere or not spending thier dollars with the Saudi Royal Family. Vegetable oil is a whole different thing entirely and does require system modifications, but in the end you can drive nearly for free and pump less than 2% of the overall pollutants into the air. I have used 350 gallons of vegetable oil in the last 4 months and less than 20 gallons of diesel running a two tank system, no injector damage, no engine damage, plenty of power and no issues even well below freezing.
Chris |
Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 11:39 pm: | |
I don't mind people that want to use dino diesel I think that is great. More free oil for cheap people like me. |
Eric Lake (Dc_bus_nut)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - 3:20 am: | |
Chris, well said, I am all for people making the environment a safer place for my kids and everybody else. I have the cash, facilities, etc to do this. However, I choose not to spend my time this way right now. One day in the next couple of years maybe. I'd like to chsat with you off line and see what & how you are doing it. Maybe you'll be in Arcadia, FL and we can discuss. I'll be flying down for the festivites and mayhem!!
Eric Lake |