Do you change fuel hoses as they begin to leak, or change to viton ? I will change filters after a month or two. Any thing else? Will the 20% biodiesel impact any other seals?

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

I have been using "renewable diesel" for maybe 6 years, since I first learned of it at Propel stations, and now R99 at Union76. My engines run smoother and it is sometimes cheaper than fossil diesel. I think only available in CA due to "carbon market" credits. I had one or two rubber hoses at the lift pump seeping, so changed to Goodyear Barricade which has "For Bio-diesel" printed on it and I think has a Viton liner. I don't know if the fuel was the reason. I also changed the injector overflow tubing to 1/8" Viton and no more weeping like I got with the "correct" braided hose stamped "Made in Germany" (even before using renewable). B20 could be more aggressive than renewable, since the later is chemically converted to work the same as fossil diesel, re gelling and such. It smells a little like burnt cooking oil.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Bill did you also swap out your lift pump o-ring/ notice any issues there?
The marketing line for r99/propel is “change nothing, treat it like normal fuel.”
They say the same for B20 (up to 20%) which is of course a completely different beast.
I’m also running r99 and have largely had the same experience you’ve had.

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

What about lubrication to engine with renewable fuel. If blended with biodiesel, then it’s ok, but I think one has to add a lubricating additive

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95 e320,87 sdl,79 300sd

Biodiesel lubricates better compared to regular diesel fuel. Don't know about the newer renewable diesels that came out after the test.

Post number 7 has a pdf of the test. 2% biodiesel in regular diesel fuel did the best at reducing wear inside of the fuel injecting pump (actually their wear scar tester).

Battle of the anti-gels/lubricators

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

At least in California, I’m told all Diesel fuel contains 5% biodiesel, added specifically for its lubricity. I’ve been using R99 from the local 76 station for a couple of years and still occasionally add half a bottle of RedLine 85Plus as an additional lubricity booster. This may be a waste of money, I need to do some more research.

When I first became custodian of a 1995 E300D (in 2012), I was using B20; I watched the tubing and was prepared to switch to Viton but never did. Using Renewable Diesel seems to avoid all of those hose and seal problems. The E300D is now gone and I have a CDI in its place; it is very happy on R99 from the 76 station.

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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