Alright, be easy on me guys as I'm new to this. I was looking into running a single tank SVO system. My idea is to run an in-tank heater (either electric or coolant) and an inline vegetherm heater just prior to the Lift Pump:

Vegetherm

I was wondering if this sounds sufficient? In fact, I'd almost lead to believe that I could do away with the in tank heater and rely on the vegetherm given that the fuel passes through the head on my cummins motor. So once it's really warmed up everything would be in check?

Lastly, does the VO burn like diesel fuel? I intend to get my 4bt to around 200-250hp (marine tune).

I greatly appreciate all of the insight.

 

I don't see it working like you plan.Even if you put an electric heater in the tank the oil at the injection pump will be cold and not flow or burn good. If you are determined to do a single tank you will need to do a mix. If you want to learn about both there is a good forum for it @ http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums

 

The vegetherm heater is an inline heater, reaches max temp in 40 seconds from startup. I was planning on placing this just before the lift pump. Since the oil from the lift pump is routed through the cylinder head/filter, wouldn't the cylinder head (at full running temp.) help keep the oil heated through the injection pump and to the injectors (they also have injector line heaters I've been looking at).

 

I think that it really depends on the climate that you are in. If you are someplace where it never drops below 60F, you would probably be fine although starting could still be a big issue. However, if you are in a cold state, I don't think that it would ever start and you would have some serious problems keeping it running too.

In order to do a cold start on veggie, you really need to heat your entire fuel system. If you don't you won't be able to move any fuel. Without the engine up to temp, you won't have coolant to heat anything so that means heating all of your lines, filters and some of the tank electrically. I also don't know how an injection pump would do trying to move solidified veg but I can't imagine it would do very well.

It is my opinion that all fuel lines and filters with vegetable oil in them should be hose in a hose. You could do all of your heating electrically but it would be a very large current draw and probably require another alternator.