Biodiesel versus Dinodiesel - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

psdsteve · #31 03-21-2004, 11:56 PM

I just finished installing my SVO conversion this weekend. I purchased the how to files from Dana for the heating units and the HOH. Overall very good probably saved me a lot of time scrounging for parts. I spent about $300 for my system including the $50 for the plans. I bought all parts new. This doesn't include the preheater using a glow plug yet(I will add later if I want to switch over faster.

If he makes a kit for ~$400 i would go for it in a second. I spent probably 20 hours to collect build and install mine. Install time would be about 8hrs or less. Much less if you had done it before. I learned a lot and am cheap but for $100 it's not worth the extra hassle of running all over hell and back finding parts etc.

It works great!!! BTW if you are doing your own don't use lead free solder. Go with the actid core lead compound.......If I had known the difference it would have saved me four hours of frustration.

Dana's how to files are worth the money.

Stephen

whunter · #32 11-01-2004, 09:50 AM

Looking at several conversion options.
Burned the last of my pure veggie oil this weekend.
For the last two months I have been running canola, diesel 50/50, smells great and the veggie oil was free.

KCampbell · #33 11-01-2004, 10:16 AM

I've been going back and forth on this for months. I run B100 in my VW TDI, but it has modern hoses that don't care about it, and I've had the car from new so I know the tank isn't dirty inside.

If I run B100 in the 300SD I will probably shift all sorts of gunk from in the tank to clog the filters, and get return lines that start to weep, plus possibly upset the feed lines from the tank?

My daily commute is 17 miles, and it takes quite a while for my car to warm up. I figure that by the time a WVO tank was heated I'd almost be at work!

It seems to me that the greatest bang for the buck is the 50/50 Dino plus WVO approach. I'll halve my fuel bill, improve my emissions and quieten the motor, all with no mods to the car and no initial outlay.

Kevin

danalinscott · #34 11-01-2004, 10:24 AM

Thanks for the kind words Steve.
Again I apologise for not checking the board more. I am spending nearly 4 hours per day answering questions from customers (and non-customers) converting their diesels to wvo.

I have posted an outline of the entire process on the infopop forum devoted to vegoil conversion as a way to help cut down on the amount of time I was spending answering complete vegoil newbie questions. The moderator made it a sticky at the top of the page HERE. It may prove useful to anyone thinking of converting to wvo.

I also have a policy of giving away some of the most useful designs I develop. This helps folks understand much better the thrust of my design intent...simplicity and low cost. One of the best I have recently given away is a very simple wvo collection unit which uses mostly recycled (salvaged) components and allows collection of wvo without the mess often associated with this unavoidable chore. I have a PDF (Adobe) file of this "wvo sucker" which I would be happy to send to anyone interested enough to send me an email with the heading "wvo sucker PDF".

My email address is: danalinscott@yahoo.com

With the recent increase in diesel fuel cost I have been deluged with email...and customers inqueries must always be answered first. But I do try to answer all of the email I receive...so non-customers might have to wait for up to 3 days before I have a chance. If you can be patient enough for that delay please feel free to contact me with your questions. I don't have all the answers..but I know where most of the answers can be found.

BTW...I LOVE my 190DT. The fact that I am able to get over 300 miles out of 80 cents (collection and filtration/dewatering costs) worth of wvo just makes the experience of driving a diesel Benz that much sweeter.

Dana

whunter · #35 12-31-2004, 09:02 PM

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=447609751&f=159605551&m=415602894

coachgeo · #36 12-31-2004, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=447609751&f=159605551&m=415602894

Thanks for the complement

Coachgeo: also known as Jeeping Moggin Jessup

aklim · #37 01-03-2005, 08:22 PM

OK. lets say you do convert a car like my 99 E300 Turbodiesel to run WVO.
can the newer cars convert easily? What would happen when you take a long trip? I doubt there would be too many gas stations that sell WVO that has been processed.

danalinscott · #38 01-03-2005, 08:42 PM

aklim,

It does appear that most of the newer diesel vehicles do convert nearly as easily as older ones. What the long term effects of running on wvo are in these newer diesels is anyones guess though. Hardly enough miles are on the older IDI diesels converted years ago for a conservative opinion to be more than "there are remarkably few vegoil failures reported." This is hardly conclusive evidence converting any diesel to vegoil is as safe as running it on diesel fuel.

