How important is a heated tank?

[Hotwheelbill]

I am in North Florida and now have a 300D I have been running WVO in, with heaters, for over two years now. In looking at the DFA system for my 2003 7.3, I have to ask if I need all of that heat in the tank? I have an 80 gal. aluminum genset saddle tank now in the bed and plan to coat it with a friend of mines SoyThane Spray Foam mix ( http://www.sprayfoam.com/npps/story.cfm?nppage=132 ). Would just insulation be enough for the South?

[Clay]

Welcome!
In FL, i wouldnt even worry about insulation.
As far as heating the tank, it all depends on what kind of oil you will be using. If you use straight oil - none of that partially hydrogenated stuff - you will not need heat I don't think. Jason might tell you different so we'll see if he chimes in on this.
However, the problem will come if you ever do a road trip up north where the temps are colder...you may want to use some form of heated pickup like a hotfox - which doesn't heat the whole tank real well but it does heat the fuel in the pickup line.

[Marv]

I haven't priced the V3 without the heated tank option, but if it's close, I'd say it's relatively cheap insurance to ensure the oil is near the correct temp to burn properly.

At least a Hotfox would almost be a given in this situation to me.

[Clay]

The hated tank mainly allows for easy pickup - melts the fats etc. Your whole tank won't get hot unless you drive quite a ways. The V# module heats the oil and your heads are a perfect final heater. Not to say the tank heat doesn't help "step up" the heat but in FL that should be nessecary. Just don't drive to MN with PH oil in the tank unless its heated.

[Clay]

I haven't priced the V3 without the heated tank option, but if it's close, I'd say it's relatively cheap

About a 1000 bucks i think...not cheap.

[triplemoutdoors]

Here is the weather chart I pulled for north florida. I would spend the $1,000 and get the heated tank.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High 60° 64° 70° 77° 84° 90° 91° 90° 88° 80° 71° 64°
Avg. Low 36° 38° 46° 54° 61° 67° 70° 70° 66° 54° 46° 38°
Mean 48° 52° 58° 66° 74° 78° 81° 81° 77° 67° 58° 52°

[Hooter]

I ran my tank last winter with no heat going to the tank. I live in Va. and I really wasn't dealing with any of the PHO, and my truck did fine. I only put the heat on it recently because about 1/3 of my supply is now PHO. I will say though that my pump has seemed to run a little quieter since adding the heat. As far as how hot it gets. When the tank is completely full, after about 45 mins of driving, the tank is warm. After about 3 hours, the tank is pretty hot. I can't rest my hand on it for any length of time. Has anyone ever had it melt anything?

If you are not going to be using PHO or traveling north during the winter, I wouldn't heat it.

[Marv]

About a 1000 bucks i think...not cheap.

Well, I have to admit, $1K bucks is $1K bucks...LOL. That probably would be a decision to think about.

[Marv]

Here is the weather chart I pulled for north florida. I would spend the $1,000 and get the heated tank.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High 60° 64° 70° 77° 84° 90° 91° 90° 88° 80° 71° 64°
Avg. Low 36° 38° 46° 54° 61° 67° 70° 70° 66° 54° 46° 38°
Mean 48° 52° 58° 66° 74° 78° 81° 81° 77° 67° 58° 52°

That's colder than I would have expected. Mid to upper 30's on average during three winter months. And, all it takes is an out of the blue strong cold front to drop those temps even more.

Interesting...

[Hotwheelbill]

Thanks for the replys.

Each of you have brought up issues that I have been through with the 300D. Yes it will get down to the 30's in Jan and Feb, but warm up to the 50's to 60's in the day. But, I go to work at 0500 to 0600 and use the block heater with a timer. Does the return fuel heat the tank any? It does on the 300D. So we would be talking about morning start ups, blanket heater?

With all said, I am cheap!!!!!!!!
I am thinking , keep my 80 gal. tank and add a hotfox to it or build my own heated pick up. And spray foam insulate, it's free.

Now to sell the Benz to pay for the kit.

[Marv]

Does the return fuel heat the tank any?

With all said, I am cheap!!!!!!!!
I am thinking , keep my 80 gal. tank and add a hotfox to it or build my own heated pick up. And spray foam insulate, it's free.

Now to sell the Benz to pay for the kit.

Bill, to my knowledge on the V3, the return fuel doesn't supply much, if any, heat to the oil. The primary source of heat on the heated system comes from the heat exchanger and the coolant from the engine.

I think the setup you have with a good Hotfox pick up would probably work well. I was unaware until Clay pointed it out, that the "heated" option on the V3 was an extra $1K. Definitely would make the decision a bit harder.

Keep us posted on how you proceed and how it works out for you.

Good luck!

[skyskijason]

I ran unheated VO tank in N.GA for 1.5 winters - temps below freezing for days at a time. Using PHO, animal fats, the stuff alot of people throw out for fuel too! I simply added 10-15% diesel/B100 to make VO in tank liquid enough to get into heated fuel lines, etc. NO PROBLEMO. :chuckles:

[Clay]

the oil that is returned has bee heated in the module and will help aid in heating the tank. I'm not sure of the volume of oil that gets returned as i have not pulled the return line while system is on to see how much flow there is but that would not be accurate anyway as that would be at idle. Less fuel returns at highway speeds that at idle.

[Clay]

At the very least, you probably should get a hotfox heated pickup line. The older vegistroke kits used the hotfox and they work well in most geographic locations...it will ease the strain on the pump as Jason said.

[Jack_Toepfer]

How else are you going to fry the turkey in the back of the truck?