99 E300 and Biodiesel
 

My 99 E300 seems to like fuel additives, typically idling quieter and getting slightly better mileage than without.

I have expirimented with adding ~1% of B100 and get the same results.

I am curious if other board members run straight B100 in their 98 or 99's and if so:

for how long they have done so?

whether or not they have have had any mechanical issues they could attribute to use of B100?

if our cars use the "viton" rubbers in fuel related lines, hoses, o-rings etc?

Thanks

hey was wondering if anyone can answer TMAllison's questions now. I have my 99 E300 in the shop for the first time replacing a leaking O ring. I bought the car in hopes of using biodiesel but when i talked with the guy that owns the shop he told me he wouldn't run biodiesel in these cars because it could cause injector problems and there is a high probability of ruining them and it is expensive to replace. He did say he has not had any MBs have that happen but the VWs and said it is something to do with the newer computer controlled cars. I got this guys' name from research on this forum and he seems to be well respected in the area for these diesel cars, been doing this for over 20 years. He hasn't replaced the O ring yet and i'm wondering if i need to tell him to replace it with these Viton things that i keep seeing in posts? Anway, i'm getting a little uncomfortable now with thinking about using biodiesel and it bums me out.

The one thing I do know even though I do not have one of these cars is in Europe, Biofuels have been a part of the mainstream fuel supply since the 1960's and averages about 30% mixture of rapeseed oils. Your biggest problem is going to be organic rubber componenets melting because of the methanol in biodiesel. Biodiesel is being mandated in several states now because of emission requirements and ULSD in mixtures of 5% to 20% for increased lubricity. I don't see how mixtures of B30 could hurt your vehicle since this is the fuels available from the vehicles home country.

I have seen testimonials from Mercedes Benz owners on http://www.biodiesel.org claiming no problems with new cars!:D

Wow.....thats and old post.

Since that time it's been commonly accepted our engines will run fine on commercially prepared bio. I've burned countless tanks of B99 through mine with no adverse affects other than 10% less MPG's and hastening the deterioation of some orings.

Purchasing viton orings seems to resolve that issue.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/177588-om606-962-o-ring-size.html

Seriously -- crazy post resurrection!

I've also burned nothing but biodiesel and WVO for the last 15k+ miles in my '98 E300. I have replaced my fuel return lines due to leakage, but other than that have had no problems of any sort with the fuel in the 606.962 engine. I'm a happy biofuel camper.

Knightrider -- there is no methanol in biodiesel. Methanol can be used to make bio, but should not wind up in the finished fuel -- it should wind up in the resultant glycerol, or at least be removed during the wash process. If you have methanol in your biodiesel, it's because you're doing something wrong.

Cheers, John

A lot of mechanics (and other people) confuse biodiesel with running on SVO or WVO. They hear horror stories about running vege oil through these engines and causing problems with that and if they don't know the difference just say none of it is any good. I'd go back to your mechanic and ask him if we was sure he meant biodiesel as opposed to running on vege oil without refinement into biodiesel and see what his reaction is...you can tell then if he knows what he's talking about or not.

I ran B99 in my chipped E300, and noticed that the car ran like a slug, I changed the fuel filters, and still it ran like a slug, I filled up with good ole #2 and there was a HUGE difference in power and performance.

My '99 E 300 seems to like an "additive" of 90 % WVO and 10 % RUG, and I know a guy from southern California who has been doing the same thing ( with some other additives) for several years. Steve

Our cars have gotten cheap enough that some folks have started expirimenting with SVO/WVO/homebrews. There is certainly increased risk doing so that is not present burning commercially prepared B99.

I assume your's is NOT a single tank unheated system?

Thanks for all the feedback. I am relieved. I'm thinking the guy is thinking I mean WVO because he was also talking about how he opened something up in a VW and the stuff was just all jelled up in there. Now i'm wondering if i should just have him replace everything in there with the Viton stuff while he's doing this. So far he has only found one O ring leaking (not sure how many there are) but maybe I should just have it all done and have peace of mind about future leaks. There is a guy on here that sells kits so maybe that's the best way to go.
Yeah it is an old post but i try to research it first before i ask something that's already been asked!! :D

I've been running B99 for six months. In the last month I switched to B20 for cold weather, and something started leaking - I can smell it when I stop. Otherwise, the B99 made a fuel filter fill up with black crud, but since replacing that all is well.

Been running nothing but B20 for the past year or so. Engine seems to run smoother on it and less smoke too.

That would be me...:)

http://www.fryerpower.com/store/page11.html

-Jim

Have been filling up with commercial BioDiesel every chance I get for the last two years. My 98 E300 has run on B99 in the summer and B20 in the winter with no problems. If I had someplace local that carried it I would run it all the time.......I bet the manifold and EGR would stay alot cleaner burning B99.

Yeah, have you got any non-PayPal way to get those? They are awful and I refuse to ever deal with them again. Otherwise I suspect I will just buy the OEM fuel lines again. Thanks.