Figure that as diesel eng technology "evolves", they have to change the formulation of what they recommend you can get by on in a pinch/cold weather. Yes?
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

Frankie,
I haven't noticed any negative differences. The truck is quieter, exhaust smells better, I don't feel like I've been raped whenever I fill the tank. The car has been on the blend since I ran out the diesel that was in the tank when I bought it, so I don't have much to compare there.

I can make my blend for not much more than 50 cents per gallon. I have seen about a 1MPG drop in mileage, but this is attributed to fewer BTUs in WVO as oppossed to diesel.

If there is a negative it's that on the weekends when 20-30 bicyclists are are in the middle of the travel lane obstructing traffic, when I finally get a chance to pass them and stomp on the accelerator the car and truck blow out clear sweet smelling exhaust instead of the black stinky diesel that I used to envelope them in

Hey Greasy benz-
You have a fatty wagon set up? Did you install their fuel filter heater with the wire coiled around the filter??
I wanted to order one, they went on to another Big project. I feel like they cut out on me, man. I just need to know what special type and gauge wire they include in that kit. I figure everything else out. All I figured is that there is a red and black wire (pos/negative?) but don't know if it is resistor wire or what?
Firemedic, does it get that cold in Florida? Or is that a old address?
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

It doesn't get real cold where I'm at. We've had a recent night or two in the high 50s. Cold enough for me. We will get an occassional freeze warning where we may wake in the morning to find a coating of frost that melts as soon as the sun comes up.

I have been using 20-30% BioDiesel. I conducted a simple freezer test- I added a little PowerService to some Bio and put it in the freezer. I dont know the temp of the freezer but after about 2 hours it wanst totally gelled. Compared to the straight Bio, it was less cloudy and pretty fliud- straight bio was just about frozen.
I have had no problems starting up my 84 300D in 30 degrees with 25% bio- and 15w50!! She was a little sluggish on start up, but no probs. You guys in Cali will have no probs with cold startup, esp. if the coldest it gets is 40 deg. I will be looking at negative temps in a month or so and expect no issues. (after I switch to a lighter weight oil)

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1984 300D

Are you in a cold area? I am in WV, so it does get pretty cold here at times, but we also have kerosene at a number of gas stations (some of which are the "not for use as a motor fuel" type). If all else fails, Wal-mart and Lowes sell it here too.

__________________
1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

I too have nothing to compare performance to in my truck since the very few times I have run actual diesel, I only put enough to get me home. Now in the benz its pretty much the same, but I am not running it at more than a 50/50 mix with reg diesel since I have no spare fuel filters yet.

As for cold testing, I just put some in a clear 20oz bottle and put it in the fridge. Left it there for about 3 weeks and had no signs of gelling. Then I put it in the freezer and began having gelling after about 2 days.

__________________
1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

I went to Olympian fuel station today on the tip that they sell kerosene. It turns out they sell the type of kerosene used for heating a bedroom. I don't know what the percent parrafin is on those types of kerosene and the station owner told me that it doesn't say on the tank. I don't know if this is the type of kero that would keep my WVO thin so I left it alone.
I'll check the Lowe's or Orchard Hardware for low parrafin content kerosene.
I found out that the heating grade kero costs $4.50/gallon at Olympian station in San Mateo. I might do some Googling tonight.
Other threads are pontificating the woes of ULSD diesel but I've not had a pinging problem yet since I put 9 gal WVO, 3gal Biodiesel, 8 gal diesel.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

Hey Dubmutant-
What kind of MPG do you get on your 1984 300 D?? Is it a turbo?
I'm on a serious mission to trade my SD(too BIG) for a 82-84 300 D turbo.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

Took my dog to the park before dinner tonight and it was 50 deg F. Soooo cold! I'm such a wuss. Can't imagine Massachusetts winters. It is 46 deg right now in San Francisco.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

That is the only type of kerosene there is, for the most part. It does not have road tax paid on it so it is illegal to use in an on-road vehicle. You can run it in your off road Mercedes-Benz.

I bought some empty 5 gallon kerosene jugs from walmart and put my kerosene from the pump in there. It is for my kerosene heater and for my off-road MB.

-Jim

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

jim-
What exactly do you mean by off-road Mercedes?? You know the vision that comes to mind is 4WD! Do you mean off warranty?
Whoa, the fire inspector is here! I think one of my neighbors called, probably worried that the veggie oil will explode!
Oh man. Now I have to hear all these questions. I don't mind that they are doing their job. Keep you posted, gotta go.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

I would never, ever put kerosene in my Mercedes that has tags and is driven on public roads. Kerosene does not have ROAD TAXES paid on it. It is ILLEGAL to use in a car driven on public roads.

However, you can use kerosene as fuel in a farm vehicle...

Something not tagged and not legal to drive on public roads...

If you tell people you are putting kerosene in your car and you drive it on public roads you are can now receive a nice $1,000 fine from the federal government with a matching $1,000 fine from the state of Califonia.

-Jim

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

Thanks! That is good to know!! Off road= farm vehicles and such. Good thing I never mentioned kerosene to the fire inspector!! He asked a few questions but none led to gasoline or kero storage. I do not have kero. They interviewed me for 10 mins.

Things I learned today; kerosene fines and there is a 25 gallon oil storage limit for domestic use. Wow, I was planning to wash the filter bags with gasoline today and let the bags air dry. Good thing I didn't do that either! That smell would have made them stay for at least 1 hour!
I would have really been in trouble if I was making homemade biodiesel! I buy my biodiesel from my Mercedes mechanic.
Fire inspector told me that they would review report and call me w/i 2 weeks.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

You dont even have to get license on a vehicle here in WV if you paint "farm use" on the side. Didnt want to go to that extreme on my Mercedes ATV.

__________________
1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"