Veg oil in 300D turbo - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Fredmburgess · #31 11-15-2002, 12:44 PM

That's right, Don. I got about 10 of the smaller bags for free last year - apparently they're used in a pipeline of sorts to filter varnish during production. I tossed most of those after only one or two uses because I didn't want to mess with them (and they were free). The oil I was getting then was just too dirty. Once you find a source for cleaner oil I think the bags will last quite awhile, might not require washing at all until you're ready to toss them just on principle. fmb

diesel don · #32 11-15-2002, 02:26 PM

Thanks Fred:

Just ordered a pump from Northern Equipment (10 GPM and $129 plus shipping)and 5-32" bags from Greasel.
Going to get a 55 gal barrel when all that stuff arrives. Can't wait to try it. The 240D will be the guiney pig. I ran that on 10% engine oil mix for awhile and it ran fine.
How cold (outside temp) can you run on this stuff? Some guys think that the IP would pump molasses. Are they right?
Do you notice your grease turning to gel or hard white substance or does it remain liquid? I'm looking mainly to get going by spring but would like to experiment a bit this month.

Thanks

Don

Fredmburgess · #33 11-15-2002, 06:02 PM

Dan, I've had no problem running a mix of 20% used oil/ diesel right in the regular tank. Had a couple of nights down below freezing so far and started up without any major incident. I ran as much as 35% (rough estimate) without problem this summer but don't think I'll try that when it's cold. The stuff in my barrel stays liquid at least down to the low 30's (barrel is in my garage, but I've gone collecting in freezing weather and the oil I got had viscosity somewhere between 30W engine oil and 90W gear oil. Still liquid.

I've got a boat tank down on the workbench. Hope to finish that, maybe get a Greasel style setup installed this weekend. Once you have the heated tank, outside temperature doesn't matter. As soon as the engine's warm (and therefore the veg oil tank and fuel line are as well) you can switch over from diesel. Just have to be sure to switch back before shutting down to flush the veg oil out of the IP with diesel again.

I ran my Golf through a whole winter on the Greasel setup with no problems at all.

F

diesel don · #34 11-16-2002, 08:45 AM

Fred:

This is really helpful for me so thanks.

I take it that with your boat tank, you've figured out a way to bypass the expensive kit from greasel. Seems very feasible to do it from scratch.

My problem in the winter is that I own three of these cars as daily drivers. For 9 months of the year, I think I can just throw the stuff in the tank, but am very hesitant to convert all three to the greasel kit. I'd have to drive for ten years to recover the initial investment

Don

P.E.Haiges · #35 11-16-2002, 10:26 AM

You might try to get a valve from a dual tank pickup truck at a junkyard to cut the conversion cost.

If you have a pick up truck with dual tanks, it would be easy to use SVO just by flipping the tank switch and then back to straight Diesel fuel by flipping the switch again.

Does anybody see an error in my logic?

P E H

kerry · #36 11-16-2002, 12:48 PM

I have two nitty gritty questions: How messy is the process of collecting and filtering the oil? Is it messy to transfer it into your car? In other words, can you do this on the way to work in the morning or do you need to change into your 'mechanicing' clothes to go thru the process?

How time consuming is it to collect, filter and put the fuel in your car?

diesel don · #37 11-16-2002, 02:22 PM

Kerry:

Those are good questions. My pump hasn't arrived yet, but the dispensing end looks like a gas pump nozzle. Fred had told me earlier that he just puts it in his tank and pumps away from the barrel.

I'll know within a couple of weeks. I have to burn 138 gallons just to break even but that is about one month with three cars.

P.E. Haiges:

Sounds good to me. If I go with a conversion, I'll look into that.

Don

kerry · #38 11-16-2002, 03:07 PM

I have another question: Periodically I see on eBay 'Diesel Fuel Heaters'. They look to me like in-line heaters probably electric. I assume they are designed for winter use in very cold climates. What am I missing in thinking that one or perhaps even two of these heaters in line would produce the same effect as the greasel kit thereby avoiding the necessity of a second fuel tank?

Fredmburgess · #39 11-17-2002, 08:13 PM

Greetings fellow vegetarians... or something like that. Just a few comments.

- You could certainly build the heated tank setup (like the Greasel arrangement). Just takes awhile to gather up the pieces and modify the tank. I just finished my tank last night, planned to install everything today but got sidetracked adjusting valves instead...

- I've seen the inline (electric) heaters. They pull a pretty heavy load and don't heat fuel in the tank, so I don't know how they'd work with straight veg oil.

- The great thing about the heated tank setup is you can run veg oil regardless of temperature. You start and run on diesel until the engine and veg oil is warm, then switch over to 100% veg oil. Then switch back to clear the IP before shutting down. So, it works year round.

-I just collected 10 gallons of used cooking oil this morning. Took 10 minutes to fill two 5 gallon containers, put containers and pump back in car. I just gravity feed into filter suspended over 55 gallon drum, so only time required is a few seconds to put a container up and open the valve.

- My pump is just like a gas station pump. Back the car into the garage and fill up.

So, collecting can be quick but it's a little messy. Trick is to get oil in bulk when you're in ratty clothes anyway. After that, it's just like pumping at a gas station...except for not paying.... (I love that part..).

Fred

Gil · #40 11-17-2002, 09:29 PM

I think the best part about the whole thing would be avoiding the road use tax. Screw 'em!

Chances are, that tax money (especailly the federal tax) never goes back into road maintenance in the first place. Probably gets funneled into more congressional pork.

Fight the power!

Fredmburgess · #41 11-18-2002, 01:20 PM

... I don't know what your talking about.

...nope...not me...I just like the smell of stir fry...or french fries...yeah, that's it... besides, I figure it's the patriotic thing to do. No foreign oil...and given the typical American diet, an endless source of fuel... F

mdlwolf · #42 11-18-2002, 03:13 PM

Fred,
Can you tell me more on building your own heated tank? I'm very interested. Thanks.

Fredmburgess · #43 11-20-2002, 09:03 PM

Hey MDLWOLF, the tank is pretty basic. You just take a plastic boat tank - I got a 12 gallon one for the Benz - cut a slot in the top and stuff a transmission oil cooler down in there. Then make a plate to cover the hole, seal it with epoxy, and maybe run some sheet metal screws in around the perimeter to hold it down. Of course, you need to put a couple of pipe fittings in so you can connect hoses to the cooler through the plate.

Heat is supplied by connecting hoses to heater hoses in engine compartment and running back to connect to the fittings on the tank (and thus through the heat exchanger inside).

Of course, you've got to run a fuel line for the heated veg oil. The original Greasel kits did this by putting a poly tube INSIDE one of the heater hoses. Really simple and effective idea as this assures that full length of fuel line is heated. They used nylon tees and compression fittings/ barbed hose connections to seal the heater hoses where the poly tube exited. Pictures would be the way to go here but I don't have any at the moment.

When I finally get up from this desk and go work on the car I'll get some for you.

Alternatively, you can just buy a kit from Greasel.com or similar and save all the hassle. I don't think I'm saving all that much - maybe a hundred bucks - by building my own. Just thought I'd give it a shot.

fmb

Nate Stanley · #44 11-21-2002, 09:53 AM

On the subject of heated fuel tanks- another possible solution might be using the inline fuel line that Ford has on the 6.9L diesel.

On my F-250, if sits between the lift pump and the spin-on fuel filter--