Does anyone run homemade BD in a 320 CDI? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

spark3542 · #1 04-13-2010, 09:55 PM

My history...4 years making BD. Getting pretty good at it. Appleseed processor, wash and dry it, always have a nice orange golden color.

I ran 39k miles on BD and WVO/RUG blends on my 83 300SD without issue.

Then got the W210 and ran WVO/RUG blends for the first 30k miles, then mostly homemade BD for the next 38k, for a total of 68k so far on creative fuels. The 606 prefers BD to RUG blends mostly due to frequent fuel filter changes on RUG and harder starts over time.

I'm now thinking about a 2005 or 2006 E320 CDI. I know with the common rail system it's a whole different animal, and I don't plan on running any blends, but I would like to run homemade B100. Does anyone have experience running homebrew in a CDI?

Not looking for opinions, just firsthand experience please.

Thanks

vstech · #2 04-13-2010, 10:14 PM

I know there were some threads on problems with their cars and bio... I'm pretty sure the info turned out to be a different problem, and not the bio. I'll try some search terms for the particular threads.

layback40 · #3 04-13-2010, 10:18 PM

I believe the bio turns to mush at the very high pressures in the CDI.

2.5Turbo · #4 04-14-2010, 12:16 AM

Yep, the bio tends to break down at 20,000PSI. I think MB approves something up to a 5 or 10 percent blend in the CDI's. Running a tank of Portland's B3 didn't give me any problems at all.

C Sean Watts · #5 04-14-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.5Turbo

I think MB approves something up to a 5 or 10 percent blend in the CDI's. Running a tank of Portland's B3 didn't give me any problems at all.

I don't remember the exact calender dates but the US Gubbment has mandated a minimum bio diesel content over a phase in period. 5 to 10% might be in the range of what we're getting at the pump right now. As for mixtures higher than that, somebody had a link sometime ago...bio D undergoes chemical changes under the pressures of a common rail system.

compress ignite · #6 04-14-2010, 03:30 PM

NOT FOR LONG!

oldsinner111 · #7 04-15-2010, 06:52 AM

the problem with newer diesels without piston squitters(cool oil on down stroke).They use diesel to give a rinse,so it goes out of exhaust stroke and keeps the catalytic material red hot. You can find hard ware to over write second pluse of fuel.Bio on hot cylinder walls create a hard grease,alot of engines damaged with only 10,000 miles.

spark3542 · #8 04-15-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

NOT FOR LONG!

Why?...What happened to yours? I don't see it in your sig.

layback40 · #9 04-15-2010, 09:19 AM

Biodiesel is a mix of methyl esters. Under high pressures (over 15,000psi) it polymerizes to form polyesters. They are solid materials with varnish like properties. Any half competent chemistry graduate could tell you this.

It will cause problems in a CDI system.

Some one doesnt need to have destroyed an engine to know this basic information.

It is far more of a problem than running WVO in an unmodified diesel system.

compress ignite is correct in his comment.

If you want to prove it, go ahead and try it. I some how dont think any one who goes down that path & messes up their CDI is going to admit their stupidity.

JEBalles · #10 04-15-2010, 09:23 AM

I read that the new duramax (which I imagine also has common rail) can take 20% (according to Chevrolet), so I don't know how valid that high pressure theory is.

TMAllison · #11 04-15-2010, 03:13 PM

MB allows 5% blends of Bio in the CDI and Bluetecs.

You won't find many first hand experiences as there aren't that many folks on this board who have one and fewer yet who experiment with them. There are other forums where they are more prevalent.

Alastair · #12 04-15-2010, 03:28 PM

Well--Don't you ALL just LOVE the Nay-sayers, who have No personal experience of using Proper WELL MADE BioDiesel --In a Common-Rail System!...

I have No Personal Experience of a C.R. system either--However, Hundreds of my Customers DO!

('CDi' is just M.B's name for the BOSCH 15Cxx Common-Rail system, and is much the same as that fitted to Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall et-al....)
Millions of C.R vehicles on U.K. roads now....

--I MAKE and SUPPLY BioDiesel for a Living.....

Properly WELL MADE BioDiesel will be Perfectly FINE in a C.R system including a M.B. 'CDi'
--Its even fine on the VW-PD system, which uses MUCH higher pressures than any C.R. or CDi system!

What causes issues are the total cowboys making and supplying Crap fuel!--Thats the PROBLEM, and give rise to the comments above!

Make your fuel WELL, get PERFECT 27/3 Instant Pass, and test for Soaps--Get soaps to below a few hundred PPM, Make sure there is NO Moisture or Methanol left in there and filter it in stages to 1 Micron.

And, You'll have no problems....

polarisrmk · #13 04-15-2010, 03:30 PM

I ran b100 home brew for 150K in my 2004 Golf TDi with no problem. This was the "Pumpe Duse" engine and if i am not mistaken the fuel pressures are similar to the Common rail system. I don't know if this is comparable but it seems that in this case pressure is pressure no matter how its delivered to the injector.

Alastair · #14 04-15-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisrmk

I ran b100 home brew for 150K in my 2004 Golf TDi with no problem. This was the "Pumpe Duse" engine and if i am not mistaken the fuel pressures are similar to the Common rail system. I don't know if this is comparable but it seems that in this case pressure is pressure no matter how its delivered to the injector.

Actually, Your PD VW engine uses pressures around 3 times that of any CR system so IF there was gonna be a problem with Pressure causing 'Polyesters'--(LOVE THAT MYTH!)--Then you would have spotted it I'm sure!

The PD system actually COMPRESSES the incompressible --(The fuel)-- and it gets Extremely HOT in the process. a Fuel Cooler is fitted fitted by the maker due to this, to avoid melting the plastic fuel-tank!

Ive been making and supplying BioDiesel now for 7 odd years....

Nah, Dont listen to those who dont have experience of something....

JEBalles · #15 04-15-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

Biodiesel is a mix of methyl esters. Under high pressures (over 15,000psi) it polymerizes to form polyesters. They are solid materials with varnish like properties. Any half competent chemistry graduate could tell you this.

It will cause problems in a CDI system.

Some one doesnt need to have destroyed an engine to know this basic information.

It is far more of a problem than running WVO in an unmodified diesel system.

compress ignite is correct in his comment.

If you want to prove it, go ahead and try it. I some how dont think any one who goes down that path & messes up their CDI is going to admit their stupidity.

Can you explain the chemical reaction?