Fuel Cooler thoughts.....

05infernoCRDL · **Posted:** Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:32 pm

so i was thinking while driving home forom work the other day...

we have a temperature sensitive fuel warmer that we have mostly all unplugged.
i am assuming that there is a external temp switch somewhere that tells it when
to turn on. this is where the thought comes in....

could we wire up a selenoid that when the fuel heater is supposed to be on the fuel
path is normal.. and when it is off the selenoid is open and runs the fuel through the
fuel cooler.. seems an easy thing to do... then we can put that temp sensor to work
instead of having void weight.... not that it weigh all that much.

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:47 am

There is no thermostat which controls the fuel heater. The heater always has power to it and is called a thermistor. At low temps the ceramic of the Thermistor allows electrical current to heat the element, but as the temperature climbs the resistance also climbs to the point that there is no longer any current flow. In our CRD the temperature cap is supposed to be around 80 degrees F. This is how they work in theory, however in practice they often become severely overheated to the point where they burn the fuel puck causing fuel leaks and fires, especially if there is air in the filter head. My heater is unplugged even though I have a lift pump, but I have thought about wiring a switch in the cockpit so that I could it on at temps lower than 20 degrees F. Above 20 there is really no danger of the filter plugging unless you are running a high % of biodiesel.

05infernoCRDL · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:26 pm

aahhh.... so it is internally controlled... well there goes that automated idea without buying a thermal switch

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:43 pm

And here are some of the ideas that died:
1) Wax element like a coolant thermostat.
Why: Wax melts at a temp higher than what we want our fuel at.
In fact even the melting point of shortening is higher than what we want.
2) Bi metal thermostat strip.
Why: Lowest click on click off button thermostat is on 90f off 80f, OK for the heater but to drive a three way valve to direct the flow to a fuel cooler would wear out too soon.
3) Transmission cooler thermostat.
Why: Temp too high around 160f which is too close to the ECM power reduction temp.

Currently under consideration: A capillary tube type probe thermostat like what used on refrigeration and can be set to open and close the three way valve and power on and off the fuel heater.

When I get it working, I will post it.

05infernoCRDL · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:24 pm

i see many of the minds on this forum think a like

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:28 pm

Here is my Picasa link: http://picasaweb.google.com/warp2diesel ... uelCooler#

Ran a post a few weeks ago but can't find it, GMCTD said it looks like his.

Fuel Cooler thoughts.....

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