Has anyone done a writeup on how to setup a two tank system for the GM6.2 diesel?

I currently have a VW TDI converter and wanted to know how they differ if at all.

I'm just getting started on my 83 Lazy Daze Motor Home with a 6.2 GM Diesel. It's a 3.0 Cut away van with an Aluminum Cabover Motorhome. Rear Duelies, Fully self contained.
I've done 4 Mercedes 300 series diesel from the 80's, two dual tanks, two single tanks all WVO.

The motorhome is going to get a dual tank setup.
Here's how I'm going to start.

A stainless steel 10 micron cleanable fuel filter, two glow plugs installed for heat with a thermostat. Heat exchanger plumbed into coolant lines to keep an abundant supply of heated oil flowing to the ip. Looped return on the veg side leaving the diesel fuel system intact. Two switching valves plumbed for the return to the diesel tank when running diesel, looped when running WVO and a third position to enable a purge cycle back to the diesel tank when shutting down. T in some hot water from the heater hoses to run back to the veg oil fuel tank to heat the oil in the tank. Metal fuel fuel lines running along side the exhaust system to keep them warm rather than hose in hose.

I have to measure out the running lengths for the heater hose, I'll probably just buy a roll.
Parts list as follows:

WVO Stainless filter (cleanablbe) $180
Glow Plugs.........................$ 30
Heat Exchanger/....................$150
Heater Hose........................$ 50?
Hose Clamps........................$ 25
T Fittings.........................$ 10
Switching Valves (2)...............$110
Rocker Switch (3 Position).........$ 15
Wire and Connectors................$ 20
Metal Fuel Line....................$ 40
Misc Brass Fittings................$ 25
WVO Fuel tank......................$200
Copper For In Tank Heat Exchanger..$ 20
_______________________________________
Total..............................$875

I might be able to get away for a little
less but that's kind of my ball park figure
for a good, functional, all weather setup.

Then of course there is install time. ???


Never done one of these before but there's
lots of room with everything pretty accesible.
Just a matter of stepping through the procedure.

The two tank setup has worked very well and on my current MBZ I've logged 35,000 miles. With the cleanable filter, and good filtered WVO I've logged about 8 or 9000 miles without a clog.

The stainless steel heats up to add even more heat to the oil and doesn't gaze like paper elements I was using previously. The WIX, Fleetgards were giving me between 1000 and 2000 miles between changes at a cost in my area of 15 to 20 dollars each so my stainless filter has already pretty much paid for itself. They are great and the filter head has two extra ports perfect for the thermostatically controlled glow plug heat which turns off when the heat exchanger come up to temp.

I expect I'll get about the same mileage from the 6.2 as on diesel, like I do in the Benzes.
The Motorhome gets a pretty respectable 13 to 15 mpg now.

I have a good sized area for a veg tank but I havent calculated the volume of the area, I'm just guessing but I thing I will be able to fit about a 50 or sixty gallon tank in the area. And could prbably carry another twenty gallons in five gallon containers. This would give me well over a thousand mile range with fuel I could carry on board comfortably. There's also a 30 gallon diesel tank but I probably would just keep enough diesel on board for start ups. That would pretty much use up the cargo capacity of the rig so I'd have to be a little conservative carrying water and dump the gray and black water tanks religiously to keep from going into an overweight condition. As the fuel burned off, I could carry a little more water. On the road, water is a heck of a lot easier to obtain than WVO.

If you get some other replies, I'd be interested in what other folks are doing.

quote:

my stainless filter has already pretty much paid for itself. They are great and the filter head has two extra ports perfect for the thermostatically controlled glow plug heat which turns off when the heat exchanger come up to temp.

This is the first I have heard of cleanable stainless filters. I am installing a Greasecar kit soon. I thought WVO was supposed to be filtered down to 1-2 microns. I am just trying to favor my 94 GMC 6.5l so I don't spend more money on breaking the IP and so forth.

Thanks!

I have an 83 GMC van 6.2, and I would like to do a 2 tank system. The questions I have are, what cleanable stainless steel filter are you using, and is it heated? I like the idea of a cleanable filter. Has anyone done an exhaust pipe heat exchanger like you have described? Will it get the oil TOO hot? Would alluminum tubing work, or would it have to be stainless? Rich wvobenzs@yahoo.com