Here's your opportunity to go grease: - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

a2t · #1 07-19-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Thing is, it only applies to people in certain areas of the country with certain weather and driving conditions. The "proper" WVO setup requires nice hot oil, something that will not happen in MI in the winter unless you are driving well over 25-30 miles on the freeway each way every day. Its cold up here, most of the year using WVO would be a useless venture. Maybe 4-5 months a year on the days you drive longer distance. Down south its always warm, so the oil heats up much faster. Sometimes in the winter here I'll drive for over 20 minutes in the city and barely reach 80C. (when its below 10F out) Using the cabin heat on high can make 80C a dream....so the oil would never get warmed up enough to use it.

WVO works for some people in some places.....but for most its not really an ideal system. A 10 mile both ways local commute would barely get the oil to the right temp for use.

I do agree that the government is real dumb how they tax and enforce rules on alternative fuel stuff, they are too pro-hybrid. Its just the usual from the government though.

Very true. "Proper" wvo use works better in warmer climates but i bet you would be surprised how fast a good system heats the oil. Even though Im in Atlanta, we do see very cold temps from time to time. Ive parked it outside when it was 10 degrees overnight. The wvo in the 2nd tank was a solid block. In a 15 mile commute, the engine was at op temp and had switched over 7 miles into the journey, so that just doubled my mpg on the trip - not bad. Again thats with a good kit like Frybrid, where they arent using the coolant to heat an entire 20 gal wvo tank, they only heat a small chamber right at the fuel pick up, and keep most of the coolant heat in the final heat exchanger located in the engine compartment.

Cold starts waste fuel, thats true for non converted cars as well so combining trips is always good when its cold out.

I bet you would see a payback on a good wvo kit in <2 yrs living in MI, even with a short commute. And those times when the company tells you to drive a few hundred miles in your personal vehicle at $.585/mile, well thats just gravy

Being able to give OPEC a much needed a$$ pounding is worth it by itself though.

pawoSD · #2 07-19-2009, 12:13 AM

My longest work commute I've ever had so far has only been 6 miles.....

My last job was 2.5 miles away. (sometimes I'd drive longer just to warm it up)

My main issue would be WVO availability.....the city collects it for free to make their own Biodiesel....so there's virtually no sources of it locally....I'd have to go quite a long ways to find any. Plus I live in a complex and there's no where to brew it.

If I had a spare beater 240d or something and a garage I'd probably give it a shot in the warmer months.....otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it.

Biodiesel300TD · #3 07-19-2009, 01:11 AM

It's definitely better for the long distance runners. I have seen as much as 130mpg on the diesel that I pay for on one tank. I once had just over 1000 miles on a half a tank of diesel. I'm averaging just over 70mpg. But my wife has been driving nearly 50 miles one way for school so it's been well worth it. With a 6 mile mile trip you'll never get to switch over. So as you say pawoSD it wouldn't be worth it. My wife isn't making that commute any more. And I will be driving the car now, and only driving 15 miles or so one way, so I am thinking about taking out the system. It would still decrease the fuel cost, but I am getting tired of the space and mess that it make in my garage and on me(I had it in my hair yesterday

).

It can be done in cold climates, but the coolant heater act more as preheaters, so get the VO flowing, and electric heater really get it up to temp.