PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - 300 SDL oil dipstick dimensions, overfilled sump & sudden blow-by condition

Sveinn · #10 04-24-2011, 03:05 AM

Thanks for the tip, but this particular vehicle has never had any SVO or bio-diesel in it, since I just recently purchased it and haven't been able to get WVO or biodiesel in over a year.

I don't agree that using WVO will cause problems if you have a conversion that handles gets the viscosity near that of dino-diesel and don't use oil that has other issues like too much acidity, etc. If you use clean, good WVO and get the viscosity near that of dino-diesel, I believe that you will never have problems using WVO.

I haven't modified this particular vehicle yet (& may never do that), but on vehicles that I have I made my own system because there is only one system commercially available that does it right - Elsbett - but it costs more than I pay for my vehicles. 2 tank systems are O.K., but I want to be able to operate the vehicle normally - one fuel tank, turn the key and go - no worrying about keeping the little diesel tank filled or remembering to switch to regular diesel when nearing your destination, etc. I do use a 2 tank system on my F-350, but it came stock with 2 tanks, so it made sense (besides it is not viable to heat the common rail cavity before cold start, short of using a block heater).

The problem with most 1 tank COTS systems is that they start the vehicle on cold VO. I engineered an injection line heating system that heats the lines while the glow plugs are heating. In about 7 seconds, the injection lines are at ~ 80 deg C, so the oil injected after the cold oil in the injector is depleted after starting has ~ same viscosity as dino-diesel.

I have been operating my 300SD with this system for a bit over 5 years now, with no problems, no coking issues, no blow-by increase, etc. I did blow a head gasket on it once though because I got carried away turning the turbo boost up to ~ 29 PSI after I rebuilt the turbo. I put a valve in the waste gate feedback hose so I can dial in the boost easily. I have it set to peak out at 15 PSI, if I really push the vehicle.

I hope I didn't bore you with this. It probably is way too much information. I'm sure that you can tell that I'm a diesel nut.