Abstract: An automotive type diesel engine provided with a conventional fuel filter water separator has a solenoid operated drain or dump valve for removing liquid contaminant/water automatically when the contaminant or water reaches a predetermined level actuating a sensor. The removed contaminant or water is then inducted into the engine by means of a venturi/aspirator which in one embodiment has an outlet connected directly to the engine intake manifold to provide the necessary pressure drop or, in another turbocharged diesel engine embodiment, the boost pressure is connected to the inlet of the venturi/aspirator to again induct the liquid contaminant/water into and through the aspirator to be disposed of in the exhaust system of the engine, both embodiments thereby automatically providing for a complete disposal of liquid contaminant/water within the engine and thereby eliminating the need of a periodic draining of the same from the fuel filter by the vehicle operator, for example.

Abstract: A self-contained fuel oil heater unit for use with a diesel engine includes a fuel oil manifold having a spin-on cartridge type oil filter with a central fuel oil outlet and peripheral fuel oil inlets. The upper portion of the manifold contains an upwardly open bowl-shaped recess closed by a removable cover and defining a reservoir containing an electric immersion PTC heating element for warming the fuel oil. The unheated fuel oil flows through a horizontally disposed inlet on the lower portion of the manifold into the reservoir where it is heated and is discharged through a passage communicating with the peripheral fuel oil inlets of the filter. A further manifold passage communicates the central fuel oil outlet of the filter to a horizontally disposed outlet on the lower portion of the manifold. Alternatively the heater unit can be formed as a spacer insertable between the manifold and spin-on filter and containing a star-shaped PTC heater.