Fuel heater?

[jkalchik]

I've had problems with gelled fuel 3 times this winter, even with fuel supposed treated to well below forecast lows, additional anti-gel agent, a block heater, and 10-20 of warm-up time. Actually, it's been a problem for the last 3 winters, the prior 6 since I moved to MN weren't a problem.

Having said all that... got into a discussion on another site about block heaters. I run mine pretty much religiously on a timer for 2-3 hours before I leave in the morning. I followed a link in that thread to http://www.wolverineheaters.com. For the most part, I'm not interested in a magnetic mount oil pan heater, but the FH-50 fuel heater did catch my eye. It looks like it wraps around the fuel filter canister for additional heating in cold weather. Unfortunately, one of the descriptions on another site said it was for metal fuel filter canisters only, and I'm fairly sure that the canister on my '12 is a synthetic/plastic.

Has anybody used one of these? How well did it work?

 

[w6pea]

Thank you for posting the link. I don't need it (knock on wood) being So. Cal, but when we travel to Nevada it might come in handy.

 

[gsbrockman]

I've had problems with gelled fuel 3 times this winter, even with fuel supposed treated to well below forecast lows, additional anti-gel agent, a block heater, and 10-20 of warm-up time. Actually, it's been a problem for the last 3 winters, the prior 6 since I moved to MN weren't a problem

An engine block heater will have very little effect on the fuel system from gelling.

Are you sure your fuel heater is even working??? Since your truck is a '12.......it was subject to the P65 recall.

 

[w6pea]

I've had problems with gelled fuel 3 times this winter, even with fuel supposed treated to well below forecast lows, additional anti-gel agent, a block heater, and 10-20 of warm-up time. Actually, it's been a problem for the last 3 winters, the prior 6 since I moved to MN weren't a problem.

Having said all that... got into a discussion on another site about block heaters. I run mine pretty much religiously on a timer for 2-3 hours before I leave in the morning. I followed a link in that thread to http://www.wolverineheaters.com. For the most part, I'm not interested in a magnetic mount oil pan heater, but the FH-50 fuel heater did catch my eye. It looks like it wraps around the fuel filter canister for additional heating in cold weather. Unfortunately, one of the descriptions on another site said it was for metal fuel filter canisters only, and I'm fairly sure that the canister on my '12 is a synthetic/plastic.

Has anybody used one of these? How well did it work?

An engine block heater will have very little effect on the fuel system from gelling.

Are you sure your fuel heater is even working??? Since your truck is a '12.......it was subject to the P65 recall.

Maybe I am wrong (I have been know to be some times) but doesn't these trucks come with a fuel tank heater that is supposed to run on 12v ?
I thought I read about it in a magazine or on one of these forums.

 

[jkalchik]

Yes, the P65 recall has been completed, mid-December'ish. I had problems last winter & the winter before with my '99, and again this winter with the '12 I bought used in February. I'm reasonably sure that both vehicle's fuel heaters were/are working.

Edit: I did have to replace the o-ring in the '99 where the wiring runs through the filter head a few years ago. I did make sure that all connections were tight.

 

[ammdrew]

I have had a Ram cummins diesel in MN for 17 years and not once have I had a gel issue. Driving every day regardless of temp. Maybe your fuel station is suspect? You should not have a gel issue. I am assuming you have a tank gelling not a waxing condition in the lines from fuel filter heaters not functioning.

Never plugged one in. All that will do is aid in starting and allow the motor to come to temp faster it will have zero effect on gelling.

 

[jkalchik]

Could be waxing, I guess. If I do find out the fuel heater is down in my '12, I'll be having a long conversation with the kind folks at the dealership who did the fuel heater recall.

 

[TCDiesel]

MN requires By law to have OCT -10 ,NOV -20, DEC/JAN -30 , Mar -10 ,I bet if you fill a small clear jar (sample) when filling leave it out overnight you will find the Station at Fault in -0 Temps.

 

[jkalchik]

The station I had been filling up at has been advertising fuel treated to -40. The fine print on the sign indicates the test standard uses a 45 micron filter. That's a bit of a problem, the 4th Gen engines use a 3-5 micron filter. Every station in MN that I've filled at in the last 3 winters has either gelled, waxed over, or been loaded up with water. Casey's was the absolute worst, the sign on the pump said treated to -10, the sample I had in a canning jar out in the grill overnight around 0 was opaque. As soon as the temp drops below freezing, I'm always adding anti-gel.

TCDiesel, if that's the case, then the Casey's I mentioned above wasn't delivering appropriately treated fuel, and the truck stop that just closed here only treated to +10 F. Nobody found that out until they went inside to pay, it was not marked at the pumps. Actually, come to think of it..... I *DID* have a problem with a tank of fuel at +5 F, from that station. I pulled the filter on my '99, it looked like a snowball, and that was the last tank of fuel I ever bought there (several years ago.) How long has that legislation been in place?

 

[TCDiesel]

About 5 Years, Check with weight and measures They will confirm the requirements and If they come out and sample the Retail fuel and its below the require cloud point the station(s) gets 1 warning after that its $10,000.00 fine per occurrence.

 

[TCDiesel]

Superamerica or speedy is the place to Buy fuel in MN, they are the most stellar at scrubbing maintaining Tanks and retail pump filters, they also are the best cloud point buyer in the state, I contact both refiners and suppliers in the state They confirmed What MNBlue told Me. 2nd would be KwiK trip. Also by law in MN the seller MUST have the drop sheet available for anyone that ask, I went to Moto and the clerk behind the desk had no Idea what I was talking about, I contacted the Commerce Dept ,the next time I ask the clerk had the drop sheet, It was mid summer Clear #2....

