Properly made biodiesel at all blends is good for the engine and injection pump. Your IP doesn't have seals that leak from biodiesel like the later 60x engines. The IPs in the 123 and earlier models don't start leaking from biodiesel use. Biodiesel has a higher lubricity than D2 has which actually benefits the IP. Even at low levels like B10 you get much higher lubricity values. The only draw back to properly made biodiesel is the gelling during the cold months. If temps start dropping and staying below freezing B20 may start gelling on you. Usually B20 is a pretty safe blend for most temps. But keeping a gallon jug of what is in your tank sitting out will give you an idea of what the fuel in your tank is doing.

Poorly or improperly made biodiesel will cause issues, so make sure you are making it correctly.

Also you don't need a two tank system for biodiesel. You can switch back and forth between B100 and D2 in one tank with not problems. The fuels are interchangeable so a second tank is not needed.

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That seems to be the operative phrase.

I'd primarily researched just two tank WVO systems before and didn't like what I'd learned. Biodiesel seem to be the way to go.

I'll start inquiring around town for sources of oil. If there's no issue with helping myself to a few gallons, then I'll start pricing chemicals and systems.

I don't drive enough to get any financial gain from this. I'm just primarily concerned about keeping my "survivor" going strong for not just myself, but the next owner should it come to that.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

Neither of my OM60x IPs leak due to biodiesel or biodiesel blends. The OM606 in particular is dry as a bone with over 283,000 miles on the engine and its never-serviced IP. We've used everything from B100 to winter-blend D2 for tens of thousands of miles in both cars. Fuel lines and o-rings do need to be upgraded to Viton, of course, and this was somewhat a pain and expense with the later of the two cars. Earlier engines are simpler and less expensive to upgrade, an advantage to the OM61x.

Making small quantities of biodiesel is probably not worth the effort but if there is no commercial source then I suppose you are stuck making your own. Given that blends as low as 1% or 2% seems to be enough to provide the necessary lubricity enhancement, you might calculate how much B100 you would need per month and offer to support a friend who is interested in making biodiesel. At 1% - 2% you probably wouldn't even need to upgrade the rubber parts.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Neither of my OM60x IPs leak due to biodiesel or biodiesel blends. The OM606 in particular is dry as a bone with over 283,000 miles on the engine and its never-serviced IP. We've used everything from B100 to winter-blend D2 for tens of thousands of miles in both cars. Fuel lines and o-rings do need to be upgraded to Viton, of course, and this was somewhat a pain and expense with the later of the two cars. Earlier engines are simpler and less expensive to upgrade, an advantage to the OM61x.

Making small quantities of biodiesel is probably not worth the effort but if there is no commercial source then I suppose you are stuck making your own. Given that blends as low as 1% or 2% seems to be enough to provide the necessary lubricity enhancement, you might calculate how much B100 you would need per month and offer to support a friend who is interested in making biodiesel. At 1% - 2% you probably wouldn't even need to upgrade the rubber parts.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Some have experienced leaky delivery valve seals. You speak of o-rings, are you talking about the deliver valve o-rings, or the fuel fitting o-rings?

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Funny you mention that as I'm one step ahead of you.

I have a collegue who travels 50 miles each way and complained about her fuel economy. She became intrigued after I mentioned the idea in passing. Anyway, I have the space and she has the initiative.

I'm steering her towards a 123 or 201 for simplicity's sake.

I was going to get one for myself and run B100, but we don't drive enough with our existing 4 cars to justify having a fifth. Given our close promity to work, it's a serious struggle to even put a few hundred miles/month on even our new Volvo S60 T6.

Instead, I'll experiment with my 240D so long as I can have peace of mind that I'm not doing any harm. I might not even limit myself to low percentages if I find myself driving it more.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.