Although it is still pretty early to be tabulating any stats on winter diesel fuel use I figured I'd give it a go to see how this year matches up to last year's use.
The main difference, and not a small one, was the addition of a heated fuel supply for B100 (see link in sig). Keeping in mind that it is necessary to fill up with dino the most as the winter sets in to avoid geling and then less afterwards, here we go; Last year's vs this year's dino use:

Dec 20'07
127.68Lt's @ $146.68 = $1.15/Lt

Dec 20'08
63.78Lt's @ $68.90 =$1.08/Lt

As we can see the pump fuel use has dropped dramatically, by over 50%, and things have just gotten under way,cold weather wise.

This spread will dramatise even more as winter advances, and I will be adding to this thread later as the numbers change, but so far it definetly shows that the addition of a heated fuel delivery system was worth it.

I presently have B20 in the main tank; today it is -13C not accounting for windchill, and I will be going to the farm and back on B100, stopping along the way for breakfast, but due to the ambient heat of the engine and the convection box will not have to purge back to the main tank until much later when I stop for an extended period, or maybe not at all as the car sleeps indoors in a heated garage.
More later.

Dec 30'07
148 Lt @ $171.06 = $1.16/Lt

Dec 30 '08
81.5 Lt @ $86.05 = $1.06/Lt

Spread = 66.5Lt less so far. The main tank is completely full of B10-15.

The heated B100 fuel system is working flawlessly. I predict that my goal of one pump fill up (where I am now) for the winter will be easily reached at the rate I am now going.
The installation cost of the extra tank has not yet broken even, but will easily by the time winter is over.
Another factor in play this year that was not last year is that I am now still producing biodiesel which necessitates more mileage as my reactor set up is not near me. Last year I shut down Nov 01. So in spite on traveling quite a bit more miles I am using considerably less pump fuel.

So here we are near the end of January, and the amount of pump diesel in my daily driver has remained the same, even though the level has decreased a bit. I am down to 2/3 of a tank in the main tank. So far so good.

Jan 23 '08

186.12 Lt's @ $204.58 = $1.10/Lt

Jan 23 '09

81.5 Lt @ $86.05 = $1.06/Lt

To date I have used 104.62 Litres less pump fuel for $118.53 less. I figure that by the end of this winter the system will have paid for itself. That's not a bad ROI, full return in only a few months worth of use.

More updates to come.

3rd week of February over and the project is looking good. As mentioned, I am doing considerably more mileage this year than last due to my reactor now being in a heated space,so I am continuing production to feed the greenhouse boiler, but in spite of that my dino fuel use continues to be the same since I first topped off the tank. So far one tank fill this winter. The numbers:

Feb 21 '09
292.37Lt's @ $329.60 = $1.12/Lt

Feb 21 '09
81.5 Lt @ $86.05 = $1.06/Lt

Todate last year I spent $329.60 at the pump compared to $86.05 this year so far. A net savings of $243.55.

In it's first year of operation the heated system has already paid for itself and is now in clear savings mode.

To be completely fair I would have to include the cost to me of the extra biodiesel I have used compared to last year, but that would in no way affect the stats on dino use, and the savings on dino use is what this post is all about, besides my last two drums of methanol cost me an out of pocket cost of $53.00 total for both (they were gifts, not store bought at that price) so that also would be negligeable as a cost factor.

Last winter was long and I had to but pump until April, so we'll see what the ret of this winter will give. One more report to go. Stay tuned

Unless there is some kind of freeky weather coming this will be the last post this year on the subject.
At the end of Feb I added an extra $10.00 of pump fuel to what was left in the main tank due to expected cold temps. And now the numbers:

Mar 22 '08
352.37 Lt's @ $419.62 = av $1.19/Lt

Mar 22 '09
92.66 Lt's @ $96.05 = av $1.04/Lt

I am not including the additional 40Lt's ($56.36)of pump diesel I used last year as that was in mid April and the temps are milder this year,however factored in it would increase the savings all that much more.

Total cost '08 = $419.62
Total cost '09 = $96.05 with 1/3 the tank still full of B5.

A savings, in spite of hundreds more miles covered compared to last year, of $323.57. Full ROI in the first winter.

I think it is fair to state that the heated tank system for B100 use can be declared a complete success. The car is a daily driver, but sleeps in a heated garage. Cars sleeping outside would need to modify their system bit to be as efficient; larger plumbing,dedicated heated filters for the BD side. But all in all the system has paid for itself and saw additional appreciable savings as well.

The spare tank's heat is now turned off making it valuable for extended distance use for the warmer months. Next winter will see net savings from it's first use onward.

I hope this documented information can be useful to anyone contemplating setting up their own heated fuel delivery system for cold weather B100 use. It works, and it works very well.

Hey,

Do you have any idea what some popular cold flow additives are for california?

Thanks

No this thread is about using heat in an aux tank for winter B100 use.