I have done a search for biodiesel in the forum. It seems like most of the post were talking about older diesel mercedes. I have a 87 300 SDL which I'm considering coverting and doesn't seem like anyone has tried using biodiesel with this engine. Is it a good idea? From what I have read about biodiesel I understand that the engine will tend to run a little bit hotter, what kind of damage am I anticipating by switching over? Which is better to use biodiesel, SVO, or SWO? The more I read the more confusing it gets please help.

I have the same car and run bio in it pretty much all the time. Talk to the guy you're buying it from to make sure of what you're buying, but there should be no mods needed.

Keep an eye on your fuel filters. The bio actually dissolves a fair bit of the gunk that has collected in your tank and lines over years of petrol use. THis is a good thing in the sense that its cleaning your system out a bit, but it can happen that your filter may get a bit clogged up with this stuff. Just be aware of that possibility and change the filter if the car begins to act like it's starving for fuel at some point.

Mods are more of an issue with SVO or WVO. If you use those things, I recommend talking to a professional who converts cars for a living so he can get you set up. For that you need additional heaters and filters and stuff, and also a bypass around the fuel filter up near the front of your engine. That's a very fine filter and is not designed to allow sufficient flow with the thicker veg oil, which if not bypassed somehow (at least partially) places excessive strain on your pump (an expensive part, to say the least!). I could recommend a guy but he's here in the west coast.

Good luck!

Charlie

on this forum most members talk about biodiesel using B100 for 100% biodiesel (B35 for 35%, etc...). i have not been able to find any biodiesel in my state, but i will soon be running on the Blend mix (90% WVO, 10% RUG, Cetane boost). from all that i have read is that when you switch to SVO, WVO and biodiesel your engine temps are supposed to go down, your engine idle smoother and quieter. if you do the switch, definatelly check your fuel filters, as they will clog up with crap.

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Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

you might also want to replace the rubber fuel lines with viton lines, as b100 can and will degrade rubber.

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1979 300SD 190k Blue/Parchment

over 20 weeks of home brewing and no line leakage on the aged rubber lines. just watch them for weeping then replace. viton is like 8 bucks a foot.

there has to be bio d is ga. try

www.biodiesel.org

or

http://biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/



look for retail locations.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem