Heated fuel filter. How fuel filter heating works

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The fact that starting a diesel engine in winter is very difficult, almost every owner of a vehicle with a diesel engine knows. This article lists the main causes of a poor engine start and ways to get rid of this problem: by installing a heated diesel fuel filter on the engine or by using folk methods of warming up.

Reasons for difficult launch

The main problem is the change in the structure of diesel fuel. When the outside temperature drops during the cold seasons, paraffin crystallization occurs in the oil, which contributes to the thickening of the fuel.

As a result of these physical and chemical processes, the fluidity of the solarium decreases, and paraffin particles clog the fuel filter. Its throughput is significantly reduced. As a result, the engine does not start well or does not start at all.

You can reduce the fuel thickening factor by the folk method by adding a little kerosene or gasoline to it, as well as by using various additivesto make starting easier. But this method can not always help and has a number of significant contraindications and limitations. The use of inexpensive and low-quality additives can cause damage to the fuel equipment, filter and engine failure. Owners of diesel units are well aware that the repair of the fuel system can cost a tidy sum. And it doesn't matter if it's a domestic car or a foreign car.

Effective way to make starting easier

The most effective way to facilitate the start of the engine is to heat the fuel filter, in the body of which paraffin deposits accumulate. Crystallized paraffin clogs the microscopic openings of the filter element, which prevents the normal flow of fuel through it. The supply of solar oil is partially or completely stopped, which leads to various problems. At the same time, as already mentioned, the engine does not start well, there is a significant decrease in power, interruptions in the normal operating mode.

Do-it-yourself fuel filter heating

Earlier, our compatriots struggled with the problem of freezing fuel in a rather primitive form. The heating of the fuel system and its elements was carried out using a blowtorch or a homemade torch, hot water and household electric heaters. These activities were carried out with a high risk of engine ignition and the occurrence of many other negative consequences.

At the moment, artisanal methods of heating have faded into the background, asthe possibility of installing special car electric heaters that heat the fuel filter and diesel fuel without various kinds of consequences.

Heaters

They are a very effective method of eliminating the moment of crystallization in almost all severe weather conditions. As a rule, these devices are installed on the nodes of the fuel system, which are more prone to "freezing".

These include coarse and fine filter elements. The heater, which is located on the coarse filter, is responsible for heating the fuel, which is necessary to start the diesel unit. At the time of using the car, the heating of the mechanism is carried out using the reverse flow of coolant.

The electric heater is switched on from the passenger compartment by the driver and is powered by a battery. The power of the heater depends on the amount of diesel fuel consumed, and can be 15-150 W, with an on-board network of a car of 12 V, and 25-250 W with a network of 24 V. This type of heating helps to heat the filter to the required operating temperature, as a result of which crystals of paraffin compounds melt in a very short period of time, up to about five minutes. When using a combined heater, the heating process is continued until the engine coolant reaches a temperature of forty degrees, after which the electric heating is turned off.

Benefits of using the device

Using oncar heated filter, can greatly increase the life of the engine.

There is also no need to purchase various starting additives, the battery saves its resource. Starting the engine during a cold period contributes to excessive wear of its parts, and in the case of easy starting and quick warm-up, the wear factor is significantly reduced. It also eliminates frequent repairs to the fuel system and its connecting elements.

Types of heaters

Differing in shape, method of manufacture and installation, as well as production indicators.

Taking into account the functional features of the heaters, they are divided into several types that heat the diesel fuel filter in different ways:

• Stand heaters.
• Tape.
• Bandage type.
• Flow type.
• Heater nozzles.
• Fuel intake.

Assignment of bandage heater

The finest filter can be called the most vulnerable part of the fuel system. To warm up diesel fuel in such a mechanism, a bandage heater is installed, made in the form of a clip. The heater is placed on the outer surface of the element. The heating of the fuel filter occurs due to the consumption of electricity by the heater from the battery. As a rule, it turns on five minutes before the engine can be started.

Tape

They are mainly used to warm up fuel lines both before starting the engine and duringoperating time.

They can also be used to warm up filters and system mechanisms. Due to the special design (made in the form of a ribbon wire), they can wrap any parts. Heating the diesel fuel filter with such a device ensures the normal and reliable operation of the filter element, with a high throughput.

Nozzles

Heater nozzles are installed on standard fuel intake areas and help ensure the supply of solar oil from the fuel tank at very low temperatures. The heated fuel in the tank has a more liquid structure, there are no paraffin crystals in it, therefore it is easier to be taken in by the intake. This heater is powered directly from the on-board network of the vehicle.

Flow type

Can act as an accessory for the motor power system.

As a rule, such heaters are installed directly before fine filtration of the fuel. To do this, a cut is made in the fuel line and a device is mounted into it. In this case, the heating of the fuel filter is carried out due to the inflow of already warmed diesel fuel into it. It is possible to provide warming up in this way throughout the entire period of using the car.

How the fuel filter heating works is detailed in the instructions for use of a particular heating device.

To ensurenormal operation and start of a diesel engine in winter, it is important to decide how the heating process will be done. Heating the fuel filter with your own hands or with the help of special equipment is a purely personal matter for each vehicle owner.

But it is important to consider the danger of warming up manually, as well as the impossibility of performing this operation outside the home. It will be much cheaper to purchase a heating device, which in the future will save time on warm-ups and relieve various difficulties during starting the engine.