Can I convert a 2006 E320 CDI to run on WVO?
 

The title kinda says it all. I also own a 2001 Ford F250 with a 7.3 diesel. I already converted it to run on WVO. It works amazing. Now I am looking at my wife's car. It is a 2006 E320 CDI with about 95k miles. It is a beautiful car and I wouldn't dream of doing anything to it that might damage it. I've read a few overzealous comments about the thousands of dollars worth of damage I will potentially cause by converting the car. The comments discuss the heat and pressure in the CDI that would not function well with the different properties of WVO. I'm not a chemist ... just a regular guy who can turn a wrench in my garage. Does anybody know it this year/engine can be successfully converted? Thank you in advance.

Dan

MB Common rail Direct Injection engines have been converted. Look on the Frybrid forum for people who have converted Sprinter Vans. They have the same type motor.

I wouldn't try to inject WVO at 25,000 PSI.

-J

If something goes wrong chances are high that it will be very expensive to repair. It is one thing to fool around with an old indirect diesel engine but totally another on the newer engines.

To me the potential risk is just too high to feel comforatable with. It may work fine but if not be prepared to spend some real money. A lot more effort should be expended towards processing the fuel you are going to use as well.

Thanks Barry, I agree. that's the main reason I'm getting started here. I won't make the conversion unless 'everyone' says that it won't harm the engine. Lots more research to go.

I ran WVO in my 240D for several problem free years. The big thing for running VO is heat and lots of it. I had a lot of empty space in my engine bay for heaters, hose, valves, and such. This is a luxury you don't have. Things are much tighter in your engine bay. And with the higher injection pressure you're really going to have to make sure that your temps are good and high. Coolant heat is great but will still only heat up to our engine's operating temp, which means you still need a lot of electric heat. Personally if I were you, due to the cost of parts for you engine, I'd invest in the gear and knowledge to make your VO into biodiesel. Your car will run this with little worry and no mods, and you'll still see the savings if fuel costs.

You also have to consider: Not only does the new car have a totally different fuel injection system (high pressure fuel rail and multi stage solenoid controlled multi hole injectors vs an inline pump with mechanical single stage injectors) the ignition system is totally different too. VW simply will not atomize properly on a direct injection engine. The holes in the injectors are so small you can't see them... compare that to the pintle injectors on the old cars... you if you take the pinte out you can see through them.

If you want to run your own fuel, strips out the crap and make quality biodiesel.

-J

Solid advice from all. Thank you. I will continue to reflect on this.

Just my .02 but people have been running (quite successfully) WVO in CRD diesels in the Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee of those years. I agree with some of the posts that heat is critical and filtering to 1 micron is a must. I have a centrifuge at my house to run my 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 as well as my ol' 1985 300D. I myself have been looking into this as my wife wants a 2006 Grand Cherokee with the CRD engine.
From what I understand it is an issue of viscosity running at the high pressures. Assuming your oil is clean, you would have to have your oil up to 200 degrees so it flows the same as diesel thru the finer injectors.

2006 grand cherokee
 

They did not put a diesel in the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee but the Jeep Liberty has a VM diesel. I have an 06 that I run on WVO it now has 50k miles on grease. The trick is the Common rail need to be electrically heated. I used a line heater wrapped around the common rail and the temps are around 200F using a laser temp gauge.
On the 07 Jeep grand cherokees they are harder to convert to WVO due to higher emissions standards that require a DPF. This gets clogged by WVO and Biodiesel due to its inability to burn off the veg oil in its raw uncompressed state.

One of our customers just converted his E320. Sam at Full Circle in NY did the conversion. He's going document everything and get it up on our forum. Check back in the near future. He said the VO contoller guy?? had an E320 which ran 50k miles on WVO.

I totally agree that oil must be meticulously cleaned.

Jason
WVO Designs

one tank of SVO
 

I just topped off after my first tank of SVO and it was a harder conversion than a Jeep Liberty and especially any older Mercedes. But it is working good so far. I might need some final adjustments then I will post more information.

Nice work!

Personally, i am not a fan of converting Cdi. I know many have been done (I have done quite a few myself), but they are very sensitive to fuel quality/viscosity and are generally extremely expensive to repair. One set of injectors can negate years of fuel savings. I know many are out there doing OK, but I also know of many CDi's that have not fared so well despite very good fuel quality. Risk:reward just not there for me.

I have seen both Tdi and Cdi cyl heads removed/engines dissembled, all had a ring of coking around edge of piston and and dirty ring lands.

Maybe water inj would help keep things clean, i have not used it on a diesel. I think it would be a great thing though, especially for non IC MB IDI!


IDI MB my favorite for greasing, just my opinion.

My wife drives a nice 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD (common rail) It has paid for itself in fuel costs from running grease. 60K + miles worth. It is possible the best grease converted vehicle I have ever seen or heard about. After 10 years of driving old cars I want something with A/C that does not break every 3 months.

On a side note I have not got the CDI running just right yet turns out mounting the pump was harder than it seemed. But what a nice car it is. I took it out on an empty road for 20 seconds of full trottle and it did 130 mph on veg oil so I think the pump is flowing enough fuel.. I have given up on VW's for a while because I can only get burned so many times.