4k mile round drip with all my WVO on board?
 

well i have been planning my cali trip with my wife for xmas. i have 1 more semester to go in college and am low on cash for plane tickets. i have been running my 300D on WVO for the last 900 miles and have collected 160 gallons of WVO just for this trip. i have a 4x8 utility trailer that i have used for 3 years for all kinds of towing, but this time i will take it to cali with wvo. got the hitch cheap, wiring all done. i have some concerns that i need figure out, because i want to be safe on this trip, and i want to get there and back...

1. am i asking too much of the '85 cali 300D to tow 160 gallons x 7lbs = 1100lbs?
2. it is almost exactly a 4100 mile trip and what will the mileage be towing, i get only 24 highway
3. car has less power on wvo, and it took me about 2 miles to get up to 70mph, is that a bad sign?
4. can i use the cruise while towing? will i break it if i do, or mess something up.

my semester ended today, and i have until wednesday before i leave. i did not get the valve adjustment done during the semester, and have never done it before. i dont want to tackle it, not be able to complete it and mess up the trip somehow. i have the wrenches but wish i had a hand to help me do it the first time. also when i messed with my benz last week, i pushed it to another parking space and i heard the rear driver brake pad rub against the disc. can this affect my overall mileage? i have been bummed at low of mileage i have been getting, and i believe a valve adjustment, the pad, would help inprove it.

so basically i want to make sure that i wont overheat or overwork my 300D when i go up some of those mountains in Arizona. if i run out of wvo on the way back, then so be it, but 160 gallons is all i have so filtered.

Discretion is the better part of valor
 

Sometimes you need to know when to say when. Personally, I would not drive your car 4,000+ miles, especially if money is tight. What happens if you get to Eastabutchie Texas and something happens - are you going to be able to pay to have it repaired? I'm trying to be delicate, but if you are unsure about adjusting the valves, who will you repair something more serious?

I've been in your position before. The best thing you can do it to ask a family member for money to help you get home, be it plane tickets or a rental car. I learned the hard way - it's one thing to take risks when it's just you, it's another to take risks with you and your wife. The worst case scenario is that you and your wife spend a Christmas alone in Arkansas. It's better than being broken down in the middle of no where.

3) There is definetly a concern that it takes 2 miles to hit 70 mph on veggie. How long would it take on Dino? My 300D isn't perfect but it's a strong engine and I can hit 70 in 1 block or so.....

You got the oil but is your vehicle in the condition to make it round trip?

Also you should get the maintenence done first. Brakes; valves; extra filters; etc. I would find someone to help withthe valves....

the way we are going will be to dallas first for christmas with my family, and then after xmas supprise my wife's family. so the longest strech will be from dallas to flagstaff. no one is expecting us. thank you for your opinion, but unless anyone here has mechanical warnings for me about why i should not drive there, then i will go ahead with the journey.
well i have replaced my rear axles, and learned a ton about this car in only 4 months. i am sure that i can do the valve adjustment, but since i have never done it before would rather not make a newbie's mistake just one week before the trip is to take place.
i have driven this car from ohio to arkansas, and to St.Louis a couple of times. i have had no issued whatsoever. i am hoping that my trip will be as pain free.

another dilemma is wether to go through flagstaff (much higher altitude route) which is supposed to be 3 hours shorter than the southern I-10 (lower altitude) route that i drove last year to cali?

i mean it takes me 2 miles to hit 70 while towing 1100 lbs, plus the 600 lbs trailer. normally i can get up there by the end of the onramp or less.

i guess i might just tackle the valve adjustment...

that means i will stay up late tonight to read up everything forwards and backwards.

I hope you didn't take my message the wrong way; I was not trying to offend you. I can't give you mechanical warnings with out inspecting your vehicle.

Whatever your first name is....

