wvo filtering questions

[GONEFISHINTODAY]

Using filter bag method.

1. During cold weather what is best way to filter? Should I heat oil up before dumping into filter bag.
2. How small should I filter to? I currently have a 2u heated filter inline with my WVO tank.
3. Regarding water. I've been letting oil settle for around a month before filtering. I've been trying to take the top 5/6 of the 55 gallon drum and running thru a filter bag. Is that long enough for the water and sediment to settle to the bottom?
4. Should I heat oil before storage? If so, why and to what temp?

So far 15K miles no probs.
Thanks and happy motoring on Veggie

[greasyF250]

Without heating ,your filter bag will plug up fast. I heat my oil to 125F. I don't think its necessary to heat beyond that . As far as water , if after settling your oil is cloudy, means you still have moisture present. I'll heat my oil in a cone bottomed tank and allow it to settle for a few days with the heat on. Then I'll drain off the bottom 2-3 gals. to get any settled crud out. Then I'll bubble it for about an hour with the heat on to remove any water. Then run it through a 10 micron filter then through a 5 micron filter into my holding tank.

[ridiculously_necessary]

i let mine settle for a few weeks in a 55 gal drum, i heat it with a water heater element that i drop in the tank. (110v for me as i have no available 220v) then i bag filter to .5 or 5 microns, dont recall which. the whole setup for me was about $30 minus the bag filters.

i dont have a water issue with the way im currently collecting my oil, indoors with 5 gal buckets. but i understand a bag or two of rock salt in the 55 gal drum helps a lot when using the settle water removal method. the best is using a centrifuge but they are pricey for a good one. you can get some as little as $200 i think though.

about 24k on PHO with no problems.

[Clay Henry]

Originally Posted by greasyF250

Without heating ,your filter bag will plug up fast. I heat my oil to 125F. I don't think its necessary to heat beyond that . As far as water , if after settling your oil is cloudy, means you still have moisture present. I'll heat my oil in a cone bottomed tank and allow it to settle for a few days with the heat on. Then I'll drain off the bottom 2-3 gals. to get any settled crud out. Then I'll bubble it for about an hour with the heat on to remove any water. Then run it through a 10 micron filter then through a 5 micron filter into my holding tank.

I'll have to disagree with this. I have some oil that lookes pretty cloudy when cold but lookes clear when hot. Its got alot of chicken fat in it from frying chickens.

Heat your oil to settle it and it won't take a month. I heat my oil to 150* and let it cool and settle over night, then drain 3-4 gallons off and filter while its still warm (110* or so). Hot oil will settle in as little as a few hours but i let it settle for 20-24 hours and always have good luck with it.