 

[jkalchik]

Good info, thanks.

 

[Newsa]

Maybe I am wrong (I have been know to be some times) but doesn't these trucks come with a fuel tank heater that is supposed to run on 12v ?
I thought I read about it in a magazine or on one of these forums.

I only know about the 2013+. I originally thought like you that there was a fuel heater in or near the tank.

instead, it is in the chassis fuel filter housing. Turns out in some 2013's (including mine) the body control unit didn't know the heater was installed and was not supplying juice to it. In fact, some dealershios were telling customers that there was only a fuel heater in the front filter housing.
I argued with mine even after showing them the Ram Technical Service Bulletin that they didn't even want to take the time to look at.

Actually, there is a fuel heater in the front fuel filter housing as well. I know that because mine had a recall.

I believe that the fuel lines return slightly heated fuel back to the tank from the engine compartment.

And looking from the bittom of the truck, my fuel tank appears covered with some composite material that partly insulates it.
Don't know if there is metal under the insulsting composite material or not.
I believe the gelling issue isn't as much from pumping fuel from the tank. It's more related to trying to force gelled fuel through the filter.

But I think having the fuel heater at the mouth of the tank (where fuel lines leave the tank) would have been a better design. Because fuel would still not gel in those short lines between the tank & chassis fuel filter if properly treated for cold.

 

[Newsa]

Thank you for posting the link. I don't need it (knock on wood) being So. Cal, but when we travel to Nevada it might come in handy.

I (like you) live in a warm climate. But I have to worry about fuel that I might buy in South Florida not being treated for cold weather.

Some of the fuel in North Florida, Georgia & Tennessee might not also be treated well enough to avoid gelling in my childhood home state of Illinois.

Unloaded, I can easily go 500-600 miles on a tank of fuel getting hwy mpgs.

Those with auxillary fuel tanks need be more concerned about treated fuel than me.

I always take winter fuel treatment with me on trips up north in winter.

 

[Kirwin]

In all Cummins powered Ram trucks the primary fuel filter has a heater installed to prevent fuel wax crystals from being filtered out by the fuel filter if the fuel temperature falls below the fuel's cloud point. In the 2013 and later trucks, there is a second filter mounted above the rear drive shaft near the rear universal joint. This filter has a heater assembly to accomplish the same thing made into the filter head that the metal can style filter mounts too. When this filter was added, the Body Control Module (BCM) programming was not enabled at the factory to activate the relay in the PDC that supplied power to the rear fuel filter heater circuit. The the heater was installed but with no power it didn't do its job. After much research and discussion this relay is energized anytime the key in in the run position. It does not matter what the ambient temperature is. The filter head has a thermistor in it that regulates how much current flows to keep the filter above the cloud point of diesel fuel. Keep in mind the filter in the engine bay has a lot of heat around it,while the one over the drive shaft has none. There is no heater that directly affects the bulk fuel in the main fuel tank. That being said, by virtue of the returning fuel from the engine, the fuel in the tank is heated to some degree, but that will not, in and of itself, liquify gelled fuel. The engine will stall due to fuel starvation as soon as the filter in the tank on the end of the fuel pump pickup plugs.

 

[Kirwin]

Newsa has an excellent point. Fuel in Florida is not treated to the level necessary to have acceptable cloud points at the cold temperatures found in MN!

 

[Newsa]

In all Cummins powered Ram trucks the primary fuel filter has a heater installed to prevent fuel wax crystals from being filtered out by the fuel filter if the fuel temperature falls below the fuel's cloud point. In the 2013 and later trucks, there is a second filter mounted above the rear drive shaft near the rear universal joint. This filter has a heater assembly to accomplish the same thing made into the filter head that the metal can style filter mounts too. When this filter was added, the Body Control Module (BCM) programming was not enabled at the factory to activate the relay in the PDC that supplied power to the rear fuel filter heater circuit. The the heater was installed but with no power it didn't do its job. After much research and discussion this relay is energized anytime the key in in the run position. It does not matter what the ambient temperature is. The filter head has a thermistor in it that regulates how much current flows to keep the filter above the cloud point of diesel fuel. Keep in mind the filter in the engine bay has a lot of heat around it,while the one over the drive shaft has none. There is no heater that directly affects the bulk fuel in the main fuel tank. That being said, by virtue of the returning fuel from the engine, the fuel in the tank is heated to some degree, but that will not, in and of itself, liquify gelled fuel. The engine will stall due to fuel starvation as soon as the filter in the tank on the end of the fuel pump pickup plugs.

I did not know there was a third filter. At the pick up fuel line in the tank. Surely this is a coarse (not filtering small particles) filter?

 

[w6pea]

Newsa has an excellent point. Fuel in Florida is not treated to the level necessary to have acceptable cloud points at the cold temperatures found in MN!

I would also think the same in Southern Taxifornia aka California?
I saw a fuel tank heater available that runs all the time almost worth the $75.00 bucks for it.

 

[Kirwin]

I've only seen one in person and it appears to be a typical gasoline pump filter. I also know that Diesel fuel turns to roughly the consistency of runny Jello around 0 F if not properly treated. Stick a sealed bottle in the freezer for 12 hours, pull it out and see for your self.

I did not know there was a third filter. At the pick up fuel line in the tank. Surely this is a coarse (not filtering small particles) filter?