FASS Cold Weather performance ??s

[JCyrbok]

My truck is currently in the shop getting a new VP put on. I have had two total and spontainious lift pump failures in the last 5 months, so I am looking for greener pastures!.



For those of you who run a FASS, how is the cold weather performance?



I know you can run coolant lines to the housing, but I'm not worried about gel/wax after the truck is running and I'm driving. I am worried about when my truck sits outside at work for 12 hours in 0deg during our winters in Mich.



Has anyone had any gel/wax issues with the filters being kinda out in the open as opposed to under the hood where the block is still warm and out of the wind? What is the coldest with out problems that you guys with FASS' has experienced. There were occasions last winter when night time got well below 0Deg. I have never had any problems and I never really plug in. Turck is garage kept at home and at work there is nowhere to plug in at.



Any comments would be greatly appreciated. I kinda want to move on this quick, once my truck comes back, so I can make the most of my new VP.



Thanks

J-

 

[tractorface]

Never had any problems but 0 is about as cold as it gets in MD. One day I'll hook up the lines but no problems to date. Going on two years. The idea of heating the filter is a good one. Makes the filter work properly and keeps the clogging to a minimum. Not sure that the problem is as bad as people think. Most winter fuel has additives and I run PS in the winter to make sure. The OEM lift pump still has to move cold fuel all the way to the tank. The FASS circulates a lot of fuel which should really help with the gelling problem. The only advantage I see to the OEM setup is its location like you mentioned. FWIW I have installed in-line electric heaters on many small gensets in the past. They would solve any fears you may have about the FASS. Try McMaster Carr. Don't remember where I bought them last but should not be hard to find.



Lastly, you may want to check for restriction in your supply line. Probably in the tank module. Could be why your losing so many LP's. Some OEM units have a lot of restriction which makes pumps work harder than they should have to

 

[BRobertson]

A year ago January, My truck sat for 11 hours each of two days in -32F while I was at a gun show at Wasilla High School.

That was before I installed the Racor heater. I added Amsoil diesel concentrate and fueled with 50% blend of #1/#2.

No problems.

Bob

 

[AK RAM]

No problems here using 3-Micron filters. Noisy burger though.

 

[RTillery]

I was somewhat concerned with this here in Colorado. We can get into 20 or 30 below situations so I chose to stay with the stock filter-heater setup and go with the FASS 11. I had lunch with Brad from DPP at an event in Denver and he said the increased volume and power of the pump helps it push through in cold weather.



After seeing the stock pump idle at 5lbs on a 30 above morning and pull down to near zero, I switched. I now idle at around twenty and down to maybe 17 on a hard pull. I have not had it in any cold weather and won't til next winter, but I did a 1500 mile trip the day after I put it on, no issues and the motor seems to idle and run a little smoother.

 

[Warpig]

No prob.

This has been my second winter with FASS. No problems at all. I am interested in adding a Racor inline heater though for peace of mind. My truck usually sits all week long while I use my work car. It gets pretty cold during the winter in Connecticut.



Tim W.