Twin tanking.

[Julian]

Is there anyone on here running a twin tank system?

If not why not?

Is it the expense/complication of the installation or just simpler to cut with petrol, filter and use?

If the latter, is heating required and if so what do you use?

[Rotary-Motion]

Is there anyone on here running a twin tank system?

yeah camper van on this site whole build

If not why not?

me loves a challenge

Is it the expense/complication of the installation or just simpler to cut with petrol, filter and use?

does pan out to say under 200 / also on single tank 406 in winter use miss fuel to thin to start

If the latter, is heating required and if so what do you use?

heating petrol causes air locks

406 has RM mod filter / van has vailliant heat exchanger

[Julian]

Sorry Paul, I completely forgot your van was twin tanked ... put it down to senility!

You built the controller for it ... that was the bit I was interested in.  What functions did it have?

[greasemonkey]

I'm not, because.......
Although my engine (smiley transit) is a direct injection, this particular engine, a York, doesn't have the same tendency to suffer from ring gumming.
The main reason to run twin tank is to mitigate the risk of ring gumming in a direct injection engine.

At some point, in the imaginary future, I'm going to twin tank, and have the second tank heated, to help with winter running of veg and bio.

[Julian]

So what would be your ultimate wish list control system?

[greasemonkey]

Who, Me?
Voice activated, ha ha ha.
Sorry.........

I'd just have switches, changing over three way valves, to change the fuel source. I'd have the veg oil in an insulated tank, and pump it through a FPHE. No need to go very hot. 40c would be fine, IMO. It would stay hot for days like that, even in the winter, I think.
I'd have all the gubbins in the back of the van, rather than under the bonnet, and run the pipes through the cab.

[Julian]

Who, Me?
Voice activated, ha ha ha.
Sorry.........

Both you and Paul and anyone else who knows about these things.

Voice activation is getting pretty sophisticated, but when 99% of the human population can't understand a Welsh accent, a machine stands no chance.

[greasemonkey]

Who, Me?
Voice activated, ha ha ha.
Sorry.........

Both you and Paul and anyone else who knows about these things.

Voice activation is getting pretty sophisticated, but when 99% of the human population can't understand a Welsh accent, a machine stands no chance.

Ha ha ha. PMSL.

[Julian]

Had to Google PMSL.

So ...

Switch valves when fuel temp reaches a preset temp.  (where would you measure the temp?) From my little knowledge they need switching back in time for the engine to stop on diesel.

Monitor/display oil tank temp and ... control a water valve?  Any other temperatures useful?  Ambient?

Any trace heating required?

[julianf]

Is there anyone on here running a twin tank system?

Not me.

If not why not?

Ive not found a sensible tank location in the disco (i dont want it inside) and i also think it may cost me more in insurance than it will save me (due to not having so many insurers to choose from)

The other landrover, when i get it off the SORN, will be twin tanked (i have some of the bits already), as its on a modified vehicles policy anyhow, and the intention it to add another tank anyhow, for increased range.


Are you considering twinning your Disco?  If so, what's your plan for tanks?

[Julian]

Are you considering twinning your Disco? 

No, I'll defiantly stick with bio.

Could you get a small tank or tanks under the bonnet or possibly front wings?

[greasemonkey]

I'd just have the temp gauge in the second tank. If I was really getting sophisticated, I guess I could rig a thermostat to the pump, that takes it around the FPHE, instead of a switch.
Even better would be have it so the pump only comes on when the coolant is up to temp.
I'd jsut have to remember to purge with diesel a mile or so from home.
What usually happens with my best plans and ideas, is that it ends up cobbled together with binder twine and duct tape.........

[knighty]

I used to twin tank

just standard twin tank setup, but with a good lift pump because engines were common rail

only thing I did different was att an extra 3 way valve, so while I was running on diesel and warming up, I could leave the lift pump running circulating fuel up from the tank, through the fphe, through the filter (extra valve here) and then back down to the tank... so all the fuel lines, filters etc.. were nice and warm ready for me switching over


I did 10k miles in one van, and 80k in another (both common rail)... but then I started driving less and spending more time in the factory... I don;t know how but every other driver killed multiple injection pumps and sets of injectors so it ended up cheaper to use diesel :-(

[therecklessengineer]

Temperature is really secondary to the fact.

What I'd want to see is a measurement of viscosity, along with fuel pressure of diesel, pressure of veg, pressure at IP inlet, filter differential pressure, and engine coolant temperature.

I'd want it to automatically switch to veg when viscosity gets within a certain band, and I'd want it to blend it in slowly to allow the IP to warm up with the warm fuel.

In fact, I'd probably redesign the plumbing a bit and have the heat exchanger in the looped fuel return with a proportional valve on it to be able to regulate the temperature/viscosity of the fuel going around the loop.

[Rotary-Motion]

Sorry Paul, I completely forgot your van was twin tanked ... put it down to senility!

You built the controller for it ... that was the bit I was interested in.  What functions did it have?

its basically 99% automatic, I start up and drive off just like any other car/van that doesn't have a twin tank, the controller does it all, I touch nothing on the twin tank system, I have visual aids that let me know what part of its procedure its at (LED's/lights + temp display/relay) at any given time, LED for each individual one (diesel/veg/purge) and a 4th LED for fuel tank sender unit switching over automatically aswell combined with a switch (flick the switch back and forth) allows me to see what the fuel level is in each tank at any time as im driving along or not, so 2x fuel sender units 1 in each tank linked to (original van dashboard gauge = very nice) had the AUX tank made to be able to use exact same sender unit as original, 9 and a quarter inch depth (made life easy on wiring up) and also a perfect reading of fuel level just like original, also a main switch (power-on/power-off/purge) temperature controller can be set at any temp to switch valves for any given vehicle, some cars may need hotter than others? before it fires into injection pump, case in point the dreaded LUCAS pumps (had a lucas on my peugeot 205 first twin tank)