Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion > Alternative Fuels

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-27-2007, 08:10 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Kimberly, WI
Posts: 15
WVO problems

Sorry for the novel, but I tried to be as detailed as possible to eliminate the back and forth with questions:

I have recently converted my 77 240D to running on WVO. Approx 1,700 miles and loving it. It is a 2 tank, HIH, with lift pump set up. System is as follows: tank, HIH, WVO filter, lift pump, valve, to injection pump. The tank is a marine tank in the trunk and the pump is 4-7psi. When this system has the fuel all primed (all air pumped out of the system) up with WVO, it will run all day. The problem begins as it cools. I end up with air in my tubing prior to my WVO filter. I have left the vent open on the tank and closed it with no change. While cooling (I haven't paid too much attention if it is right away or over some time) it looks like the bubble is coming out of the WVO filter. I'm assuming as the oil cools down, it is drawing back to the tank. Vaccum buildup? Which if stressing the tubing too much may lead to my next problem.

Recently, I have had an even stranger problem. If I have the system primed, I can drive to work with no problems. The air is in the tubing at this time, but I have had this bubble in the system and was able to drive home. But that was prior to the tygon (stated below). When I leave work, let the system get up to temp and flip the switch. I make it about 5-10 miles and then it stumbles. Not a driving problem because I switch it back to diesel and I keep rolling. But the tubing that leaves the HIH will split where it at the union to the tubing that goes the the WVO filter. I have the fuel line from the HIH to a union, Tygon tubing, then to the fitting on the WVO filter head. I have the right size fitting for the tubing. No excessive force required, I've heated the tubing up so it is softer while going on, I used hose clamps, not used hose clamps. I had the fuel line from the HIH directly to the filter head and didn't have the splitting problem, but due to the air bubble, I made a few design changes and had to add the Tygon. Any ideas in either department would be greatly appreciated now that diesel is back up over $3 here in WI.

__________________
Tony
1977 240D WVO converted
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-27-2007, 09:37 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 311
How about installing a vacuum gauge in the section where you suspect excess vacuum ? For a bubble to form, air must be leaking in somewhere. If the tygon is splitting, maybe another type of tubing would be better. When the tygon splits, does air come in or wvo come out ? Steve
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-27-2007, 10:00 PM
Mojool's Avatar
taxation by inflation
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 149
for troubleshooting, see if you can put in a piece of that nylon clear braided tubing...one can try to perhaps move it from place to place to track down the air entering the fuel system? it doesn't seal very well itself though, only moderately with a new band clamp really tightened down, so don't keep it permanent.........

vacuum gauge sounds like a good idea..but yeh, the splitting really doesn't sound very good.

i would love to have anice HIH though , i'm on HOH atm
__________________
alimony
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-27-2007, 11:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Kimberly, WI
Posts: 15
Actually the tygon is not splitting. It is the tubing that comes out of the HIH which is a harder and more rigid (can't think of what kind) that is splitting at the union. How it does it???? I press and squeeze a piece I cut off and nothing, but it somehow cracks after my 30 mile jaunt to work, sitting for 9 hrs, and then attempting to run again on the way home. Instead of a vacuum gauge, I think I will try a vac pump to test the system to see where it is leaking from. By initial inspection it looks like it is coming from the filter. Inside the housing, the housing itself, or the seal around the filter. Anyone hear of this before (besides the seal, that's pretty obvious)?

When the hose does split, it is on the incoming side of the filter and pump. So I suck air, but by the time I get home, I am leaking oil from the other side due to the oil expanding from the higher temp.
__________________
Tony
1977 240D WVO converted
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-27-2007, 11:56 PM
a2t a2t is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 941
yeah well you gotta put the right type of hose in, if its splitting its not correct.

Ive been using the tygothane from mcmaster carr and its worked great. its clear, so thats added bonus for telling whats going on.

as for pesky vacuum leaks, plug the wvo lines either end and draw vacuum with mityvac. should be able to hold 20in for hours. if not, isolate components and test. Ive had a few air leaks at the wvo filter.

im assuming you are properly heating wvo to 160F and its not so thick it wont flow well.

you should also loop the return once the air leak is resolved. you can check out pics of my frybrid install on the whats in development section of my website www.GruvenParts.com

__________________
Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page