Fuel Heater
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 165
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From: Prunedale CA
Fuel Heater
It has been getting real cold around my area lately and I have been wondering If there is a way to manually turn on the factory fuel heater. How reliable are the factory heaters? If it is unreliable what is a recommended alternative?
Thanks,
Thanks,
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 581
Likes: 72
From: Double Oak, TX
Would it be possible to get the heat tape stuff used for water pipes from a Home depot, etc. Wrap your metal fuel lines and a wrap or 2 around your filter canister. Plug it in with your block heater.
You can remove it during the warm months.
You can remove it during the warm months.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
How cold are you getting? Here in Michigan we a going to +5 deg tonight. I've not used a extra fuel heater. It just does it's own thing. I've not had a fuel problem down to -10 deg. If you want to do some thing use a anti-gell additive and a cetane booster. Both will help in cold weather.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 344
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From: Byron New York
My suggestion is use additives and add accordingly to the temperature you want to protect to. Even if your fuel heater was on every moment it would not do any good if the fuel was gelled in your lines on the the way to the filter/fuel heater. Use a good quality anti-gel or additive IE: Power Service or Stanadyne follow the directions which is by far easier than running wires and switches. My 2 cents.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Prunedale CA
I haven't had a problem other than some white smoke and a little more cranking to get it going. I use the power service and redline with cetane booster. I was just asking if it would help.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 344
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From: Byron New York
I was looking at your set up. Did you have your compression lowered to have more boost from your turbo? If you did that might be the little extra white smoke your getting. Couple extra revolutions and bang it runs. There are a few people here with turbo set ups who have a better take on this. Sorry if I came across gruff. Good Luck!
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
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From: Nutter Fort, WV
The white smoke is coming from low cylinder temps and incomplete combustion when first started.
Heating the fuel will not help with that.
At near or below 0 temps you may see moisture condensation exiting the exhaust even with the cylinder temps up to operating level. Moisture is one of the byproducts of combustion. I know it looks wierd, but we are uses to seeing that up here in the mountains except for this year. Almost 70 here today, but I think that will be different tomorrow.
Heating the fuel will not help with that.
At near or below 0 temps you may see moisture condensation exiting the exhaust even with the cylinder temps up to operating level. Moisture is one of the byproducts of combustion. I know it looks wierd, but we are uses to seeing that up here in the mountains except for this year. Almost 70 here today, but I think that will be different tomorrow.
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Senior User
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From: Prunedale CA
Okay I was thinking it wasn't a big problem because this didn't start until it got down to about +5 over the weekend. I have not lowered the compression at all but I purchased the truck with the turbo already on it. Sorry if I came across gruff too didn't mean to make it sound that way. Just asking the folks with more knowledge.
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From: Perry Georgia
This won't help at startup, but I'm using a "HOTFOX" that is mounted in the fuel tank. I traveled to Ohio from Georgia over Christmas and had no trouble. The outside temp was below freezing with snow on the ground in VA. I'm also using a "VEGTHERM" just before the fuel to boost the temp right before the filter to keep it from freezing. I'm running SVO so this might not help you.