WVO kit by Greenbenz-Opinions please - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-05-2006, 08:36 PM

This one is different. Perhaps not "argueably the best" but the easiest to install. There isn't 2nd tank, nothing is heated until it gets to the the engine bay. I'm skeptical how they say wvo+diesel can be mixed without concern. I have limited knowledge, just remember reading here that it is not a good idea. Seems that wvo might be too thick to pump through the fuel lines when unheated, and if pure diesel is being used it will be heated and this will cause it to have too little viscosity (ideally) for the IP. Their idea is that the wvo or combined fuels are filtered down to 2 micron and that since the filter is transparent there is no guessing as to when to change it. Simple and easy in theory anyway. www.greenbenz.com, the kit is $800. Pictures of the filter from a car on ebay were too large to attach here. There is a link on the site to a converted sd on ebay now, dial-ups will be slow. Thanks for your input.

bgkast · #2 07-05-2006, 09:03 PM

I haven't seen this kit in particular, but save your $$ for a dual tank setup. You should be able to make a good system for the $800, my two tank cost me about $700.

Jmana · #3 07-06-2006, 07:16 AM

What a ripoff!! If you read the description, all they are selling is a coolant heated fuel filter with all the parts needed to hook it up. They say theirs has a plexiglass dome, which sounds suspiciously like the davco filters available on ebay for less than $300. I love it how people are so naive that they will pay $800 for something like this because it sounds so good on their flashy website.

beaulieub · #4 07-06-2006, 09:02 AM

Hey Mark, I talked with the guy from GreenBenz 2 weeks ago. Their system only heats up front at the filter. These guys are located in San Fransisco where year-round temps are quite moderate. He didn't address the problem of cold thick oil getting into the injectors at startup before their filter heats up. I was thinking of trying my own single-tank system using a mix of electric/coolant haters in the engine compartment, homemade glow-plug heater just before the IPump and electrically heated injector lines.

Bert

#5 07-09-2006, 06:58 AM

I feel naive for starting this thread. Wasn't ready to spend $800 yet anyway but was influenced by Greenbenz' convincing campaign. Jmana-I think you hit the nail on the head. I looked at some Davco filters on ebay, not only do they look the same but have the same 120v or 12v optional heaters as greenbenz offers as a $60 option. No markup on that part, its what the same thing costs on the davco filter. Safe to say the "kit" can be made for under half of $800. I just thought there was more science involved-a new way of accomplishing the benefits of a two tank system without the installation of one.
Greenbenz is based in Hollywood, Ca. I got this quote from another website.
"A local place here in L.A. converts cars to run on WVO by putting a heated fuel filter in place of the big spin-on fuel filter. Many people including myself see this as potentially dangerous since there is no switch-over once the car is warm. Still he has claimed to have converted 400 of these old Benzes on this system. I'm awaiting a mass of ruined classics several years down the line if this proves to be harmful."
I would change the word 'if' to 'when'. And in my climate it just wouldn't work at all during the 5-6 winter months.

greasybenz · #6 07-09-2006, 12:20 PM

For $800 you can get a greasecar kit, Which is a 2-tank setup. This greenbenz seems like lovecrafts conversion kits, just a ripoff.

If you want a good one tank kit id say go with fattywagons kit which costs $350

Jmana · #7 07-09-2006, 06:17 PM

What I think is funny, is that there was an 83 300SD with 250k miles sold on ebay with one of these "kits" installed, and it went for almost $7,000! Here is a link to the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/300SD-TURBO-DIESEL-running-on-100-vegetable-oil-WVO_W0QQitemZ160001101581QQihZ006QQcategoryZ6336QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

bgkast · #8 07-09-2006, 10:26 PM

Too bad I've grown so attached to mine or I could sell it and cash in!