Anyone utilize a heat trace tape on their fuel lines? I'm thinking about fabbing up a system that I can plug in with my block heater. It would run the whole length of my fuel line to the CP3, wrap around my Walbro on the frame and as far as I could reach to my tank. Any opinions as to what type of tape to use?
Thanks

 

Why?
It's much easier to just use anti-gel additive.
Then no heat is needed anywhere unless you're in a polar situation.

 

I agree.... Except for the times when you forget the additive and don't watch weather reports. I always plug her in when temps hit 20's so I figure that'd be more foolproof and cheaper than a tow home.

 

A heat tracing cable's ouput is normally rated in watts/foot (w/ft), with a self-regulating heater's output being temperature dependent. A constant wattage heater's output does not change with temperature. The w/ft required is determined by the heat loss of the traced line. Heat loss is a function of the desired delta T, insulation i.d., insulation o.d. and insulation thermal conductivity at the design mean temperature.

If you can tell me the following, I can easily let you know the w/ft your application will require, along with the installed wattage and amperage.

1. Desired maintain temperature
2. What is the lowest ambient temperature you wish the system to work
3. Line diameter
4. Thermal insulation type and thickness
5. Length of tracing
6. Voltage

 

Check these folks out
http://www.arctic-fox.com/
A problem I ran into was yes, you can keep it nice and warm while plugged in, but it won't stay that way driving down the road. Use a 12 volt system with a trickle charger that will handle the heater until your running and the alternator can take over.

 

Might be cheaper to rig something up that reminds you to use additive
With Power Service I've never had a gel problem on the farm or my Rams in over 40 years down to minus 40°F.

But when the biodiesel requirement comes around all bets are off.
In Montana the requirement was passed for 5% BD but not until it can all be grown and refined instate which appears to be a long way off.

 

Thanks for all the info and opinions... I guess I'll be chartering new territory here but I think I can accomplish this task with about $50 and an hours worth of time. About 20' of heat trace (5w/foot) and some tie wraps ought to do it. I think my problem is a bit unique in that I feel my gel issue is because of my fuel pump mounted on my frame rail... Could be wrong though.

 

You'll need to insulate the traced line in some fashion, otherwise the heat produced by the tracer will be lost to ambient.

 

well that'll change everything... too much work involved. Unless you know of an easier way?

 

True that. My buddy owns a mobile home park and we triple insulate the heat tape going from undergound water lines to the inside of the trailers, otherwise, they're....not so effective

 

On my 2000, my fuel pump was mounted on the frame as well. -43 ambient air temperature, cruising on the highway and I had no issues at all (other than having a marginal heater in the cab).

 

I am about the same as you for weather, I just make sure that the fuel has no biodiesel when filling up in the winter. Here in northern Illinois there is a black & blue sticker on the pump notifying that the fuel is somewhere between 5-20% biosnot...er..ah..biodiesel. About half the stations here have the stickers and the other half don't.
I haven't had a problem and have never used any additives. We occasionally go to the upper Michigan in the winter were it has been -15 and nowhere to plug it in. So far 87k miles and no problems, I don't believe you would need heating tape. FYI

 

Most of the fuel I get here is B5-B11...