Even though the technology and knowledge about vegoil conversio has inproved dramtically in the last few years it is still experimental IMO. I often liken modern wvo conversions to the early days of "motorcars". In those days a motorcar owner had to know the basics of how the vehicle worked and be able to perform some repairs and all maintenence themself. If a part broke a harness maker or blacksmith might be able to make a replacement part..but only if the owner could provide guideance. Gasoline was also very hard to come by if one decided to take a trip far from home.

Nowdays there are several prototypes of on the go wvo prefilters in the development stage. One kit maker even sells such a unit for diesel pickup trucks. Smaller much more sophisticated and better developed units will be available in the next few years that will allow one to process wvo obtained on the road while underway. I doubt that fueling stations will be dispensing vegoil within the next few decades though..if ever.

whunter · #39 01-03-2005, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danalinscott

Nowdays there are several prototypes of on the go wvo prefilters in the development stage. One kit maker even sells such a unit for diesel pickup trucks. Smaller much more sophisticated and better developed units will be available in the next few years that will allow one to process wvo obtained on the road while underway. I doubt that fueling stations will be dispensing vegoil within the next few decades though..if ever.

Where???
Location of these units would help.

I would like to build a couple of prototype units myself, any plans.

What are the search words for Google???

phidauex · #40 01-03-2005, 10:24 PM

A friend of mine is designing an on-the-go inline filtration system for his bus... But I don't know what its status is at the moment. Winter slows development down.

I doubt we'll ever see veggie oil at pumps. Which is fine, since it has all the 'issues' of biodiesel, plus a few more, meaning its probably best to skip pump-veggie, and go to pump-biodiesel.

However, if you've got inline filtration and a grease-sucker, every restaurant is like a pump.

peace,
sam

aklim · #41 01-03-2005, 11:45 PM

For a bus, probably. However for a car? Would't a system like that take up a whole lot of room?

Biodiesel use, while it is currently more expensive than regular diesel is a little easier to get and thus, if the tax breaks come, we might see it become more popular. However, I can tank up with B100 and then if I am traveling, fill up with regular diesel if BXX is not advailable.

The problem with WVO is that you have to actually make plans and hope for the best. Sure, you have your inline system and you have sacrificed room in the car and you can stop at any fast food store and get some grease. Questions are, will they let you or will they rather get their grease removal service especially if some lowly clerk is running the store and not the manager? Also, if it is cold, won't the grease congeal in the tank?

If I had an old car that I didn't care about and used it as transportation in town only and also during late spring to early fall, I might be tempted to try it out to save a few bucks. However WVO as a daily drive, right now and under the current circumcisons, I can't see. IOW, can I drive this car like my regular car and be sure that I can get gas as needed, do not have to purge it to regular diesel in the winter before stopping and not have to worry about a tank heater, etc, etc? Also what is the cost of the fuel after I figure out the cost of my time?

bioTD · #42 04-07-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsieurBon

I have talked at length with one of the founding members of Greasel (www.greasel.com). He had installed a large number of these kits on everything from 4-cyl VWs to huge coach tour buses. Everything I have heard about them is that the setup works well, and that it's very reliable.

I am looking into the WVO/SVO setup from Greasel. In the meantime, I am looking for good sources of Viton hoses so I can run B100 which is becoming VERY available in Oregon now. I found the McMaster-Carr site, which seems to have many varieties of Viton hoses.

My questions are:
1) How much fuel hose do I need?
2) Has anyone done the rubber-to-Viton conversion? Any tips?
3) It's my understanding that more than just the fuel lines from tank to pump should be replaced with Viton. The tank may need to have all the gunk scrubbed out of it, so you don't have to replace your fuel filter every 300 miles. Aren't there also other places where the B100 would touch rubber, like gaskets in pumps, and in return lines?

TIA!

After 15,000 B100 miles on the TD, I'd say that viton is not needed. The only place I've had leaks were the injector return lines and the small hose between the inline filter and the lift pump. These hoses were bad looking to begin with and I've run about 12,000 miles with stock MB hose and no signs of weeping or degradation.

It seems to me that the problem is not B100, but B100 and engine heat, so these spots have the most of both. I don't think you'd have any issue with WVO.

The 300D went about 800 miles before my injector return lines started to weep. Again the hose didn't look that great to begin with. I have heard rumors about the rubber at the inlet and outlet of the tank weeping and am always checking mine.

If you really want Viton, Grease Works in Corvallis sells kits, http://www.greaseworks.org/ . I've seen them and they are nice.

I couldn't find a place in portland that would do a tank flush cheap, I recommend just buying two sets of filters (~$30 total) and change twice in your first 1000 miles.