99 E300 and Biodiesel

[TMAllison]

My 99 E300 seems to like fuel additives, typically idling quieter and getting slightly better mileage than without.

I have expirimented with adding ~1% of B100 and get the same results.

I am curious if other board members run straight B100 in their 98 or 99's and if so:

for how long they have done so?

whether or not they have have had any mechanical issues they could attribute to use of B100?

if our cars use the "viton" rubbers in fuel related lines, hoses, o-rings etc?

Thanks

[dapperappy]

hey was wondering if anyone can answer TMAllison's questions now. I have my 99 E300 in the shop for the first time replacing a leaking O ring. I bought the car in hopes of using biodiesel but when i talked with the guy that owns the shop he told me he wouldn't run biodiesel in these cars because it could cause injector problems and there is a high probability of ruining them and it is expensive to replace. He did say he has not had any MBs have that happen but the VWs and said it is something to do with the newer computer controlled cars. I got this guys' name from research on this forum and he seems to be well respected in the area for these diesel cars, been doing this for over 20 years. He hasn't replaced the O ring yet and i'm wondering if i need to tell him to replace it with these Viton things that i keep seeing in posts? Anway, i'm getting a little uncomfortable now with thinking about using biodiesel and it bums me out.

[Knightrider966]

The one thing I do know even though I do not have one of these cars is in Europe, Biofuels have been a part of the mainstream fuel supply since the 1960's and averages about 30% mixture of rapeseed oils. Your biggest problem is going to be organic rubber componenets melting because of the methanol in biodiesel. Biodiesel is being mandated in several states now because of emission requirements and ULSD in mixtures of 5% to 20% for increased lubricity. I don't see how mixtures of B30 could hurt your vehicle since this is the fuels available from the vehicles home country.

I have seen testimonials from Mercedes Benz owners on http://www.biodiesel.org claiming no problems with new cars!

[TMAllison]

Wow.....thats and old post.

Since that time it's been commonly accepted our engines will run fine on commercially prepared bio. I've burned countless tanks of B99 through mine with no adverse affects other than 10% less MPG's and hastening the deterioation of some orings.

Purchasing viton orings seems to resolve that issue.

OM606.962 o-ring size

[dukegrad98]

Seriously -- crazy post resurrection!

I've also burned nothing but biodiesel and WVO for the last 15k+ miles in my '98 E300. I have replaced my fuel return lines due to leakage, but other than that have had no problems of any sort with the fuel in the 606.962 engine. I'm a happy biofuel camper.

Knightrider -- there is no methanol in biodiesel. Methanol can be used to make bio, but should not wind up in the finished fuel -- it should wind up in the resultant glycerol, or at least be removed during the wash process. If you have methanol in your biodiesel, it's because you're doing something wrong.

Cheers, John

[nhdoc]

A lot of mechanics (and other people) confuse biodiesel with running on SVO or WVO. They hear horror stories about running vege oil through these engines and causing problems with that and if they don't know the difference just say none of it is any good. I'd go back to your mechanic and ask him if we was sure he meant biodiesel as opposed to running on vege oil without refinement into biodiesel and see what his reaction is...you can tell then if he knows what he's talking about or not.

[husk]

I ran B99 in my chipped E300, and noticed that the car ran like a slug, I changed the fuel filters, and still it ran like a slug, I filled up with good ole #2 and there was a HUGE difference in power and performance.