centrifuge heated or non heated

[Glenn Delwood]

Just wondering if a centrifuge alone would do a great job of cleaning the oil after settling. A few Q:
1. Since water and oil are different densities, the Gs in the centrifuge should simply increase this difference and still take the water out. Am I correct?
2. I read somewhere that it would be good to heat the oil to break down the fat particles. What if I don't heat up the oil but still run it through a centrifuge, would that take care of the fats? How bad (if at all) is animal fat for my engine/pump/injectors, etc.?

Bottom line, heat or no heat when centrifuging? :)
Thanks for chiming in.

[Glenn Delwood]

Come on folks, I know there's centrifuges out there. I can hear their whining noises from the road. Wait, that's my turbo.

[Mr. Flibble]

My understanding is that you normally heat to about 60C, then run the oil through a centrifuge. By doing it with the oil hot, you remove more water than by doing it cold.

You can run a centrifuge while driving, though normally you use that to filter your engine oil while driving, not your WVO.

[whatthejeez]

I run at 5 gph cold through a wvo standard centrifuge at 3450 rpm. I bought the heater but don't use it. Water and fat will be removed without heat.

Animal fat is only a problem if it solidifies in your system ie; clogging up the screen on an uplift pump in cold weather. There's a guy in MB who said he runs lard in his L400. Don't ask me how he gets it in the tank...

Heating the oil will do two things:

-melt the animal fat so it passes through the centrifuge, only to re-solidify again when it cools.

-water will turn to vapor in the centrifuge, requiring additional plumbing for it to escape before reaching your final clean oil barrel.

I run oil cold, and any water is separated and stays in the centifuge, to drain off later to the bottom sump pail when i shut the machine off. Hope this helps.