Ultimate Artic MB300SD. Pictures! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MeinGreaseCar · #1 10-15-2006, 06:54 PM

I have completed my work on my 1985 MB 300SD.

I wanted to be able to have piece of mind if I came home from a trip (i go away for a week at a time) and it was below zero outside. When my car is at the airport (in Maine) I have no place to plug it in. Maybe I went overboard.. But that's half the fun.

A secondary purpose was being able to run higher concentrations of biodiesel in winter. I realize that straight B100 will freeze, and there's no pumping it then. With the heat installed.. I hope to be able to avoid clogged filters using a 20 to 30% k1 cut.

Here is what I installed.

1) I updated the alternator to a AL129X. 135 amps now
2)Changed the alternator wires to 4 gauge.
3)Installed a battery isolator, and moved the battery I had to a battery box in the trunk. It now charges only when the car is running, and disconnects when the car is off.
4) Installed a Hydronic 4 heater by espar www.espar.com It heats the coolant up to 100C, and pumps it thru the motor to warm it. 7 day timer.
4) Fabbed and installed a custom tank for the espar. It runs on straight K1, no gelling!
5) Installed a veg therm mega inline fuel heater (just under 40 amps) it runs off the aux battery in back, as does the espar
6) Installed a wrap style electric heater on the fuel filter (6 amps) it also runs from the aux battery.

Pics to follow in a few mintues.

JP

MeinGreaseCar · #2 10-15-2006, 07:06 PM

In this picture you can see the heater, battery isolator and the heater fuel tank

MeinGreaseCar · #3 10-15-2006, 07:09 PM

side view of espar. It's about the size of a hardcover book. You can set the timer to come on any time up to 7 days down the road. It runs for 120 minutes. In testing so far (it hasnt been that cold) the car is completely up to highway temp in 20 minutes. Heater is about 17k BTUs. It heats the heater core, and radiator as well with the circulating fluid. It SHOULD melt the windshield if I leave the defrost button pushed.

MeinGreaseCar · #4 10-15-2006, 07:12 PM

The filter heater is tough to see.. the vegtherm is strapped to the injector lines. It gets HOT.. I'm hoping for some heat transfer to the injector lines. I have a fuel temp gauge installed. I'm amazed at how hot the fuel gets without the heater on at all. 100 degrees after a couple hours of highway driving on a 75 degree day.

MeinGreaseCar · #5 10-15-2006, 07:15 PM

Ok.. the picture isnt much to look at. but I replaced the battery for the car with a big group 49. 1050 CA

The old battery got put into the trunk and now powers the espar, and the fuel heaters. I figure that I can get to the car.. engine will be warm from timer operation of heater. then flick on the fuel heaters for a couple minutes prior to start. I'm not touching the starting battery in any way with the aux stuff.

JP

greasybenz · #6 10-15-2006, 07:16 PM

very cool. But your going to start it up/shut down on kerosene? that has no lubrication and would be bad for the car. Also have you read the thread i posted, i got this thread from the TDIclub and the guy had did some testing on polymerization of wvo and what to cut it with. Biodiesel seemed to be the solution, your best bet would be to make a B20 mix with that K1 so you would have both lubrication and the cleaning of that polymerized wvo in the system.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=151177&highlight=wvo+biodiesel

MeinGreaseCar · #7 10-15-2006, 07:32 PM

Nope.. sorry for the confusion.

The espar heater installation, and the associated tank with straight K1 is NOT for the car at all. The heater just runs and heats the antifreeze. It's NOT a two tank system for the car.

I will use Biodiesel.. cut with a 20 to 30% k1 mix. Since my bio is made from canola.. that should get me down to close to -5 F gel point.

JP

300SD81 · #8 10-15-2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeinGreaseCar

The filter heater is tough to see.. the vegtherm is strapped to the injector lines. It gets HOT.. I'm hoping for some heat transfer to the injector lines. I have a fuel temp gauge installed. I'm amazed at how hot the fuel gets without the heater on at all. 100 degrees after a couple hours of highway driving on a 75 degree day.

Is that red diesel I see in that filter? I've been wondering where i can get some, worth the risk at $1.60 a gallon... Not much chance of getting caught with the benz anyway.

Hatterasguy · #9 10-15-2006, 08:00 PM

Thats neat.

How about 5 new Bosch glow plugs.
Rebuilt starter.
Injectors tested and within spec.
Valve's adjusted.
Mobil 1 0w40 in the crank.

If the compression is good it will start.

TX76513 · #10 10-15-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300SD81

Is that red diesel I see in that filter? I've been wondering where i can get some, worth the risk at $1.60 a gallon... Not much chance of getting caught with the benz anyway.

Join a cardlock station. I accidentaly make the mistake of dispensing the wrong fuel

1985 300SD Sady · #11 10-15-2006, 08:08 PM

Wow, is no one actually reading this thread?

He isnt using a second battery to help start the car in cold weather.

I like what you have done, but I do not think it is a good idea to add mass to the injection hard lines.

R Leo · #12 10-15-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeinGreaseCar

Nice job! And, very interesting but, it never gets that cold here (thank Gawd!)...if it did, I'd probably just leave it idling while I was gone

.

Also, what is the purpose of the black tank that's located just in front of the radiator header tank?

MeinGreaseCar · #13 10-15-2006, 08:25 PM

actually it's not "Red diesel" in there. Optical illusion. It's b100. orangish color. The filter has some red plastic holding the filter together.

the black tank is K1 supply for the espar heater.

JP

1985 300SD Sady · #14 10-15-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Also, what is the purpose of the black tank that's located just in front of the radiator header tank?

That is the custom fabricated K1 tank he made that supplies fuel to the coolant heater.

1985 300SD Sady · #15 10-15-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeinGreaseCar

actually it's not "Red diesel" in there. Optical illusion. It's b100. orangish color. The filter has some red plastic holding the filter together.

the black tank is K1 supply for the espar heater.

JP

Heh, I guess I should let you answer your own questions.