Dewatering UCO ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Austin85 · #1 11-07-2005, 05:38 PM

What are the effects if you don't dewater your UCO well enough?
I ask this because I didn't do it at all on my 1st go round of running on veggie, and now I am just starting to run after hopefully doing it well enough.

boneheaddoctor · #2 11-07-2005, 07:02 PM

Cavitation in the IP and erosion of the nozzles in the injectors.

Austin85 · #3 11-07-2005, 10:47 PM

I was hoping you wouldn't say that....

coachgeo · #4 11-08-2005, 01:45 AM

water cavitation can destroy an IP and/or injectors.

A water test is easy. Basic test is a spoon and a lighter. A real test uses a frying pan. Not much harder to do than spoon and lighter. A modified 12v coffee maker can be a portable tester

Austin85 · #5 11-08-2005, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coachgeo

water cavitation can destroy an IP and/or injectors.

A water test is easy. Basic test is a spoon and a lighter. A real test uses a frying pan. Not much harder to do than spoon and lighter. A modified 12v coffee maker can be a portable tester

Can you explain this? Details..

coachgeo · #6 11-08-2005, 01:58 PM

Explaining water testing

I spent about 20min looking this up for you.

Quote:

A "quick and dirty" water test can be done with a teaspoon and a candle. Half fill the spoon with the wvo to be tested and gently warm it over the candle flame until it just begins to smoke. If no crackling.fizzing, or popping occurrs by that time you can be reasonably sure your wvo is water free. Wear a leather glove and long sleeves in case it does "pop" and splatters oil out. And take your wvo sample from the bottom level of your wvo container. Unless it is recently mixed taking wvo near the top may not contain water..though the bottom 1/4 can still be loaded with it.

Dana
danalinscott@yahoo.com

for the fry pan test I suggest you do a search for "water, test, frypan" over at http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/frm/f/159605551

Jmana · #7 11-08-2005, 04:40 PM

I don't know if I trust the spoon and lighter method. I did this and didn't show as having any water in it, yet when I opened up my coolant heated fleetguard filter, there was water drops on the inside of the lid, and the top metal part of the filter is rusting, so obviously there is water in the oil.

TheDon · #8 11-08-2005, 04:46 PM

easy way to heat your oil to dewater
make a turk burner and a stand for a steel 55 gallon open top drum..

used engine oil or glycerine will work in a turk .. use the heat from the turk burner to heat the oil to around 130 so when you stop heating the water falls to the bottom.. alot faster than letting it sit .. i dont know how long it takes havent done it myself but seems feasible

1983/300CD · #9 11-08-2005, 05:33 PM

Next thing you know, your engine will be asking you to "tie it off".

Tirebiter · #10 11-08-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

heat the oil to around 130 so when you stop heating the water falls to the bottom.. alot faster than letting it sit .. i dont know how long it takes havent done it myself but seems feasible

With all due respect, sir... you are passing on bad information.
You must heat the oil to 220F or better and keep it there until you have NO POPPING and no bubbles coming off the bottom.

To test your WVO, drain a liter off the bottom and put it in a sauce pan on your stove. Heat to 230F and there should be no activity if water is not present.

MFI pumps and injectors do NOT tolerate water very well.

TheDon · #11 11-08-2005, 09:41 PM

have fun with boiling 40 gallons of WVO ill see ya in the burn ward.. it will laso take some time fo boil off all the water in 20 or more gallons.. plus just heating the oil and letting the water settle off does work.. ive done it in my appleseed.

nappy nate · #12 11-08-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tirebiter

With all due respect, sir... you are passing on bad information.
You must heat the oil to 220F or better and keep it there until you have NO POPPING and no bubbles coming off the bottom.

To test your WVO, drain a liter off the bottom and put it in a sauce pan on your stove. Heat to 230F and there should be no activity if water is not present.

MFI pumps and injectors do NOT tolerate water very well.

Actually tirebiter it is you who is passing the bad information, Heat your oil to 120 and let the water settle to the bottom for a few hours after the heat is removed

TheDon · #13 11-08-2005, 09:46 PM

hahah i win.. also dont call me sir im only 16

Austin85 · #14 11-08-2005, 10:22 PM

OK So I have a drum, thick plastic from carwash; of UCO about 30 gallons and I tested it in a frying pan and it crackled up good.
How do you dewater 30 - 40 gallons of UCO properly and efficiently?...'cause I don't want to put any water in my IP...

( I spoke to an experienced greaser - over 300K on his Ford F Diesel - today who uses a converted hot water heater to dewater UCO....That may be the way to go....)

83-240D · #15 11-08-2005, 11:02 PM

49 gals ain't much. i did that much last saturday morning.

i use a large stock pot bought cheep at a dollar store. them i fire op the camp stove hooked to the bbq bottle of propane. filter the oil thru a strainer to get the big chunks and wqait for it to heat. it won't take much heat to tell you if there is water, if no snap crackle and pop pour it into your drum and go to the next batch.