Most commercial trucks and buses use diesel fuel. In very cold winter
days diesel engine is difficult to start, and can suddenly go off in
the middle of nowhere. Liquid additives are being used to combat this
problem, but I am not interested in that.
My question is:
What add-on devices (manufacturers and models) are used to heat up
diesel fuel in commercial vehicles at very cold weather?

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Request for Question Clarification by hibiscus-ga on 29 Jan 2003 14:24 PST

Hi dule, 

I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, where it's pretty chilly at times. 
Last week we had a couple of days of -40 C.  Around here there are
lots of diesel vehicles, mostly buses and trucks, but a few cars as
well.  I used to drive a very large diesel van, and the only devices
anyone around here uses, as far as I know, are block heaters on the
engine.  Is that the sort of thing you're after?  I've never heard of
anyone heating the actual fuel itself.  In fact, I'd be a bit
concerned about doing that... the last thing you want to do is
accidentally blow up your vehicle!

Diesel fuel itself won't freeze even at minus fifty celcius.  There
aren't too many places that get colder than that.  However, there may
be some water in the fuel which freezes, clogging the fuel filter. 
Fuel additives are intended to lower the freezing point of the water
by mixing alcohols or glycols with it.  There are a few other things
you can do to prevent ice from building in the tank, too.

If you're interested I can do some more research for you on this
subject and also find some block heater manufacturers for your
vehicle.  As far as heating the fuel itself, it's not something I have
seen.  And if it isn't done in Saskatchewan, it probably isn't
necessary anywhere else.

Hibiscus

"Thermoelectric device to allow diesel engine start-up at cold weather conditions"
http://www.iit.upco.es/palacios/thermo/EWT02-Filter.pdf

Webasto are one large manufacturer of pre-heaters for automotive (and
other) engines.

http://www.webasto-us.com/homepage.html

Owain

http://www.espar.com/htm/applies/pickup.htm  We have used the Hydronic
5 as a add on to the civilan pattren Disel pickup trucks in the
Military as it gets pretty cold in nothren ontario Up in Pettawawa ,
They are a very reliable system and the seven day timer add on is
handy .
AS for fuel issue ther is http://www.davcotec.com/media/5118.pdf I'm
not shur of the size of the unit I've only heard thet they work well
as a filter and water seperater and has a built in fuel preheater to
prevent waxing
ther is also http://www.maesco.com/products/racor/r_dfh_intro/r_dfh_intro.html