i want to go SVO but...... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TheDon · #1 03-13-2006, 07:01 PM

i can get the oil sources. easy as pi

but i dont know if i should buy a greasecar.com kit.. wait for that sweet one on ************** so i can hehe dumpster dive .. or make my own

or take adantage of the florida heat and do a one tank system

but first i need to fix my temp problem it doesnt raise above 40 at all

suggestions

mbzkid · #2 03-13-2006, 07:16 PM

Sounds like the thermostat is bad. Its an easy job.

I'm suprised the coolant temp doesn't get over 40 C, though. Maybe a wacky guage and a failed thermostat?

Biodiesel300TD · #3 03-13-2006, 07:18 PM

As far as running temp have you put in a new thermostat? Might try that first.

I really dig the ************** dumpster diving system. Looks like the quickest and most convieniant way to use WVO. Although having all the extra filters and gear in the trunk might make the setup a bit cumbersome. Filtering in the garage might be easier.
I personally would stay away from the one tank setup if you want straight VO, if you are blending WVO with RUG than maybe. Even when outside air temps are really warm the VO may not be warm enough to completely combust. Causing all kind of problems. You eliminate this risk by using a properly functioning two tank system. Building your own will probably be cheaper but there are going to be a lot more bugs to work out once you start using the system. A kit is more likely to work out of the box.

biopete · #4 03-13-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

i can get the oil sources. easy as pi

but i dont know if i should buy a greasecar.com kit.. wait for that sweet one on ************** so i can hehe dumpster dive .. or make my own

or take adantage of the florida heat and do a one tank system

suggestions

You can always add another tank if need be. Install is easier and faster and kit is cheaper sometimes with one tank. However, with a two tank sytem you have the luxury of 2 independent fuel supplies with their own filters. If one fails , you can switch to the other. Also you can get by with cheaper heated filter system if your veggie oil is heated. But , if you go one tank, you are forced to net chince on heating of fuel under the hood which is nice. Then add a heated tank and you have a tight system for any climate.

Personally, if you have the bucks and a good oil supply, I would piece together a good one tank system from good components proven to work and be safe to use on your car (or buy an elsbett kit , even better) -- an FPHE and a good Heated filter, some of those injector line heaters from fattywagons.com (we need to reverse engineer those ).

Someone else with more experience should chime . I Like this thread.

greasybenz · #5 03-13-2006, 07:42 PM

i would say take advantage of the florida weather but then again you could end up the same route im going through. When i do a one tank which is usually 1 or 2 gallons of gas mixed with all the veggie oil i go fine for about 2 weeks and then out of no where my fuel filter has a nice clog

Even after filtering and de-watering i get a clog, not sure if it has to do with the gunk from the left over diesel or i dont know.

My opinion a greasecar kit for a benz may be overkill, a greasel with a glowplug heater added would be alot easier and cheaper. The pollack valve that comes in a greasel kit is supposidly so bad, but people who have a greasel kit on their benz dont have any problems with it. The greasel kit works like my homemade wannabe kit, use the marine tank for diesel/biodiesel and use your original tank as your main tank. Add a inline glowplug heater before it goes to the ip and wah-la a cheap and easy to work system.

glowplug heater
http://smallglowplugheater.blogspot.com/2005/12/small-glow-plug-heater.html

biopete · #6 03-13-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

A Even when outside air temps are really warm the VO may not be warm enough to completely combust.

Yep. I'd say how liquid your oil at ambient temps where you are is key to your decision. Some oil flows nice at 70F. Some hydrogenated stuff like i get likes to solidify even in mild temps if it sits for a long time. With a heated tank, you have more freedom in oil selection i believe.

edit : Last night I ran out of gas and could not purge. It got 68F. I have some of worst oil -- hydrogenated that likes to gel up if it sits too long. Anyway, this morning i had to crank it up on veggie. It started and i drove it to work. It was not overly happy about it but it did not maind that bad. The oil temp was about 70F in my tank i believe. But a better under hood system ( i have greasel 2 tank system) It would have done just fine. I guess the general belief among single tankers is the lift pumps are tough enough to move some viscous oil at times.

TheDon · #7 03-13-2006, 07:48 PM

i like orginization and things that are not over complicated and the greasecar.com kit doesnt look that complicated... but id kill for the ************** kit.. drool drool

Addicted · #8 03-13-2006, 09:02 PM

I'd have to take a closer look at the mercedes source kit but if you are looking for not complicated that doesn't appear the way to go. As for the onboard filter station I have a feeling even the cleanest of oil dumpsters will clog that thing pretty quick. Maybe enough to fill a tank. I think there is more to it that they are not telling us, but that would be really slick if it did work.

I went the kit route the first time with my truck and I agree with an earlier comment on here that some kits may just be overkill for the 617. Especially if you live in Flordia. I used a neo-teric and it is awesome. But I think I can piece a system together for my MB for way way way less than than any kit and have it work just as well.

That said I'm interested on the mercedes source kit. It leaves a lot for me to still want to know about it. I wonder how many amps those electric heaters are going to pull. I saw quite a few 10 amp fuses there and stock alts only pull 55 amps. That is the bigggest problem I'm facing with my system. I have the original alt and I figure with the headlights, stereo, heater fan, and city driving...I may be sucking up more juice than I can put out. I think there system would require a bigger alt.

TheDon · #9 03-13-2006, 09:19 PM

i could make my own system

a guy in the coop has a jetta with a home made system

he uses a 10 gallon can of diesel to start and purge and uses the main tank for veggie.. i think he uses that pollak valve and stuff.. i have pics of his set up.. ill post them in a sec. right now ive got some one interested in my processor

greasybenz · #10 03-13-2006, 09:23 PM

How much was the system he built?

On the greasecar forum "swimgym" had made her own kit for a 240D and she said in total it costed her $1,300 compared to a greasel system thats $800 or a greasecar system that costs around the same. And most of her parts came from greasel. So its all up to you but just my opinion is to make sure that you have a good veggie filter!

Deni · #11 03-13-2006, 09:44 PM

Check out the products this guy has http://www.fattywagons.com/ .

I think it will work well in the Floridas climate.

TheDon · #12 03-13-2006, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deni

Check out the products this guy has http://www.fattywagons.com/ .

I think it will work well in the Floridas climate.

i was looking at it and it looks easy but it just doesnt have the quality im looking for like what greasecar.com has.. i might just end up going with greasecar.com

Austin85 · #13 03-13-2006, 11:55 PM

Why would you want to spend $600. or more on a conversaion kit if you live in Florida and can just add 3-4 gallons of RUG to your WVO and be fine???
AA
in FLorida
with over 8.000 miles on blend.

Addicted · #14 03-14-2006, 12:35 AM

Reason #1: It is fun to dream up ways to convert your car
Reason #2: Over time....that is one of the reasons I drive my car...it will be here forever....it will pay to convert your car...I'm looking to only spend around 400 but I live in Portland so it is cold. Ok it will be a long long time depending on how much you drive but still.
Reason #3: If you ever move you will be set

But yeah I wish I lived in a warm climate. A one tank system would be a blessing.....just need the filter. Austin your geographic location is one that I envy now....Raining now

greasybenz · #15 03-14-2006, 12:57 AM

Raining like a mo-fo here in SSF, cant get my car started thanks to another clog . Going to pick up another filter tomorrow, but im not sure exactly how its clogging, i now have a paper element fuel filter that i replaced the plastic mesh oem filter and it does a way better job then the oem mesh strainer style filter. Its been catching wat looks like little sand particles

but my metal filter is clogged

Not sure exactly whats going on but its odd how i keep clogging the metal filter.