Anyone Install a Fuel Cooler?

I have been using a fuel cooler since 2000. They definitely drop the fuel temp if properly installed. In the past I bought brackets and the cooler from KW. A couple of dealers thought that I was crazy and were of no help (never heard of such a thing they told me). The original KW cooler mounts in front of the radiator and below the air to air. The cooler was nothing more than a transmission cooler from Hayden Corp. It measured about 8" x 20". I put it in the return line to the tank. There is scientific reasononing for putting it in the return line but I won't get into that. A cooler definitely works. I have measured the fuel temp into the cooler and then out. There was a significant drop. I did it because a CAT dealer employee told me that cooler fuel would prolong the life of the injectors. The other reason to do it is improved performance. With the cooler installed my CAT or ISX would run b___s to the wall on a 30 degree as compared to a 90 degree afternoon. The engine was no longer lazy on a hot hot day in GA. For this truck I bought and larger cooler and mounted it horizontally under the sleeper. Even though it is larger than earlier ones it does not work well there. I could not put it in front of the radiator because of its size. I have learned that air needs to pass through it and not across it to be highly effective. A see very few cold days but if it is I would simply place 2 Wal-mart bags in front of the cooler to block the air as long as needed. I learned on a 20 degree morning even with a warm truck bio fuel plugs the primary in just minutes. PM with me a ph. num. if you would like to ask questions. IMO a fuel cooler = money well spent.

 

My Western Star came with one from the factory, so it is obviously not a new idea...

Martin

 

Anyone looking for a cooler should go here:
http://www.haydenauto.com/upload/HaydenAuto/Documents/Cat_Hayden/Transmission_Engine_Oil_Coolers.pdf

Go down to the Heavy Duty oil cooler section. Amazon seems to have the best prices I've found on these, much cheaper than dealer. I just ordered a 1240 for about $72 to use as a front mount trans cooler. Eaton wants about $200, and they look the same. I have very tight space up there on my Columbia, or I would've gone with a larger unit.

I've actually been kicking around the fuel cooler idea a while too. I already have a similar cooler set aside for it, except it's a double row with 3/4" inlet/outlet. I thought about hanging it just under the radiator behind the front bumper opening, as it's 3" thick. I thought the return side was best as well. Simple thermodynamics, the best cooling efficiency will come from the largest temp differential between fluid and ambient air temp. Which would be the fuel exiting the head.

 

So anyone tried to install a cooler on a supply line?

On summitracing they sell some automotive remote coolers with dual separate cores, like to cool two different liquids (including diesel), about 15"X12" in size with a fan. It's a compact design that might fit under the truck. I saw a 2 pass and 4 pass cooler, also 4-4 and 8-8. I was thinking about the 2-4 pass, (2 for supply line and 4 for return). 2 passes shouldn't restrict suction pressure much, maybe negligibly. Any thoughts?

 

You will have better results in the return.
Its a lot hotter coming out of the head.

Putting one in the feed would be more restriction added to the already restrictive oem side with the filters already.

You will have more heat transfer with the hot fuel exiting the head before it goes back to the tank. It the tank it will cool off some more.

 

^^^^^^ He's on the money. One cooler mounted in front of the radiator is ideal. I think mine is about 5" x 15". Look at Hayden coolers on the internet. Read posts # 121 and #123. I see some one else previously posted about Hayden coolers.

 

Just finished mine up today! We will see how it does.

 

Yes, please report back.

 

It lowered it by 25 degrees idling at operating temp

 

You will notice that you no longer have vapor in the tanks when you remove the caps. There are so many pluses to cooling fuel it is unbelievable.