I found my oil source, and after I clean the fuel tank, I'm going to start running 4:1 RUG/WVO. Summer is ending in Colorado-cool nights, but AM temps in 60s and 70s til october. In SD and other really cold states, they sell a heated grid that you stick to the oil pan and plug in, often in conjunction with a block heater.

Has anyone tried this on the fuel tank,plugging it in at night with a timer, starting car with warm fuel, running all day, and repeat?

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1983 300TD, white, 240k
PAY TAXES ON ELECTION DAY!

sounds like a plan. do you have pics of this oil pan heater or info link?

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

I think heating the fuel would be super but the basic problem for running a thick fuel still applies...


You can heat the tank all you want but that doesn't heat that 1/6 of a gallon that is between your tank and your injectors (fuel lines/filters/IP/Injector Lines).

If you can find some way to keep that bit of fuel warm, then it will start.

On my search for devices to get that wvo really hot before it enters the IP I stumbled over this page:
http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page4.html
Any comments, suggestions, ideas, experiences? What do you think, how effective would this be? Assuming a coolant temp of around 180F the wvo exiting this 'cooler' / heater should have at least 150F or so.

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'99 S420, 155k
'91 VW Vanagon GL, 150k
'85 VW Vanagon GL, 120k
'82 VW Westy, aircooled, 165k

I have a plan for this cold oil problem. I had planned to run a heater core INSIDE of the WVO tank, with the fuel line (supply and return) running INSIDE the heater hose to the engine. If this is not possible due to hose sizes, maybe fuel lines next to cooling lines wrapped in insulation (metal lines of course). Up front at the switchover valves I was thinking some type of insulation to use the heat from the tank block heater. Perhaps a circ pump and a tank block heater for the rear circuit plug in the car a couple hours before and have everything toasty.
Still have some research to do on the system but I will attach some sketches of the plan so far.
I think I will go with the fuel lines on the outside of the coolant, just because it would be terrible to destroy the IP due to a leaking fuel hose!

An example sketch: Dont mind the poor quality MS paint, you will get the idea....

Attached Thumbnails

       

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1983 Mercedes 300SD
1987 Mercedes 300SDL
2001 VW Passat 2.8 AWD
2007 OM642 Jeep WK 4x4