lil dragon wrote:
I'll be using the red plastic tanks common in small outboard boats. I saw a write-up about using these, but I can't seem to find it now.
Also, is copper compatible with vegetable oil? I can get copper tubing (free) to run for my supply line from the tank to the engine bay.
I'm doing the same thing you're doing, and tho this post is a little old, maybe you'll still see it.
I'm using a 55gal drum as my tank, with a copper heat exchanger that I dreamed up myself. It's quite a contraption, but pretty darn cool.
There is much talk about copper in veg oil. it seems that the combination of heat, and exposure to air, and the contaminants not filtered out, can cause 'chicken skin' or a thin film of polymerized veg oil in the tank.
The keys here being exposure to air in the tank, and the contaminants not filtered out.
It is my opinion that if you're getting polymerized veg oil, you haven't filtered well enough. But, the only method I've found that is 'good enough' is water mist washing, and then vacuum de-watering. I am working out a barrel for mist washing, then into a water heater from there. The water heater cannot be used as the vacuum vessel, but it does make it hot enough that a partial vacuum vessel connected to the hot outlet of the water heater will allow the vapor to flash off as it is removed from the water heater into the vacuum vessel.
This is my plan. It shouldn't matter what materials are used (as long as veg oil won't melt them) if you make the oil clean enough. I will also make sure that the fuel level is never exposing much of the heat exchanger. so, I won't ever be using the full 55 gallon, probably never let it have any less than 30 gallons in it. For $5 or less, empty oil drums are great fuel tanks.
I drilled 2 holes in the rim of the bed just aft of the rear window, and two in the bed in a position not directly under the barrel, but back towards the cab just enough that the tie-downs wrap over 90 degrees around the drum. I filled it with water, heavier than oil, and it doesn't budge. Does cut into my cargo capacity tho.
I've made HIH from .75 heater hose available at Home Depot, and some .375 aluminum fuel line I got online somewhere. It terminates in T's and Delrin compression fittings. It splices into the heater core lines (in series, not parallel), not the big radiator hoses. This requires a way to connect the .625 heater core hose to the .75 heater hose. Not a big deal really.
I know the LUV diesels didn't come with lift pumps, but I'm not sure if I'll need one for the heavier fuel.
I've been planning out the whole thing for the better part of 5 years. From pickup, to filtering, to the vehicle conversion. The only thing I haven't finalized is whether or not to use a lift pump, and if so, the facet?