Running with fuel heater unplugged

Kgeisler2010 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:56 pm **Posts:** 66

Will running with fuel heater unplugged decrease my fuel mileage. Its been in the 20s around here and im getting 20 mpg.

ChesterCRD · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:06 pm

Not according to my experience. My fuel heater has been unplugged since about 20K miles (currently at 98K). My evic reports 27-30 mpg in mixed driving. Hand calculations are slightly lower.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 3:07 pm

I've run both ways and never noticed a difference. I keep careful track of mileage.
When it's really cold, like single digits or less, I leave it plugged in.

naturist · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:00 pm

The primary purpose of the fuel head heater is to prevent the fuel from clogging the fuel filter when it's cold. It doesn't raise the temperature of the fuel much, and doesn't add much at all to the fuel temperature after the engine is warmed up -- lots more heat added to the fuel because it is also used to cool the injectors. I wouldn't expect it to affect fuel mileage, so not surprised others report it doesn't seem to.

Vastly more important to cold weather fuel mileage would be the time spent warming up. Lots of short trips will absolutely kill your mileage, especially in cold weather.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:48 pm

And winter fuel that can be as much as 30% kerosene, which has much less energy per gallon than diesel.

DOC

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:53 am

Go into your Power Center Fuse box next to the battery and unplug the relay.
Stash it in the console for a spare.
In fact, I installed a Fuel Cooler and I don't have any Gelling problems in winter.
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49553
Unless you are running B100 in the winter, WVO, or live where it gets colder than -20F, the fuel heater is as useless as boobs on a bore hog :ROTFL:

dkenny · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:46 pm

warp,
yep..not needed for many of us.

I removed the one from my wife's jeep when I switched to a racor filter head..
yep..no heater..and no water sensor(this would be nice to have back, maybe someday)..

but no heater..no going to put it back either.

our winter lows get down the low teens at times..most are upper teens.

winter blends around 50% biodiesel/diesel..maybe 75% diesel/biodiesel when its really cold.

-dkenny

Kgeisler2010 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:56 pm **Posts:** 66

thanks for all your input it was very helpful.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:59 pm

dkenny wrote:

warp,
yep..not needed for many of us.

I removed the one from my wife's jeep when I switched to a racor filter head..
yep..no heater..and no water sensor(this would be nice to have back, maybe someday)..

but no heater..no going to put it back either.

our winter lows get down the low teens at times..most are upper teens.

winter blends around 50% biodiesel/diesel..maybe 75% diesel/biodiesel when its really cold.

-dkenny

If you did not toss your original WIF sensor, you can make an adapter to screw it into the Racor head like I did.

dkenny · **Posted:** Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:50 pm

that I'll have to work on making..

The sensor is still around and plugged into the harness..just not in the fuel stream..where it should be..

thanks

-dkenny

Running with fuel heater unplugged

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