80-100mpge with Mercedes 300D Veggie/WVO Single Tank

[UFO]

Older engines like the low pressure Mercedes do ok, better if the VO fuel is heated. Newer engines like my VW need a thin fuel like biodiesel to run properly, but the OPs car has been know to do just fine on straight VO.

[mattbatson]

I really had no idea!

that is huge, in that you do not have spend the 70 cents or dollar or so for each gallon of WVO that you process into biodiesel

Not too mention the cost of building an appleseed or other biodiesel processor.

All you have to do is collect the WVO and then filter it and then pour it in your tank?

that is amazing, and I'm already looking on craigslist for an old mercedes diesel

Back when I was thinking about running bio or SVO I came to the conclusion that it was too expensive and too much trouble (chemicals and processing of bio and SVO is as expensive as diesel)

but this changes everything....

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by UFO

Older engines like the low pressure Mercedes do ok, better if the VO fuel is heated. Newer engines like my VW need a thin fuel like biodiesel to run properly, but the OPs car has been know to do just fine on straight VO.

Even a newer HPCR Diesel can work with vegetable oil, but if it's pre-heated (then getting thinner) there are better results. By the way, since hydrogenated oils, which get even thicker when cold, are widely used in restaurants due to their longer useful life, it makes harder to use it pure, but are not a bad feedstock for biodiesel...

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I use to have a 240d , however it was difficult to start as is on the #2 stuff. Ive sen those kits,but imagined by time it paid for itself I would need to go ten thousand miles or so.

Whats the break even and pay back point on your system?

ive put about $500 into my system but im cheap, patient and do everything myself

Originally Posted by Phantom

Right now Diesel is $4.50-5.50 in Hawaii

around 4.60-4.70

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by mattbatson

Ok, I'm a little confused
I thought to run waste veggie oil, that you had to refine it into biodiesel?

I had no idea you could simply take WVO and filter it and run it in your tank?

Is this the same as running new veggie oil in a separate tank (like the old greasel kits), where you dont turn on the veggie tank till the engine is warm, and then shut if off before you stop to avoid gelling in the engine?

Or do you run this WVO just like biodiesel?

yes, it is essentially the same idea as the greasel kit

those are 2 tank systems where you start/stop on diesel then switch to wvo when its warm

i dont run biodiesel because it will make my lines deteriorate

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by UFO

Older engines like the low pressure Mercedes do ok, better if the VO fuel is heated. Newer engines like my VW need a thin fuel like biodiesel to run properly, but the OPs car has been know to do just fine on straight VO.

i would recommend older merc/vw cars and ford/dodge trucks to run on VO

its extremely difficult getting new cars to run on it though

the new Mercedes Bluetec doesnt even recommend biodiesel!

Originally Posted by mattbatson

I really had no idea!

that is huge, in that you do not have spend the 70 cents or dollar or so for each gallon of WVO that you process into biodiesel

Not too mention the cost of building an appleseed or other biodiesel processor.

All you have to do is collect the WVO and then filter it and then pour it in your tank?

that is amazing, and I'm already looking on craigslist for an old mercedes diesel

Back when I was thinking about running bio or SVO I came to the conclusion that it was too expensive and too much trouble (chemicals and processing of bio and SVO is as expensive as diesel)

but this changes everything....

weather/temperature and quality of oil has EVERYTHING to do with it

the warmer the oil the better

the clearer the oil the better

[tjts1]

I like the whole WVO thing but from what I've read (no first hand experience here) your maintenance cost can increase dramatically. The most susceptible components are the injection pump and injectors. Even in a good scenario injectors have to be cleaned, rebuilt pop tested and re balanced every year. Its easy if you have the equipment and know how. The injection pump is another animal all together. This is the most complex and expensive component on the engine and that WVO is flowing right through it at 2000psi. You better have very high confidence in your filtering and fuel heating ability nevermind the deposits that the WVO leaves behind.
Running WVO as a reliable long term fuel requires a big up front investment.

Autospeed article WVO

Or you can pour it in and do it for show to impress all your friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZX2BRdXkzA

I admire the people doing this, I'm all for it. I wish I had the time, space, resources to convert WVO into fuel but it doesn't make economic sense for me. Even free fuel isn't really free. I have burned used motor oil in my diesel after allowing it to settle for a month then filtering but this only represents a tiny fraction of all the diesel fuel I use.
Also I think its disengenuous to say you are getting 80-100mpg in your MB even with the qualifiers in your post. Even if you get the WVO for free you still spent time, storing and filtering the fuel.
cheers

[alohaspirit]

nice article although it doesnt apply in this case since its about biodiesel.

good video too. the guy really shouldnt be using that car.

i am running a blend of wvo/diesel and i have 2 heaters and an additional fuel pump.

much better than my first car which was stock and ran on a 50/50 mix.



i have never had any problems with oil. its filtered down to 1 micron which is smaller than any stock fuel/oil filter out there. problems occur when your car isnt in great working order as it will find the chinks in your armor really fast.

bad glow plugs
dirty fuel tank
dirty fuel filters

[Phantom]

You can make the car biodiesel compatible by replacing the fuel lines and o-rings that touch fuel with synthetic lines like viton. Most diesels fuel lines from 93 and up are compatible with biodiesel.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Phantom

You can make the car biodiesel compatible by replacing the fuel lines and o-rings that touch fuel with synthetic lines like viton. Most diesels fuel lines from 93 and up are compatible with biodiesel.

The green melted goo on this fuel injector is whats left of the viton fuel return lines purchased from the MB dealer a year ago. Viton, diesel fuel and heat don't mix.
http://i.imgur.com/xpceH.jpg