Water, Not this one again !!!

[W MacKenzie]

This is a subject that keeps coming up due to the importants of knowing if one has good clean, DRY OIL, OR NOT.When I first met Jayson I owned a Dodge PU with the cummins engine. This truck ended up becoming the first Dodge to have a proto type vegi kit install.
I was very lucky to have had one scource for my WVO. I would pick it up once a week 10 to 15 gallons and this oil was almost water free.
Really!! All I did was filter thru a 50 Micron sock & then a 5mic sock filter.I would due the HPT and find almost always NO Spitting NO BUBBLES.
Now: I have a Ford F350 with 7.3L Powerstroke and Jayson installed the latest greatest system on the planet for this rig.
Problem: I had to find another scource for my WVO and this new WVO has become difficult to get the water out of.
I heat my barrel to 120' F using a combo of a submersable heating element & then a heat belt. After getting oil heated to the 120'F I mix the oil up and then continue heating with the belt ( Straped aorund outside of barrel).After cooldown I test w the HPT methad. I continue to get these little bubbles ( About 15 per pan full ).It never splatters but still I get those little tiny bubbles. HELP !! anybody got some thoughts regarding whats going on??? This is a long one so I will end now, But I thank you in advance. Thank you, Regards: W Mackenzie The MacKenzie river Man !!

[lamintdog]

After getting oil heated to the 120'F I mix the oil up and then continue heating with the belt ( Straped aorund outside of barrel).

Why are you mixing the oil up after you heat it? Keeping the oil heated at a near constant temperature, uninterrupted and undisturbed is done to settle heavier contaminants such as particulates and among other things - water? Shaking or mixing the settled drum reverses that process in my opinion. How long are you settling your oil at 120F before the HPT? Hours? Days? Where in the barrel are you drawing your sample from (top/bottom) for the HPT?

I have a similar setup - actually went from a frybrid still back to basics with a dana drum and have had nothing but good luck. I pour oil w/chunks and all into jean leg sock filters in barrel and let sit w/ thermo controlled heater element in the bottom around 100F for 3 days undisturbed and unmixed. Draw a HPT sample through barrel pump from half-way down the barrel and I am getting no bubbles.

[triplemoutdoors]

Why are you mixing the oil up after you heat it? Keeping the oil heated at a near constant temperature, uninterrupted and undisturbed is done to settle heavier contaminants such as particulates and among other things - water? Shaking or mixing the settled drum reverses that process in my opinion.

I agree with Lamintdog, mixing it up is your problem IMO.

[greasyX]

Crank up the heat and put away the mixer,atleast till the weekend for some drinks.This is one of those learning curve things,to this day i am still learning new things and I have been doing this for 3 years,starting with my dodge.

[Clay]

15 tiny bubbles in a pan isnt bad at all.

[lamintdog]

15 tiny bubbles in a pan isnt bad at all.

compared to what?

16 tiny bubbles in a pan?

[triplemoutdoors]

I look for 0 bubbles. If I get any I run the process again. I think I use more oil to do the test than most of you.

[lamintdog]

I look for 0 bubbles.

Ditto. I test at 325F (via IR thermo) on a cast iron pan surface... What temp do you HPT?

[triplemoutdoors]

I use a temp of 350 - 400.

[Clay]

and how do you control water in your tank from humidity?

[lamintdog]

Great question... my answer would be nothing currently, other than keeping the tank topped off and the airspace low... (Not that it's that humid up North) I am curious to hear from others...

[Jack_Toepfer]

Putting about 60 gallons in a 55 gallon drum keeps the condensation to a minimum... I hope. Thats what mine are looking like.

[Clay]

Not trying to be a smart ass...honestly but ....overkill on filtering only to put completely 100% dry oil in a tank with condensation seems strange to me. Drain a sample from the tank and HPT that...tell me what you get.
I don't care it you have low or high humidity, when it rains, your vent tube is ingesting 100% humid air and the heating of the tank will condensate it and drop it in your oil. This should be as free water but some may become emulsified again.
Thats anyones guess.
I spend more time keeping water out of my tank and less time trying to reach 0 bubbles on the hot pan test. The vegi community standard i am seeing accepts a very small ppm water content in filtered oil.
The free water will not catch in the donaldson according to what Jason and Chris say so i would be more worried about that.

I have ran close to 4,000 gallons of this oil that you and a few others percieve to be "wet or unacceptable oil" because i am getting bubbles in my hot pan test ...10- 15 very tiny bubbles that disapear quickly- and no damage from water has been done. I have twice sent injectors in to Swamps diesel and i believe both times the report said no damage or evidence of water was shone, nor was there any indication of improperly filtered oil.
Thats enough for me to believe that my oil which contains maybe .05% water is acceptable.


edit

[lamintdog]

You're not being smartass at all- valid question and point. I'm going to HPT a tank sample tonight per your suggestion which is a great one. I've often thought about doing it, but never actually got around to it. I may be surprised either way...

What have you been finding works (and doesn't) as far as keeping water out of your tank?

[Clay]

i don't think you can keep it out, just drain it off now and then and try to keep your tank full as mentioned.
I have a drain in my tank. The tank is heated so I literally turn my tank into a setting unit now and then, parked with my drain at the lowest point and left to set. Water migrates to the drain and i drain off a quart or two. i usually don't see alot of water but i do see a little more than i want pulling into my pickup line.