If you are confident you will make it then you will. Good to hear you will do the valves. I hope you have seen this DIY page from Diesel Giant.....
http://dieselgiant.com/valveadjustment.htm
great pics and step by step for 1st timers. I bet you could even phone him if you run into any hitches......Take pics of the mountains and post em'. Merry X-mas!
AA

i know what you meant, and i thank you for offering that side of the situation, i think mechanically that i will make it just fine, but i wanted to make sure that either of the 4 things i mentioned would not harm my car or the drive any.

My first name is Dan, and i have read all of DieselGiant's guides.

the other reason that i did not start it was that i did not have the 3rd wrench, and would be affraid that i might not be able to loosen a stuck valve nut. i guess i can just hope that none are stuck, and if some are, will it hurt to just not adjust that valve and move on to the next?

You might want to change your trans fluid .I would put in a synthetic with that weight you are going to be stressing the trans when pulling hills . Do you know what the tow rating is for your car.Try this link for people who have oil you my be able to line up oil along the way

http://www.frybrid.com/map/Untitled-3.htmhttp://www.frybrid.com/map/Untitled-3.htm

I'll agree on the long time to get up to speed hauling a big load. Getting to 70 takes my car at least 30% longer when I am hauling a full load of people + junk in trunk, or if I have a whole bunch of stuff in the back seat and trunk. Going to DC and back I had about 900lbs of junk onboard, man did it feel slow to get up to 75-80....only got about 20mpg too..... :rolleyes: On the way back it was flying though, at least 500lbs of the crud was gone, mileage went up to 25-26.... :D

With a trailer I bet it'd be even worse.....makes you want to have a red button marked "propane" so you can boost your way up to 70, then release the button..... :D :D

I towed a VW convertable for about 200 miles. However heavy that car is (2-3k pounds?) I instantly cut my MPG in about half.

Course I was doing 85 down the gorge pushing wind but still! :D :cool:

You will loose a lot of fuel pulling a load. I would be all for it though as I TOTALLY love doing weird stuff with my car. And if you have a good setup, have no worries of ice/bad weather, rep it!

But make sure your car is solid first...my skil level is pretty high and I am never afriad to just jump into my cars issues and fix them. Carry some tools, a phone, and some way to contact people along your way with diesel benzs:)

Being young...you gotta have some fun once and awhile! :)

Best quote ever on the freeway, "Is that a car...towing another car?" "You are freakin crazy!!!" As I was doing about 75 down 205 south headed twoards home. Damn that was a fun trip :) Things memories are made of :)

Dan, don't forget that the trailer is self-lightening - the farther you go the more oil you use and the less you have to pull.

I pulled about 1000 pounds from FL to MD. I ran at 60 mph and, yes, I used the cruise. It won't hurt it. I got 17 mpg (this was with a 3000SD - same engine, heavier car).

One thing I noticed was that the rear springs on these cars are not real strong and you will likely be saggin'. Also, stop times are considerably longer.

When you do have some issues along the way, just remember, an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.
Have fun!

Ditto on those springs.... :rolleyes:

As for the cruise, all it does is use a stepping motor to push the throttle down to maintain the speed it senses, it will push the throttle as far as needed to maintain speed. :D Mine malfunctions and just floors it, so if I can find a load heavy enough.....to keep it at 70-75 under full throttle......:D Nevermind I'll just try and fix my cruise......

Good luck on the trip Arctic. You'll have a great story to tell after this.
I hope you don't break down... but there are worse dangers on the highway.

I think a gallon might weigh 8 pounds?
What is that, about 30 5 gallon containers? Is that what you use?

Another option, might be to use 50/50 on the trip, if you can afford some Dino?
That would cut your weight to 600 pounds, which the trunk and backseat could handle. ( equals 3 big passengers )

You would also eliminate the 600 pounds of the trailer
and you'd have better performance than with pure WVO.

Have fun and let us know how it goes!

Your figures are not really correct.
 

