Biodiesel in cold weather? 95 300d - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

freesoul · #1 09-24-2008, 12:30 AM

Greets, I've been running B100 in my 1995 E300d for about 4K miles, bought the car in June. Running great so far, changed the fuel filter last week.

I'm concerned about what to do to prepare for cold winter, i want to run as high a percentage of biodiesel as I can but will mix some K1 with it. The car will be garage kept. Should I get a tank heater, block heater, or inline fuel heater? Any other advice?

TIA

#2 09-24-2008, 12:38 AM

Actual Biodiesel?

Put samples of fuel in your freezer and play with mixtures until you find one that does not separate.

Biodiesel300TD · #3 09-24-2008, 12:39 AM

The trick with running high blends of biodiesel of B99 in the winter is when the car sits in parking lot for several hours. Putting it in the garage with access to electricity makes things easy for plugging in a tank heater and block heater. But when you are in a parking lot you won't have access to electrical plugs. But to answer your question. You'd want a filter heater and a tank heater. Assuming you have a metal tank you can get stick on heater pads that will heat the tank. If it's plastic you are out of luck. You'll want to turn on the filter heater several seconds before you start the car.

Truthfully the easiest thing to do is to blend down as it gets cold. I usually switch to B20 once temps start nearing freezing at night.

Shorebilly · #4 09-24-2008, 05:44 AM

B-20 in Wintertime.....

My supplier (actually 2 different suppliers) do not sell higher than B-20 in wintertime because they can't pump it either......

SB

I blend down the last of my summertime B-100 (B-99) when the weather starts to get real chilly.....with plain old ULSD.....

freesoul · #5 09-24-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Actual Biodiesel?

Put samples of fuel in your freezer and play with mixtures until you find one that does not separate.

LOL yes actual biodiesel, you mean gels not separates right?

I'm hoping to run at least B80 this winter by blending with kero. Plus will add an inline heater just before the fuel filter, I'll look into a tank heater as well.

Graplr · #6 09-24-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freesoul

LOL yes actual biodiesel, you mean gels not separates right?

I'm hoping to run at least B80 this winter by blending with kero. Plus will add an inline heater just before the fuel filter, I'll look into a tank heater as well.

I think he means seperates.

From my understanding, the problem is the K1 seperates from the biodiesel, especially when you do the blending yourself. So then it gels at a much higher temperature.

John Schroader · #7 09-24-2008, 11:09 AM

Here in KY (where the winter lows might reach 0 degrees) I do as FI suggests and make up several blends and look at them to determine what is needed. I have not noticed any seperation of D2 and bio --- it just gets thick. I've found that a blend of 50 /50 plus an anti - gel has worked for me so far. I have a block heater but have never plugged it in. Don't even know if it works. I use a filter heater, but it is electric and has little to do with starting the vehicle. I think the quality of the oil used for bio has some bearing on the viscosity in cold weather.

freesoul · #8 09-24-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graplr

I think he means seperates.

From my understanding, the problem is the K1 seperates from the biodiesel, especially when you do the blending yourself. So then it gels at a much higher temperature.

what if I blend it while drying the fuel? that way it will be somewhat heated at least 60F.

Does my car have a block heater, or do I have to add that? where would it be located?

thanks all!

TMAllison · #9 09-24-2008, 01:59 PM

The heater (if installed) would connect to the block up under the exhaust manifold.

Difficult to see from above on my turbo engine. Yours has the air box and other plastic junk in the way I believe.

fruitcakesa · #10 09-24-2008, 02:15 PM

I blend ULSD 50/50 with BD down to the teens and 70/30 below that. I keep samples of B100, B50 and B30 on a ledge in my unheated driveshed and monitor them during the winter but usually end up at B30 by midseason

Graplr · #11 09-24-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freesoul

what if I blend it while drying the fuel? that way it will be somewhat heated at least 60F.

Does my car have a block heater, or do I have to add that? where would it be located?

thanks all!

I don't have any direct experience with this, I just seem to recall home blenders having problems with their blends seperating at cold temps. Many others that are posting on this thread will have much better advice than myself on how to make it work as I've only run biodiesel in the warmer months. From what I've read it seems blending out of the car's fuel tank and when warm limits it, but I'm not positive.

Biodiesel300TD · #12 09-24-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freesoul

Does my car have a block heater, or do I have to add that? where would it be located?

A block heater isn't going to warm the fuel. It keeps the block warm which will help start the engine, and if your lucky it might raise the temp of the fuel in the injection pump a degree or two, but it won't really help keep the fuel warm or prevent it from gelling.

freesoul · #13 09-26-2008, 10:47 AM

ok so maybe I need a tank heater, can anyone recommend one? I'll probably also put a vegtherm in before my filter.

thanks!

Jeremy5848 · #14 09-26-2008, 07:32 PM

AFAIK, all W124 diesels came with block heaters, including especially your OM606. You may need to get a cord. The block heater is on the right (passenger) side of the block, just in front of the starter motor. You can either run the heater all night (it uses about 400 Watts) or use a timer – about 4 hours is enough to get the block up to about 40C. In addition to making the engine easier to start, you also get heat in the passenger compartment almost immediately.

You and my late father are the only people I have ever known to use the term "Pennsyltucky." Most folks look at me like I'm crazy or drunk when I spring it on them.

Jeremy

freesoul · #15 09-26-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

AFAIK, all W124 diesels came with block heaters, including especially your OM606. You may need to get a cord. The block heater is on the right (passenger) side of the block, just in front of the starter motor. You can either run the heater all night (it uses about 400 Watts) or use a timer – about 4 hours is enough to get the block up to about 40C. In addition to making the engine easier to start, you also get heat in the passenger compartment almost immediately.

You and my late father are the only people I have ever known to use the term "Pennsyltucky." Most folks look at me like I'm crazy or drunk when I spring it on them.

Jeremy

He must have been a good guy, thanks for the info I'll check it out in the AM