We all know that the older 300d's and such will basically run on about anything, at least for a limited time, but what about the mid to late model 300 class? How is the engine and everything on them? Anyone have any bad experience?

__________________
1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

I've run my 86 603 engine out of a Mason jar full of clean, new Canola oil just to prove to myself that it would indeed do it... and then I cut that out so I could avoid injector problems, things like that. Mine is a pure diesel car in terms of daily driving. However, I have run straight oil through it for maybe ten or fifteen minutes. Engine seemed a tad smoother, a tad quieter... and I could imagine the oil slowing coking things up inside there. Exhaust smelled like cooking oil (duh) and the engine was just as smooth or smoother on the stuff. So yes it will work. But you knew that already. No idea about long-term performance... but it's all the input I've got.

If biodiesel was anywhere close to where I am, I might try blending it for the solvent properties. Not a pump within 100 miles of my location. That I've found anyway. Tried to make it once, in a two liter bottle, using the "coke bottle" method just to see how it worked. Ended up... not really noticing any difference after I was done, compared to before I started the process. Probably did something wrong. Just poured the whole mess off the top into the tank, stopped when I got down near the glycerin, and I was done with the whole mess.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I have run my 86SD on either SVO @80% or B90 since November of 2005. I did a compression check this spring and examined the injector that I pulled - there was no coking (sic). I have looked for issues - but just don't have any related to fuel.

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Not a Benz, but, there's a guy about an hour from me that has run his 99 Dodge Cummins on a 50/50 mix of vegetable oil and aviation kerosene for the last 3K miles, and it hasn't exploded in flames yet....

Due to the nature of a diesel engine, I'm thinking that anything but the new
Common Rail diesels will run on some very wacky mixes of things, but as always, 'for how long' is the question.

__________________
1983 300SD 467,000 km - 473 champagnermetallic

location: 34°5' N 106°53' W (Socorro NM, USA)

http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/showstate.asp?st=NC


You might be very surprised when you go to this site....


Tim

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

So, WVO (even properly filtered) is really a bad idea?

I've got a 240D and I seriously want to do WVO on it, if for no other reason than it's something kind of neat to do, I'd get increased range from the two-tank system, and it'd be cheaper in the long run.

But if it's one of those things, "will make engine into pile of slag after 10k miles", maybe not...

My '87 300D (603 engine) has been on 100% biodiesel (B100) since whatever my signature says. Nary a problem.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

You've hit upon a gold mine of contention here; almost as controversial a topic as what engine oil to use.

Responses to the question of using WVO in a diesel engine range from 'Sure why not?' to 'Maybe with work' to 'No, never, why would you want to'

Search these very forums, using Google (add site:www.peachparts.com), and you'll find a heap of threads on the topic.

__________________
1983 300SD 467,000 km - 473 champagnermetallic

location: 34°5' N 106°53' W (Socorro NM, USA)

I've run my MB 84td and BMW 85td on ASTM-grade biodiesel I make for some years now and I've had zero fuel-related probs with either vehicle. When making biodiesel from waste vegetable oil, 20% of the byproduct is glycerol, a chemical soup with the viscosity and appearance of molasses. The glycerine/glycerol content of SVO is the reason I'd never run my vehicles on SVO. Also, I've seen the results in engine teardowns/post-mortems. It ain't pretty.

.

Hello Everyone

Here is a link to a database with thousands of cars
with millions of miles running on vegetable oil

The page will allow you to search the database
for whatever kind of information you are looking for.
What kind of car, injection pump, mileage, etc..

And there are summaries of some parts of the database.

http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/fuelsdatabase/database/index.php

Have Fun !
RichC


.

__________________

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

I've burned a fair amount of "commercial" B99 in my 99 E300. No problems other than 10% less mpg's.

I wouldnt consider burning SVO/WVO or home brew bio in my model personally although some do.

Not that it applies to this post, but there are too many noobies that come here thinking they can just throw something in a single tank and GO. Perhaps along with the sticky's above we should have another titled "RIP - SVO/WVO Failures" where past posts of cars that died or developed major problems could be archived.

I can think of a few to get it started......

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I run my 1992 300D 2,5 Turbo on SVO since July this year. I have run a 1996 Jetta TD for 3 years and used nearly 2000 US gal of filtered and dewatered SVO with no problem.

Of course, I use a 2-tank system, insulated HIH that runs inside the cabin because of deep cold winters in Montreal area. I need some 15 minute drive to heat up 10 gal of SVO to 160°F when it is 0 to 10 °F outside.

So I use my SVO on long trips (150miles) that I do on a weekly basis.

So far, the Merc has had some 100 gal of SVO. No problems yet.

I will report all failure that I will find and experience. I can agree about a little less power (and less mpg) in the order of 10% when on SVO. I had not noticed that with the Jetta.

I have spent some 900$ CAN on the custom conversion "kit" I have made myself.

With a good quality supplier of WVO, it is a nice hobby that I enjoy. I don't plan on really saving money, but if by accident it happens, it will be a bonus!

Good Luck,

__________________
BigBen

'98 E300 Turbodiesel 244 000km
RIP '92 300D 2,5 Turbo 632 859,4km due to engine failure

Pretty much any diesel will run well on Biodiesel.

I have about 3000 miles on a 1999 E300, and so far no problems, but time will tell. I have a two tank system and make sure the oil is really hot before I switch (am hoping this will help prevent future issues)

For the last 3k miles I have been running a WVO/diesel blend. I am very picky about my oil and it is filtered well. I usually run 50/50 but in warmer weather I have run up to 70 WVO/ 30 diesel.

So far so good.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R