Aux Fuel Tanks & Diesel/Veg Oil Twin Tanks

If I'm repeating another thread - please refer me to it! Otherwise...

I'm starting to fit out my 1995 300tdi 110 CSW for long trips. I'm starting to think about auxiliary fuel tanks and would appreciate advice as I've seen several sizes, materials and positioning from the various manufacturers.

1. on a 110 5 door county what are the size and position options and what are the pros and cons of each?
2. Is there much to be gained from paying the extra for stainless steel?
3. what do people do about fuel tank gauges?
4. has anyone done a twin tank conversion and used diesel in one for starts, with veg oil in the other to switch over to when the engine is hot? what tanks did you use?

If you don't mind me asking where are you getting the oil from and how much does it cost? There's a bloke local to me who sells biodiesel for 90p per litre and runs straight in the tank so I'm just trying to price up whether or not it's worth installing a second tank and how long it would take to pay for itself

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/2nd-fuel-tank-90-a-242067.html

I'm in the process of doing a dual tank veg conversion.....

Step

1 - Alter standard exhaust system

Remove last section of exhaust and replace with final section of last 300TDi exhaust - ESR4527 | Rear Tailpipe - 90 300TDI from TA999222 to WA159806 then fabricate a centre section (a straight pipe)

2 - 2nd tank

Fit TD5 rear tank into section vacated by exhaust system between the rear cross members - This requires a small amount of work with a grinder to remove the slanted bit of excess metal at the rear of the rear cross member and fabricating a couple of small brackets. Then fitting the bracket to hold it in place.

3 - 300TDi fuel gauge / fuel exit / return

Fit the 300TDi fuel sender (often mistakenly called a pump - The similar TD5 version has a pump). 2nd fuel gauge on dash (or switch the fuel sender wire when changing tanks)

4 - Fit fuel/water heat exchanger & heated fuel filter

5 - plumb it all up.

As per the diagrams I posted



Simples....

oh and 20 litres of veg oil is £15.99 at macro

Cheers for the info Cowasaki, how much do you think the conversion has cost as that seems a lot of work for a saving of 10p per litre

Marmaduke said:

Cheers for the info Cowasaki, how much do you think the conversion has cost as that seems a lot of work for a saving of 10p per litre

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I'm in the process of doing it. My rear section of exhaust was already knackered so I personally wouldn't count that bit but total approximate prices (you could get some bits cheaper if you look around)...

Paddocks were cheapest by far for the exhaust - Rear section £16.50+vat (ESR4527 | Rear Tailpipe - 90 300TDI from TA999222 to WA159806)
Mid section £0 as I am welding one up but you could possibly use a mid section from paddocks for £34.95 (ESR4526 | Centre Silencer - 90 300TDI from TA999222)
Plus a couple of rubber exhaust hanger (I have these already)

Tank £60-100 2nd hand
Tank under tray £40 (I'm fabricating all this with a friend)
300TDi pump (it isn't a pump) £50 (Land Rover Defender 300 TDi in tank fuel sender assembly. BN/genuine. WQC000150 | eBay)
5 metres of 8mm fuel pipe £12
3 metres of 3.2mm fuel pipe for return £9
2 x 3 way solenoids £78 - similar to ... (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Way-Fue...348?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417a9230d4)
1 x water/fuel heat exchanger £50 - similar to ... (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAT-EXCH...arden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item1e83b7aa62)
1 x water heated fuel filter £50
water pipe £15
2nd gauge £15
2nd fuel filler pipe £40
filler pipe and breather for 2nd tank £25


As I said I'm still doing this. I've just picked up 2 discos for less than the price of the scrap metal so I'm looking at using the disco fuel sender and possibly even the disco tank. I'm making the brackets and guards. I got a 2nd fuel gauge when buying a TD5 dash and I've had to fix my exhaust anyway.

Sh!t the bed that's the best part of £550. I don't think I'd ever recoup the costs

Marmaduke said:

Sh!t the bed that's the best part of £550. I don't think I'd ever recoup the costs

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If you sat down and calculated the cost and then bought all the stuff it would not be worth it but as I'm replacing the exhaust anyway there is no cost there. No cost for the gauge, wire or pipe for me. Hopefully no cost for the tank, sender and filler tube I'm hoping..........

I'll save 50p per litre or more than £2 per gallon..... 30mpg about 7p per mile.

45 miles round trip to work 22x per month= about £70 per month minus diesel whilst warming up so call it £50 per month

I can see where you're coming from but I get 200 litres of biodiesel delivered for £180 so I don't think it's worth it for myself

I'm looking at making bio diesel myself and have a steady supply of very clean used oil hopefully coming for free. The biggest part of the expense is fitting a second tank and that would be useful anyway even with bio diesel if I'm going on a long journey it will save having to fill up at the other end with expensive diesel or carrying Jerry cans.

Don't have a landy yet(close to getting one!) but will run it on veg oil using a twin tank system. Was thinking of adding an auxillary tank for the veg oil and leaving the original tank for the diesel. Was looking at something like this till I got a proper aux tank. @ a €100 for me it would be grand just if bolted down in the back.
Plastic Fuel Tank 50 Litre Inboard Outboard Fishing RIB Cruiser NEW | eBay

MOB993 said:

Don't have a landy yet(close to getting one!) but will run it on veg oil using a twin tank system. Was thinking of adding an auxillary tank for the veg oil and leaving the original tank for the diesel. Was looking at something like this till I got a proper aux tank. @ a €100 for me it would be grand just if bolted down in the back.
Plastic Fuel Tank 50 Litre Inboard Outboard Fishing RIB Cruiser NEW | eBay

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It's ok but it's taking up valuable space inside the cab. The twin tank system as described takes up no more space than the single system

For a 2 door van type tho it would do initially. It would definitely take up too much space in a csw. I wouldn't be able to afford an aux tank or the option u mentioned at the moment and but I would add it later.
At the minute my mode of transport fits something the size of a pencil case under the seat so I could live with that tank in the back of a 110! Joys of a motorbike!

Got a better idea. Jerry cans with this attachment.
Sealey Jerry CAN Adaptor Double Tube JCA2 | eBay
You could use just the one lid and change can to a full one when the first one empties or have a series of them. And could be stored in side lockers etc.
This is the route I will be going for my twin tank system.. to begin with anyway..

Marmaduke said:

If you don't mind me asking where are you getting the oil from and how much does it cost? There's a bloke local to me who sells biodiesel for 90p per litre and runs straight in the tank so I'm just trying to price up whether or not it's worth installing a second tank and how long it would take to pay for itself

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still researching that so no good answer for you. but where are you getting your biodiesel from at 90p/L? can you put me in touch please?

at that price, I'm not convinced twin tank vegoil systems are worth it!

I've got a friend who's friend is one of the bosses at a crisp factory. They pay to have more than a million litres of oil removed a year and it still looks clean! I've been told we can collect an IBC (1000 litres) whenever we want so it's just the cost of methanol, equipment etc when I eventually get a biodiesel plant up and running. Having two tanks means I can go a long way and then come home without filling up with diesel at the other end (or losing valuable storage space). If I set it up so that the front tank is capable of veg oil then I have the choice of using anything.

jit07 said:

still researching that so no good answer for you. but where are you getting your biodiesel from at 90p/L? can you put me in touch please?

at that price, I'm not convinced twin tank vegoil systems are worth it!

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A guy on ebay who's based in Leicester but delivers it locally. I don't know where you are based as it doesn't say it in your sig but there's a few places selling it for £1.10 per litre further afield.