my attempt at WVO - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wheelguru · #1 08-24-2003, 11:55 PM

So far so good, I have about a 20% mix in the 300d and I can't tell any difference. Collecting and filtering it was really easy, I hope I did not do anything wrong, it seemed too easy. I got a roatary hand pump for $25 and an inline filter for $17. The filter is about 3 times as big as the screw-on for the motor, it says it filters to 10 microns. Some 1" ID hose, a couple of fittings, some hose clamps, and a couple of 5 gallon paint buckets, and I am in business. The oil was ditting out in the sun in the black bucket, and pumping it through the filter was cake, it went as fast as I could crank, about 5 gallons in a minute I would guess. My next step is to replace the hand crank with a little hex fitting so I can just put a cordless drill on to do the pumping.

djugurba · #2 08-25-2003, 01:20 AM

Hey,
you should visit a few other sites as well to share your experiences with WVO/SVO.
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc is probably the best one out there.

BTW, Neoteric from Canada is about to unveil their WVO one-tank kit that will come with everything needed to operate start-up to shut-down on SVO- new SVO injectors and everything. interesting!

Cheers,
Kevin

Maxwell · #3 08-25-2003, 03:51 PM

that's the way to do it, just filter it and put it in the tank. you can do the same with your used motor oil too.

R Leo · #4 08-25-2003, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maxwell
....you can do the same with your used motor oil too.

I do the same thing...unfortunately, the exhaust when running on used engine oil doesn't smell nearly as appealing as when running WFO.

Fredmburgess · #5 08-25-2003, 05:37 PM

Great to see I'm not the only one! Just picked up the Benz from the trans shop today - hard to fault a transmission after 391,000 miles! Anyway, now I know how it was supposed to shift. Since it's dark blue and was sitting in the sun at the shop I just switched straight over to WVO (heated tank in the trunk). Never missed a beat of course. Anyway, back to flogging it up and down I-81 with one tank of straight WVO and the stock tank at 50/50 (at least until things cool off a bit more). Should hit 400,000 miles in a couple of weeks...last 40,000 mostly on WVO!

Herr Diesel would be pleased, I believe!

fmb

tstarr · #6 08-25-2003, 05:40 PM

It's interesting to me that you are using straight WVO. I've been preparing for a WVO process to turn that into bio-diesel and it's fairly involved. Heating, mixing some lye in, waiting for sediment to work its way out, then maybe washing. I'll be interested in hearing how it goes just to use the straight WVO. Do you think you're getting away with it because you're doing the 20% mix with regular diesel? With the decrease in effort and cost, that might well be worth the tradeoff.

FWIW, I bought several tanks of biodiesel for both my diesels. I did have to change the fuel filter out after a couple of tankfuls. I thought that the car ran smoother than it did with regular diesel, but I don't know how much of that was the placebo effect. My wife and kids did notice the difference in the exhaust smell, however.

- Ted

Maxwell · #7 08-25-2003, 06:34 PM

It all depends on weather. in warm weather, you can run 80% WVO, no problems. In mild winter 50%. If I were gonna make biodiesel I'd just mix it 20% with WVO in warm weather, and not have to make as much, but still not buy any diesel.

Fredmburgess · #8 08-25-2003, 08:21 PM

...and I've had good success with a second, heated tank for 100% WVO. Pretty simple setup - similar to what Greasel and others are selling. I run straight WVO in the heated tank, 50/50 WVO in the stock tank during summer. In the winter I drop the stock tank to 20% WVO. I carry a couple of filters just in case, but really haven't had any problems at all. The trick is to filter/settle/filter the WVO - better to get the junk out before it ever gets into your tank(s). Smells better, runs quieter with perhaps just a little drop in power, costs darn near nothing, but most importantly for me it's better for the environment and doesn't export dollars to people who don't like us anyway..

fmb

wheelguru · #9 08-26-2003, 10:52 AM

i have read about "washing" bio-diesel by misting water over the top and letting it settle out onto the bottom, taking contaminants with it. Is anyone doing this with WVO?

wheelguru · #10 08-26-2003, 06:10 PM

I too, wondered if I would get algae problems, but my impression is that oil and water don't mix easily, the water is supposed to go to the bottom and the oil stays on top. I guess I am wondering if it all settles out nicely. I can put a spigot on the bottom of the bucket to drain the water back out.
So, I have one opinion, any others? -Andy

coachgeo · #11 08-26-2003, 06:40 PM

go here and search the forum Making Biodiesel using "washing" as the search word. If you need to search other forums on that site too.

coachgeo · #12 08-27-2003, 08:57 PM

their are several ways to get the water out. Bringing temp of oil hot enough to boil the water out is the most common. Watch out for Grease fires.... very nasty.... very dangerous.

A search at the site I linked above on "dewatering" or simular terms will fill you in on that topic.

Fredmburgess · #13 08-28-2003, 07:10 PM

When I collect oil in the winter I sometimes get that cloudy "milkshake" looking stuff. As noted the water sometimes stays in suspension rather than settling out as it does in warmer weather. I use a bucket heater - common farm tool - to bring about 5 gallons at a time to a low boil and drive the water out. Prefer not to invest the time and (electric) energy, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

As far as blending filtred WVO in with regular diesel in the standard tank, I've got a buddy who's been running 20% fryer oil in his diesel tanks for probably 30 years. He laughed when I told him my "discovery" about running WVO in a diesel... I do add some algeacide now and then just in case.

This stuff isn't for everyone, but it's kind of fun to refine your processes over time - especially if you're a motorhead.

Good weekend, all.

fred

BoostnBenz · #14 08-28-2003, 09:23 PM

Perhaps this may be of some assistance to your emulsion problem.