Dan, I just did a quick check on route and mileage on my MicroSoft Travel map and Dallas to LA via Oklahoma City and Flagstaff is roughly 1555 miles while Dallas to LA via Tucson and Phoenix is roughly 1444 miles. Really you don't have "mountains" on either route, though the northern route is higher, cooler and you could more easily run into very severe winter conditions on the northern route.
Here is the route print out for your use. This is the southern route.Time Mile Instruction For Toward
Summary: 1444.5 miles (2 days, 6 hours, 49 minutes)
DAY 1
9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Dallas on S Ervay St (South) 174 yds
9:00 AM 0.1 Turn RIGHT (South-West) onto Canton St 0.1 mi
9:01 AM 0.2 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto E RL Thornton Fwy 0.5 mi I-30 W / I-35E / To
9:02 AM 0.8 Bear LEFT (South-West) onto Ramp 142 yds I-35E / Industrial Blvd / Waco
9:02 AM 0.8 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-35E [US-77] 4.5 mi Industrial Blvd / I-35E S / Waco
9:08 AM 5.3 Keep RIGHT onto US-67 [Marvin D Love Fwy] 4.6 mi US-67 / Cleburne
9:14 AM 10.0 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-20 [LBJ Fwy] 21.8 mi I-20 / FT Worth
9:34 AM 31.8 Merge onto I-820 [I-20] 13.7 mi
9:47 AM 45.5 Keep LEFT onto I-20 428.6 mi I-20 / Abilene
4:29 PM 474.1 At exit I-10, take Ramp onto I-10 32.8 mi
5:00 PM 507.0 End of day
DAY 2
Check your departure time; the next stop is in a different time zone.
9:00 AM 507.0 Stay on I-10 505.8 mi
11:29 AM 661.2 Entering New Mexico
2:02 PM 825.6 Entering Arizona
Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.
5:00 PM 1012.7 End of day
DAY 3
Check your departure time; the next stop is in a different time zone.
9:00 AM 1012.7 Stay on I-10 55.2 mi
9:50 AM 1067.9 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-17 [US-60] 6.2 mi I-17 / Flagstaff
9:56 AM 1074.1 Turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.2 mi I-10 / Los Angeles / Central Phoenix
9:57 AM 1074.3 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-10 [Papago Fwy] 368.8 mi I-10 / Los Angeles
12:09 PM 1217.7 Entering California
3:46 PM 1443.1 Merge onto US-101 [Santa Ana Fwy] 1.0 mi
3:47 PM 1444.1 Keep RIGHT onto Ramp 0.1 mi Spring St
3:47 PM 1444.2 Turn RIGHT (South-West) onto N Spring St 0.2 mi
3:48 PM 1444.4 Turn LEFT (South-East) onto W Temple St, then immediately turn LEFT (North-East) onto N Main St 0.1 mi
Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.
3:49 PM 1444.5 Arrive Los Angeles

