Question on using the manual purge switch

[lancaster,pa]

If it becomes necessary to use the V3 system in the manual mode due to automatic system malfunction, does the manual purge button work with the system switched off? Is the correct procedure to place the switch to manual while driving and upon stopping to shut down, move the switch to "off", hit the purge button for about 10 seconds and then allow the truck to run the minute or so to purge veg out of the injectors and then switch the ignition key off (tried to find this info in other posts but couldn't)? Thanks. - Patrick

[lancaster,pa]

Marv,
Do you have any info on the above post? Thanks. - Patrick

[Clay]

If it becomes necessary to use the V3 system in the manual mode due to automatic system malfunction, does the manual purge button work with the system switched off? Is the correct procedure to place the switch to manual while driving and upon stopping to shut down, move the switch to "off", hit the purge button for about 10 seconds and then allow the truck to run the minute or so to purge veg out of the injectors and then switch the ignition key off (tried to find this info in other posts but couldn't)? Thanks. - Patrick

yes, thats right.

[Marv]

Marv,
Do you have any info on the above post? Thanks. - Patrick

Sorry for the delayed response man...saw this yesterday, but got tied up and never got back on here.

Looks like Clay has you covered though! :cheers:

Are you having issues with your system or just something you've been wondering about?

[lancaster,pa]

Thanks for the replies Clay and Marv. Marv, not having problems. Just got to thinking that I have never used the system on manual and I should know how to use it before the need arises, if it ever does. Thanks. - Patrick

[Tampa450]

so the system purges diesel, when in the "off" position?

(if you press the button of coarse)

[lancaster,pa]

so the system purges diesel, when in the "off" position?

(if you press the button of coarse)

Yep! If you are running on "manual" and want to shut down, first switch the system off (this will turn the veg pump off and start the diesel pump). When you push and hold the purge switch, the stock diesel pump is using diesel to push veg through the rails towards the V3. After about 10 seconds or so, veg is cleared from the rails and replaced by diesel. Allowing the truck to idle for a minute or so burns the rest of the veg out of the injectors. Then yer ready to start up the next time on diesel. - Patrick

[Clay]

run the truck at least a full minute and a few seconds longer is even better.

[Marv]

Yep! If you are running on "manual" and want to shut down, first switch the system off (this will turn the veg pump off and start the diesel pump). When you push and hold the purge switch, the stock diesel pump is using diesel to push veg through the rails towards the V3. After about 10 seconds or so, veg is cleared from the rails and replaced by diesel. Allowing the truck to idle for a minute or so burns the rest of the veg out of the injectors. Then yer ready to start up the next time on diesel. - Patrick

You'd be surprised how much diesel can make it's way back to the tank. I ran mine for a month or so with the system off before getting any oil. I ended up draining a few gallons of diesel out of that tank before I filled it up with oil.

[lancaster,pa]

You'd be surprised how much diesel can make it's way back to the tank. I ran mine for a month or so with the system off before getting any oil. I ended up draining a few gallons of diesel out of that tank before I filled it up with oil.

Marv,
Not sure I understand your post. Could you elaborate a bit more? Thanks. - Patrick

[Marv]

Marv,
Not sure I understand your post. Could you elaborate a bit more? Thanks. - Patrick

Once I got my system fully installed, it was about a month or so before I started running vegi oil. I noticed after a few weeks, that I could hear drips in the tank when I cut the truck off. I got to looking and found that I had a few gallons of diesel that had made it's way back into the tank. At first, I thought something was installed incorrectly, or maybe the purge valve was stuck open, but after a few discussions with Clay and doing some research, I determined that it wasn't a problem.

And, after I got some oil in the tank and started running on vegi, everything worked fine, so I never gave it any more thought.

Thanks!

[lancaster,pa]

Once I got my system fully installed, it was about a month or so before I started running vegi oil. I noticed after a few weeks, that I could hear drips in the tank when I cut the truck off. I got to looking and found that I had a few gallons of diesel that had made it's way back into the tank. At first, I thought something was installed incorrectly, or maybe the purge valve was stuck open, but after a few discussions with Clay and doing some research, I determined that it wasn't a problem.

And, after I got some oil in the tank and started running on vegi, everything worked fine, so I never gave it any more thought.

Thanks!

Marv,
Got it now. Thanks! Any concerns that whatever was causing that is still occurring and is going unnoticed because it is mixing with veg (not that there is anything wrong with the veg and diesel mix other than the increased consumption of diesel)? - Patrick

[Marv]

Marv,
Got it now. Thanks! Any concerns that whatever was causing that is still occurring and is going unnoticed because it is mixing with veg (not that there is anything wrong with the veg and diesel mix other than the increased consumption of diesel)? - Patrick

Well, it did puzzle me at first, but after I realized the system returns diesel back to the tank under normal operation, I kind of shrugged it off. I don't guess I'm really loosing fuel, since it's burned with the vegi anyways.

Now if you were to run around for an extended period of time with it off, purging diesel into your vegi tank (and not running the V3) it could become an issue. But, if that was the case, I would think a person could turn on the V3 and burn it or just drain it and burn it through the stock tank.

After giving it some thought, it seems that I came to the conclusion that the purge valve has a certain tolerance that is acceptable for allowing diesel to pass by it even when it's closed. Seems like I read that somewhere or someone (maybe Jason/James?) told me about it. I could be totally off base though...lol. It's been a while since I had to address that issue.

Thanks!

[lancaster,pa]

Well, it did puzzle me at first, but after I realized the system returns diesel back to the tank under normal operation, I kind of shrugged it off. I don't guess I'm really loosing fuel, since it's burned with the vegi anyways.

Now if you were to run around for an extended period of time with it off, purging diesel into your vegi tank (and not running the V3) it could become an issue. But, if that was the case, I would think a person could turn on the V3 and burn it or just drain it and burn it through the stock tank.

After giving it some thought, it seems that I came to the conclusion that the purge valve has a certain tolerance that is acceptable for allowing diesel to pass by it even when it's closed. Seems like I read that somewhere or someone (maybe Jason/James?) told me about it. I could be totally off base though...lol. It's been a while since I had to address that issue.

Thanks!

Interesting. Thanks! - Patrick

[lamintdog]

Good info Marv.

One of the implications of diesel returning to the veg tank- hopefully due to too long of a purge time and not b/c the purge solenoid doesn't seal 100% - is that if you are doing alot of startup/shutdowns with your system like me (around town instead of long trips) then the measure of diesel 'consumption' out of your stock tank will seem much higher/faster and your mileage per diesel gallon figures will be lower than they should be. Additionally, your veg tank will: 1) Get used up slower suggesting you're not burning as much veg as you actually are, 2) Give off an incorrect paint thinner-like scent when it's more likely diesel fuel, and 3) In hot pan testing a tank sample diesel in the sample can cause it to pop, bubble and smoke - falsly suggesting there is high water content in your tank.

These are all potential issues for me and I'd like to get a better idea of exactly HOW MUCH diesel gets returned to the veg tank through the purge process and if any actually leaks out when the system is off or anytime it's not supposed to.... I think the best way to do this is to unhook the return off the veg tank and extend the drain tube into another clear-container in the truck bed to capture and record each time the amount taken. If anyone else has already done this please speak up! I'll most likely do this in a week or so (traveling for work).