You know, who what when where why?

I don't know where I saw it but read that some people where highly recommending a fuel cooler with e-fuel. Several people were saying there are some great advantages but didn't list what they were nor could I find much info about it.

I will say though, after getting things up and running, when I was fixing the fuel leak on my fuel filters, I was very surprised at how warm/hot all the fuel lines and filters were. I don't think they were like that the little bit I drove before on my old motor, but then again all my fluids seemed to be mixing so maybe they were being cooled down by antifreeze... The lines were warm enough where I figured a fuel cooler may not be a bad idea. I'm just not sure if it's worth the time/money/effort.

Who has done it here, and if so, did you notice any benefit? Or is it more of a preventative/longevity thing? I have a new small transmission cooler I was planning on using a long time ago for something else, would that work for a fuel cooler, or do I need to grab something else? I would plan on tapping to where the return line from the block hooks into the frame line. I'd probably just un-do that fitting and keep it in tact, but make lines that utilize that fitting style so I could simply throw it in/take it out.

 

Interesting never heard of it, I can see it working on a Gasser but on a diesel? I always thought the hotter the fuel in a diesel the better the atomization.

 

Yeah I read that a few times, but then someone also said cooler fuel brings better atomization too.. I don't quite see that being the case, but maybe if it's too hot, it makes a difference in some way?

I really was shocked because my fuel lines were hot to the touch. Now, I know its been 110+ out, but the fuel seemed hotter than I'd think it would be.

I also read that if the fuel is too hot, then the water separator can't work as well. I'm not sure the physics on this. Unless it's just that if it's hot enough, the water may act as a vapor and not separate by gravity (if that's how the water separator filters work for e-fuel). I'd think that would make the fuel pump cavitate if water vapor was getting through.

I'm not sure how how the fuel gets in my lines, but it's hot enough to make a steel braided fuel line uncomfortable to hold.

 

Oh yeah they get freaking hot, I think a good insulator on the lines would be adequate and could control some of the heat.

Off topic but god dam was it hot, I was servicing a generator on the roof on a building felt like I was wearing the devils blanket and the sun hitting the white TPO membrane wasn't of help either, Holly Jesus.

 

The fuel runs into the heads. How will you cool the heads?

Also the injectors are heated in the heads too

 

True, I guess you can scrap that idea out Bubba.

 

Want to talk hot? I worked at a Ford founder in Detroit. One of our jobs was to go up top and change out the electrodes. It was so hot the bottom of your shoes would be smoking! But ya Bubba, when I left Havasu it was 112°, plenty hot (to hot) for me. I think a cooler wouldn't be a bad idea but its probably unnecessary. Hope the 'new' motor is still running good!!

 

For what it's worth I had a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (diesel).

It had a factory fuel cooler under the car on the passenger side pretty much under the passenger door.

I have no idea what point it served or the advantages with it but I figured the yermans didn't put it on there for nothing.

 

that's only used on the return line on a Jetta

 

Kenworth uses a fuel heater in the tank (some of the trucks I work on)
Chevy uses a fuel cooler on the duramax but also uses the fuel to cool the IDM.
as long as it isn't vapor locking or jelling i am okay with it.

 

So the cooler is on the return line???

I would have thought it would be on the supply line.

 

Durmax is in the return also. They have fuel temp sensors too.

maybe the cars had it to keep interior cooler.

after a certain temp, diesel don't like to run as hot and performance degrades.

Maybe that's why mine seems sluggish on hot
​​​​ days. Wonder what the tank temp after running 20 minutes is.

 

Yeah it's gotten up to about 119° this week so it's a little warm down in the valley. The 'new' motor is still running great for the most part! However, when it's fully warmed up, the idle becomes slightly rough sometimes, like it has a miss or something. It seems to do this considerably more when I have my chip on a higher tune (DP chip) and drive a little more aggressively. The roughness is only in the idle though. It seems to be very smooth and have lots of power throughout the rpm range, and revs up fine if I'm in neutral at a stop too.

I'm waiting for my Aeroforce guage to see if I can monitor some parameters (what I'll be looking at yet I don't know) and see if I can find something (or someone can point something out to me) that is out of specs. I unplugged the ICP while running and it didn't change the rough idle so I don't think it's that. It's not too worrysome now though because otherwise it runs great! Since it starts up fast and runs perfect when cold, I think it's just a sensor or something acting up.


If I did cool the fuel, I was planning on doing it on the return line as well. I think it would be a little more difficult to cool it on the supply side, but should make a difference on the return side. That way the fuel in the tank and going to the fuel pump would be cooler. I just wasn't sure if this would be a benefit or not!

It doesn't appear like anyone here has done this yet so maybe it's not that beneficial of a mod to do! I was wondering if my fuel was getting too hot and causing some of my rough idling when warm issues. That's probably more IPR or tune related though! I can't wait to get my Aeroforce Interceptor gauge so I can look stuff over!

 

In those hot temps maybe a higher weight oil??

 

And the fuel/filter bowl has a heater.

I believe the primary reason for heated diesel fuel is to reduce gelling in colder climates.