10 Degrees on the Dash but only 110 in the Tank!?
September 22, 2005 - 8:01am
Make that 160 Degrees in the heading, not 10!!!
What gives? I just installed my Greasecar kit in my 1997 Jetta and I'm registering 160 degrees on my stock water temperture gauge (after only 4-5 minutes of driving), however, it's only a tepid 100 degrees in the WVO tank! I hear that 160 degrees is the ideal switchover temperature but even after 30 minutes of driving, the tank is only reading 110 degrees.
Will the WVO ever reach 160 degrees (heated fuel filter) before it reaches the injector's? What temperture are you guys getting at the tank after 5 minutes?
I don't want to strees my IP by injecting warm WVO - any thoughts?
September 22, 2005 - 8:23am
#2
GETFRYD - if its only 110 at the tank, what could I expect the temperature to be at the injectors?
If I cannot get 160 degrees at the injectors it will be a real problem!
September 22, 2005 - 9:24am
#3
GETFRYD - what is your WVO temperature at the WVO tank and after the WVO fuel filter?
Gobi
September 22, 2005 - 10:12am
#4
If you installed the kit correctly, that 160 degree reading is coming from the engine coolant. This should then be immediately diverted to the heat exchanger that is wrapped around the filter. There isn't much time to cool off in that span, so your oil at the filter should be around the same temp. The oil in the tank will naturally be a lower temperature, because there is less surface area of heater coil to warm the oil. All you want from the tank is for it to be thin enough to move to your filter. If you want to know for sure, put an inlune fuel temp guage right after the filter.
In my car I have a coolant temp guage right before the heat exchanger, so that I know when the oil is hot enough to switch to. Never felt the need to know how hot the oil is, because the heat exchanger and filter should be the same temp as the coolant.
-------------------------
2001 VW New Beetle TDI
3000 mi wvo and counting....
Its a trip driving a beetle.
Guys check me out expecting a woman driver.
It's creepy.
September 22, 2005 - 11:15am
#5
I was surprised at the temperature drop between the engine and the VO filter on my car. With the stock temperature gauge reading 190, the sensor in the copper coils of the VO filter heat exchanger were as low as 130-140 -- even after warming up. I insulated the hose that supplies the coolant to the VO filter, and the VO filter itself. That gained me a good 25-30 degrees F.
I don't worry about the temperature in the tank at all. As long as it will flow enough to go through the fuel line, that's all it needs.
-------------------------
Brian
vw.ourwebstop.com
September 22, 2005 - 4:49pm
#6
For some reason, everyone likes to measure the coolant temperature and not the actual WVO temperature. The WVO heats up much more slowly than the coolant - so if your coolant temp has hit 160 *F, it's a pretty safe bet that your WVO is nowhere near that temperature. My car will be up to operating temperature (190 *F) long before the WVO is ready to go. That's even with a decent heat exchanger right before the sensor and the IP.
Who cares what the coolant temperature is? We are burning WVO not coolant - measure the WVO temperature! "Should be hot enough" does not cut it.
September 22, 2005 - 7:41pm
#7
So 81SD - when do YOU switch over to WVO if your coolant temp. is 160 degrees or hotter?
September 22, 2005 - 9:20pm
#8
Quote:
Originally posted by: 81SD
For some reason, everyone likes to measure the coolant temperature and not the actual WVO temperature. The WVO heats up much more slowly than the coolant - so if your coolant temp has hit 160 *F, it's a pretty safe bet that your WVO is nowhere near that temperature. My car will be up to operating temperature (190 *F) long before the WVO is ready to go. That's even with a decent heat exchanger right before the sensor and the IP.
Who cares what the coolant temperature is? We are burning WVO not coolant - measure the WVO temperature! "Should be hot enough" does not cut it.
I agree 100%. I like to add where you put the WVO temp sensor also matters. Let's say you have it at the output of your final heat exhanger and then you have a valve and some lines between it (the final HE) and the IP, you can bet your WVO temp at the IP will be lower than what's measured at the final heat exchanger. It could be as much as 10 to 20 deg lower depending how your valve is mounted, how much line and if they are insulated or not. If possible, put your WVO temp sensor right at the IP inlet.
September 23, 2005 - 2:38am
#9
This weekend I'm going to add a temp sender right at the outlet of the VO filter. I'm replacing the outlet hose fitting with a close nipple and a brass tee. On one side of the tee is is hose fitting, on the other is a 1/2 inch sending unit.
I'll see how it goes.
-------------------------
2001 VW Golf TDI - Converted 9/1/05 @ 46,200 miles with standard Greasecar kit
125 mile per day commuter
September 23, 2005 - 2:41am
#10
Oh, i forgot to answer the questions:
I do not know what temp to expect at the injectors if your tank temp is only 110.
I have not measured my tank temperature, but by feel after driving home from work, I can't touch it. I think it is close to the engine temp.
I will know more about my temperatures after this weekend.
Currently I play it on the safe side and drive for 10 minutes after my car hits 190. I don't think this is necessary, but until I get the sending units in place...
TRIP
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2001 VW Golf TDI - Converted 9/1/05 @ 46,200 miles with standard Greasecar kit
125 mile per day commuter
September 23, 2005 - 6:24am
#11
Quote:
Originally posted by: Gobi
So 81SD - when do YOU switch over to WVO if your coolant temp. is 160 degrees or hotter?
My WVO temperature dictates when I switch over. The coolant usually has hit it's normal range (190 *F) and been there for a couple of minutes before the WVO temps hit ~150 *F. I then hit my 3rd valve switch to loop my IP return and switch over to WVO. From all of my reading, 150 *F - 170 *F is a reasonable range to stay in.
If I switched over when my coolant has hit 160 *F, my WVO gauge still registers 115-120 *F. It's a decent gauge and sending unit - I didn't go cheap. Unless you have a similiar heat exchanger AND supplementary electrical heating - odds are your WVO temps are not much different. It's your engine - but I'd strongly suggest that you verify your temperatures. It beats finding out later that they were too low...
September 23, 2005 - 12:09pm
#12
81SD - can I call you to discuss further?
Gobi
September 23, 2005 - 12:15pm
#13
Boy, guess I should install a WVO temp sender. I assumed that the proximity to the filter of my coolant sensor should give me a rough estimate of my WVO. Looks like I should be a little more informed before I give others shitty advice. ;)
-------------------------
2001 VW New Beetle TDI
3000 mi wvo and counting....
Its a trip driving a beetle.
Guys check me out expecting a woman driver.
It's creepy.
September 23, 2005 - 5:56pm
#14
I have one temp sensor in my tank + one just before the I.P .
i have a toggle to switch the two.
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2003 JETTA, GC kit half installed !!
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Your tank doesn't need to be 160. You are right, it is the injection temperature that matters.
I have two temperature gauges to install: one in the outlet of the heated filter (via a brass T fitting), the other in the fuel return line.
-------------------------
2001 VW Golf TDI - Converted 9/1/05 @ 46,200 miles with standard Greasecar kit
125 mile per day commuter