Aight so after a few months of reading and taking observations on my truck I decided to go ahead and install a small fuel cooler for my next trip I'm taking. I have noticed on my trips when I get stop to get fuel there is a lot of steam coming out of my tank. This is to be expected when the tank is less than half full I would assume. Diesel fuel cold has a higher BTU that if its hot. As it being denser causes the more power and mileage according to the things I have read.
The flow rate of the return line is pretty high on the NHC250s. I actually ran my truck out of fuel on purpose the other day just to check this. I ran my full passengers side tank as the suction line to the pump. I drained and cleaned my primary drivers side tank and left the return line hooked to it. I drove around the block a few times on it then let it idle in my driveway at 1500rpms for about 25 minutes. After 42 minutes total of my combined idle/drive the passengers side tank was empty and the truck died and the primary tank was nearly full. that's about 75/80gph on the lift pump.
Granted the tank is huge so the return fuel may be hot but the circulation of so much fuel should keep it pretty cool. I did notice though that my return line after running at 2000rpms for about 200 miles was 157 degrees off the T into the IP and to the tank. Pretty hot. The line was still 130 at the tank return tube. The tank may be steel but its not transferring that much heat off the fuel thru that steel tank even at cold temps outside. So the fuel leaving the tank going to the IP isn't going to be as cool one would think.
I installed this cooler on the suction side of the system. Just a standard transmission cooler. Got it at Napa for $60 Its 11.75" x 11.75" x 3/4". Rated for 150psi. Not very big but should serve its purpose. I mounted it right up under the back side of the cab so it has a good bit of open air I believe in its space. Any air across it is going to make it a lot cooler than it is without it.
So this is just a test run. I may even install a small fan onto it if I don't like its temp results when I do a few checks.
Some folks may not think this is a worth while modification. Well in retrospect I look at it this way. Over a 2000 miles trip. If it gets me .25 more mpg than what I am getting. It saves me about 16/18 gallons of fuel over that distance so about $45. It would pay for itself fairly quick I believe. I am skeptical but I see this being a big advantage with nighttime runs and especially in the summer months.
This is open for debate. I know the newer diesel engines all have these on them most are coolant cooled like on my powerstroke. Or mounted in the grill. I didn't see a benefit from running it to the front of the truck as it may strain the lift pump having to go so far and then back to the pump. That area of the cab is getting plenty of air flow IMO. This was a quick mod and only took about 15minutes.
I will post my results/thoughts after testing.
The flow rate of the return line is pretty high on the NHC250s. I actually ran my truck out of fuel on purpose the other day just to check this. I ran my full passengers side tank as the suction line to the pump. I drained and cleaned my primary drivers side tank and left the return line hooked to it. I drove around the block a few times on it then let it idle in my driveway at 1500rpms for about 25 minutes. After 42 minutes total of my combined idle/drive the passengers side tank was empty and the truck died and the primary tank was nearly full. that's about 75/80gph on the lift pump.
Granted the tank is huge so the return fuel may be hot but the circulation of so much fuel should keep it pretty cool. I did notice though that my return line after running at 2000rpms for about 200 miles was 157 degrees off the T into the IP and to the tank. Pretty hot. The line was still 130 at the tank return tube. The tank may be steel but its not transferring that much heat off the fuel thru that steel tank even at cold temps outside. So the fuel leaving the tank going to the IP isn't going to be as cool one would think.
I installed this cooler on the suction side of the system. Just a standard transmission cooler. Got it at Napa for $60 Its 11.75" x 11.75" x 3/4". Rated for 150psi. Not very big but should serve its purpose. I mounted it right up under the back side of the cab so it has a good bit of open air I believe in its space. Any air across it is going to make it a lot cooler than it is without it.
So this is just a test run. I may even install a small fan onto it if I don't like its temp results when I do a few checks.
Some folks may not think this is a worth while modification. Well in retrospect I look at it this way. Over a 2000 miles trip. If it gets me .25 more mpg than what I am getting. It saves me about 16/18 gallons of fuel over that distance so about $45. It would pay for itself fairly quick I believe. I am skeptical but I see this being a big advantage with nighttime runs and especially in the summer months.
This is open for debate. I know the newer diesel engines all have these on them most are coolant cooled like on my powerstroke. Or mounted in the grill. I didn't see a benefit from running it to the front of the truck as it may strain the lift pump having to go so far and then back to the pump. That area of the cab is getting plenty of air flow IMO. This was a quick mod and only took about 15minutes.
I will post my results/thoughts after testing.
