Fitting secondary fuel feed.

[cambscot]

I'm considering methods of making the fuel supply to the diesel cabin heater a bit more permanent, as it's currently using a 10l plastic water carrier wedged in the cockpit locker.

Rather than fitting a second tank, I'd like to use the same tank for both the engine and heater. The easiest solution would be to fit a T-piece in line with the current fuel take-off, and feed that to the heater. However, there is always the chance that, if fuel is low, you might end up with a warm cabin but no engine fuel.

To prevent this, I was considering putting a second fuel feed out of the side of the tank, perhaps a few inches above the bottom, so the heater can never drain the tank. Is this a viable option, or have I missed something obvious?
Is there any easy way of retro fitting a second fuel feed out the tank without having to open it up somehow?

Am I just overcomplicating it, and I should fit a T-piece and just watch the fuel level?

a

 

[misterg]

You can get 'stand pipe' to retro-fit through a hole drilled in the top of the tank (Like the one shown here )

Cut the pipe off above the level of your engine take-off.

I think it's an Eberspacher part, so probably horribly expensive.

Andy

 

[NorthUp]

If the tank is higher than the heater, and you are prepared to 'start' a syphon to Prime the heater, then you could drill into the top of your fuel tank and use a dip tube to draw the fuel at the level of your choice. The potential for leaks is much reduced.

edit: great minds etc...!

 

[snooks]

Drilling a hole in the top of the tank is the way forward.

Get a vacuum cleaner nozzle right next to where you are drilling and if you have three hands is simple (so you might need a helping hand from someone to hold the hoover while you drill). It is possible with two hands, but you have to drill with one hand and vacuum wit the other

Drill a hole in the top and when you're ready to fit, line up the pipe with the side of the tank and cut the pipe about an inch or two shorter this will stop and crud being sucked into the pipe and also lets your engine run while you freeze!

If you score around the pipe with the cutters from a pair of pliers, twisting the pipe and the pliers until it's deeply scored all the way around the pipe should snap cleanly

 

[cid]

mine is a tee junction afer the primary filter,the heater is higher than the junction and the tank,but there is a meter pump to send it to the heater.Dont know if this will work for you but it beats drilling holes.

 

[exfinnsailor]

Got a stand pipe if you want it .. PM Me .. Just fitted a MIKUNI Heater and took the feed off the diesel filter .. Got a bit of a leak and now know that its a UNF thread not a BSF thread so have made an adaptor which I am off to fit at the weekend .. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif .. The stand pipe is designed to fit in the top of the tank the reason I did not fit it was I could only just get my hand in ..

 

[William_H]

I would suggest that the fuel consumption of the heater is quite small.
Diesel tanks are best kept near full to minimise air intake with temperature changes so minimising moisture ingress.
I suspect that if you use the heater a lot you will be more aware of fuel quantity remaining so I reckon you should go with the Tee into the fuel pipe.
You are never in practice likely to deplete the fuel tank. olewill

 

[Dave_Seager]

I have recently fitted a heater to our boat and faced similar decisions.

I originally planned to fit an extra stand pipe as I thought this would avoid any risk of interrupting the supply to the engine and could avoid running too low on fuel. I even bought a pipe from eBay as has been suggested to you.

When I came to fit the pipe I did not fancy drilling such a large hole through thin metal sheet. I felt it needed a tank-cutter which would require access from inside the tank and was impossible in my case. Fitting the pipe would also require access from inside unless I bought the specil, expensive Eberspacher part. Their pipe requires three overlapping holes to create a slot through which you can manipulate the flange.

Eventually, I decided that the risks were too great and used a tee- joint in the take-off for one of the engines. I have a fuel tap immediately after the tee on the new branch so that I can isolate the new pipework in case of a fuel leak or an air leak that would affect the engine.

I reasoned that the fuel consumption of the heater is so small compared with the engines that it was unlikely to make any significant difference to running out of fuel. If it was low enough to matter, I would not get home anyway!

Incidentally, I would not advise drilling into the side of a fuel tank due to the risk of causing a leak.

 

[robind]

Wouldnt running your eberspacher on parafin give you a fairly trouble free life rather than clogging it up with gasoil? leave the tank as it is and buy Parrafin maybe?

 

[jimbouy]

That's exactly what I did and IMO it's weel worth while.

[ QUOTE ]
Wouldnt running your eberspacher on parafin give you a fairly trouble free life rather than clogging it up with gasoil? leave the tank as it is and buy Parrafin maybe?

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Leighb]

Where did you get your very neat looking tank made, and what capacity/dimensions please?

 

[Dave_Seager]

If you run your heater from a separate fuel supply then you cannot honestly claim any reduction on the duty for your diesel.

 

[Heckler]

I bought a new one, it was only £7
Stu

 

[Heckler]

Go here for how I did mine http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk/hints.htm
Stu

 

[jimbouy]

Hi,

I had the tank made up by SteveBirch of this parish... PM me of you can't find his details.

Its capacity is around 1.5 gals. I can't recall the exact dimensions off had but is roughly 30x20x20 cm ish.

I run the heater off parafin which gives a much cleaner burn. I use the bottles of low soot stuff sold to heat greenhouses and it lasts ages.


Cheers

Jim

 

[jimbouy]

This is true, you need to weigh up your usage against some of the advantages of running off its own fuel tank. I run on parafin which gives a much cleaner burn.





[ QUOTE ]
If you run your heater from a separate fuel supply then you cannot honestly claim any reduction on the duty for your diesel.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Leighb]

Is that Steve Birch of Albin Vega Association? I met him last year when they came to RHYC for their International rally.

 

[jimbouy]

It is!


[ QUOTE ]
Is that Steve Birch of Albin Vega Association? I met him last year when they came to RHYC for their International rally.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Leighb]

Thanks I will get in touch with Steve. I have a project for next winter to replace the tank for my diesel heater.

Currently as installed on the boat when I bought her it is an old, getting a bit rusty, outboard fuel tank sitting in the cockpit locker. It takes up far too much space and I want a purpose built tank that can be sited better.

Can't draw from main fuel tank as the lift is too much for the heater's fuel pump.

 

[ADLS]

What ever method you choose you still have to know the fuel level before setting off. So I would pick the T piece method provided to delivery tube size is suffient to supply enough fuel for both the engine and the heater. You can increase the fuel delivered without retubing by fitting a 2nd T piece after the heater connection and connecting the engine fuel return pipe into it. The return can also be fitted into a spare inlet on the primary fliter head.

Some people say not to do this as you are returning hot fuel, well I can tell you diesel engines in the dessert have hot fuel being used directly from the tank and work A OK.