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 1444.5 miles
Trip duration: 2 days, 6 hours, 49 minutes
Driving time: 22 hours, 49 minutes
Cost: $109.78
And here is the northern route through Oklahoma City and Flagstaff. Time Mile Instruction For Toward
Summary: 1537.7 miles (2 days, 8 hours, 3 minutes)
DAY 1
9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Dallas on S Ervay St (South) 174 yds
9:00 AM 0.1 Turn RIGHT (South-West) onto Canton St 0.1 mi
9:01 AM 0.2 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto E RL Thornton Fwy 0.4 mi I-30 W / I-35E / To
9:01 AM 0.7 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-30 0.4 mi I-30
9:02 AM 1.1 At exit 44A, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-35E [US-77] 40.4 mi I-35E / Denton
9:39 AM 41.4 Road name changes to I-35 (N) [Stemmons Fwy] 163.1 mi
10:13 AM 77.5 Entering Oklahoma
12:10 PM 204.5 Road name changes to I-235 [US-77] 1.5 mi I-235 / Okla. Health Center / State Capitol / Edmond
12:11 PM 206.0 At exit 1E, turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.1 mi Harrison Ave / Downtown
12:12 PM 206.1 Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp 142 yds Harrison Ave. / Downtown
12:12 PM 206.2 Keep STRAIGHT onto Harrison Ave 142 yds
12:13 PM 206.3 Bear RIGHT (West) onto (NE) 6th St 0.5 mi
12:15 PM 206.8 Turn RIGHT (North) onto N Harvey Ave, then immediately turn LEFT (West) onto NW 7th St 0.2 mi
12:16 PM 207.0 Turn LEFT (South) onto (N) Hudson Ave 65 yds
12:16 PM 207.0 At Oklahoma City, stay on N Hudson Ave (South) 0.8 mi
12:19 PM 207.8 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-40 [US-270] 300.3 mi I-40
2:38 PM 358.0 Entering Texas
5:00 PM 508.1 End of day
DAY 2
Check your departure time; the next stop is in a different time zone.
9:00 AM 508.1 Stay on I-40 [US-66] 519.6 mi
9:24 AM 534.9 Entering New Mexico
3:09 PM 908.0 Entering Arizona
Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.
5:00 PM 1027.7 End of day
DAY 3
Check your departure time; the next stop is in a different time zone.
9:00 AM 1027.7 Stay on I-40 [US-180] 393.4 mi
12:43 PM 1266.7 Entering California
3:06 PM 1421.1 At exit I-15, turn off onto Ramp 131 yds
3:06 PM 1421.1 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-15 [Barstow Fwy] 59.2 mi
4:02 PM 1480.3 At exit I-215, keep RIGHT to stay on I-15 8.0 mi
4:09 PM 1488.3 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-210 [SR-30] 17.3 mi CA-210
4:27 PM 1505.7 Road name changes to SR-30 2.8 mi
4:30 PM 1508.5 Merge onto I-210 [Foothill Fwy] 18.4 mi
4:47 PM 1526.8 Keep LEFT onto SR-134 [Ventura Fwy] 0.4 mi CA-134 / CA-110 / Ventura / Del Mar BL / California BL
4:47 PM 1527.2 Turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.9 mi CA-110 / Del Mar BL / California BL
4:49 PM 1528.1 Keep LEFT to stay on Ramp 0.5 mi California
4:49 PM 1528.6 Road name changes to S St John Ave 0.4 mi
4:50 PM 1529.0 Bear RIGHT (South) onto S Pasadena Ave 0.5 mi
4:51 PM 1529.4 Turn RIGHT (West) onto Columbia St 0.2 mi
4:51 PM 1529.7 Turn LEFT (South) onto Orange Grove Ave 0.4 mi
4:52 PM 1530.0 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-110 [Pasadena Fwy] 6.6 mi CA-110 / Pasadena Fwy / Los Angeles
5:00 PM 1536.6 Turn RIGHT onto Ramp 174 yds US-101 / I-5 S
5:01 PM 1536.7 Keep LEFT to stay on Ramp 0.3 mi Santa Ana Fwy / I-5 / Santa Ana
5:01 PM 1537.0 Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp 174 yds Temple St
5:01 PM 1537.1 Turn LEFT (South-East) onto W Temple St 0.5 mi
Check local time; this stop is in a different time zone.
5:03 PM 1537.6 Turn LEFT (North-East) onto N Main St 65 yds
5:03 PM 1537.7 Arrive Los Angeles

SUMMARY
Driving distance: 1537.7 miles
Trip duration: 2 days, 8 hours, 3 minutes
Driving time: 24 hours, 3 minutes
Cost: $113.82

I must have placed the cursor in a slightly different place and shortened the mileage by about 20. But the southern route is only about 125 miles longer, but it is so much easier on the vehicle, especially in the winter. Like I said, you don't really have mountains, but on the northern route you have two very difficult grades, the first one coming out of Albuquerque, and the second one after crossing the Colorado River at Needles. I would go the southern route if I was worried about available power