Hi everyone,

I've been looking around the site trying to find an exact list of what parts (hoses, etc.) that I should replace when switching to biodiesel. I have a 1985 300D sedan.

Thanks a bunch!

John

None. I wouldn't bother replacing hoses unless they are really old or start leaking. Most will do fine with BioDiesel.

only need to change hoses if you're switching to pure cooking oil, and that's a project involving a second tank, changeover valves and a fuel heater to keep the fatty oil from turning into sludge.

x3 change as needed. If you are going to B100, fading it in over a couple of tanks will lead to fewer clogged filters. I started with B20, then B50, then B75, then B100 and had no clogs.

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Old cars and old hoses, it is a question of the hassle-factor.
Since I plan on totally refurbing the MB anyway, a hose replacement is a minor expense but one which I will not have to think about again. And the idea of leaking fuel and wasting a precious drop of it is a bummer.
Personal choice.
I am using homebrew b100 in all my vehicles as long as the temps permit and blended the rest of the time

__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Just have plenty of prefilters on hand.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Biodiesel will eventually brake down your fuel lines. It may take month or it may take more than a year. It all depends on the shape of the lines when you start running biodiesel. Viton is the only material that is resistant to biodiesel in the long term. There are kits available out there such as the ones from GreaseWorks. Or you can get viton lined hose for much cheaper. As long as the hose has the SAE 30 R 9 rating it is lined with viton and will work for a long time.
The other thing that happens when you start running biodiesel is it will clean out the fuel system. Biodiesel is a good solvent. So your fuel filters may clog up a few times depending on how dirty the fuel system it. So make sure you have both filters on hand so you can be ready to change them out.

__________________

Most of these car's flexable fuel hose at the tank have not been replaced...ever.

I would run the car until the low fuel light comes on and replace them. Have a bucket handy, there is still quite a bit of fuel that will come out.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Run some Startron diesel fuel addative for a tank or two before you switch to BD. It will reduce fuel filter plugging.

__________________
Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

Anything you put in the tank that cleans out the fuel system will result in gunk in your filters in some degree.

__________________

Better in the filters than in the injection system

I have had no problem with B100 and filter plugging. I'm sure my tank had not been cleaned in the car's 30 years.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I've experienced both. In my 240 I put one tank of B50 in an the filters clogged. But I ran a lot of gallons of B100 through my wagon before I changed the filters and they really weren't that bad even then.

__________________

some people luck out and others, like me, had a lot of crap in the fuel tank. I always carried two spare prefilters, but went with the large clear ones from Autozone, just so I could see how much crap was in it. I eventually had to clean out the tank and the pickup screen. The other car has not had a problem.

My first leak, after close to two years on BioD, was the fuel return lines on the injectors.

__________________
87 300SDL - 215K Miles !!
99 F-350CC Dually PSD - 190K
86 300SDL - 189K
All on B-100

It sounds like Snake Oil...BUT it's not.

You can have a massive infestation of fungus... drop an 8 Oz. Bottle in your nearly empty tank and refuel...within days ALL THREE fuel filters will be clean...
AND the Tank Gauge tube in your Tank will be clean too.

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128