List of advantages and disadvantages of diesel cars. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

R Leo · #16 07-17-2003, 06:37 AM

Quote:

negative - fewer gas stations have diesel than gas; if you run out on a cold November evening, it can be a long walk to get a can of diesel

Aint' so.

Where have all of you guys been? These engines will run on practically anything that you can pour in the tank including: canola oil, kerosene, used engine oil, first press extra virgin olive oil, corn oil, waste fry oil and strangely enough DIESEL.

Every grocery store is a potential emergency fuel depot.

#17 07-17-2003, 01:58 PM

quote:

Aint' so.

Where have all of you guys been? These engines will run on practically anything that you can pour in the tank including: canola oil, kerosene, used engine oil, bacon drippins', first press extra virgin olive oil, corn oil, waste fry oil and strangely enough DIESEL.

Every grocery store is a potential emergency fuel depot.

--------------------------------------

True, many possibilities exist. But on a cold November evening, your undiluted corn oil would solidify in the fuel lines, making life even more interesting.

#18 07-17-2003, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by R Leo
Repeat after me: Coking.

Unless you're driving a VW TDI, you sure as hell won't run SVO for too many miles in a DI engine without any mods (heaters and other paraphanalia) to your fuel delivery and storage system.

Coking is no more of a problem with any other direct injection diesel. Coking will occur on our MB engines, as well as the VW TDI and their old prechamber diesels as well if you run them on SVO without preheating. These guys on the board that have been pouring bottles of cooking oil in the grocery store parking lot are basically mixing pump fuel and veggie oil. The VO will initially thin and mix with the fuel in the tank. The mixture will seperate if it's not run through fairly quickly.

To run ANY diesel on SVO for any extended period of time will require the heated auxilliary tank, and will require being started and shut off on pump fuel or biodiesel. This is a given when running these alternative fuels through our engines.

R Leo · #19 07-17-2003, 09:59 PM

Quote:

a cold November evening, your undiluted corn oil would solidify in the fuel lines, making life even more interesting. [/B]

It doesn't solidify in the bottle. Why would it solidify in the fuel line?

#20 07-17-2003, 10:39 PM

Advantages:

A turbocharger counts as a muffler in some states!

The many funny things you can say back when the lady at the gas station yells "Hey, stop! Your putting DIESEL into your wagon!!!"

How many diesel powered cars do you see these days? (Exc. trucks)

With a rich engine you can "smokescreen" drivers!

Disadvantages:

Slower than a dead moose (Sometimes

)

With a rich engine you can "smokescreen" drivers.

#21 07-18-2003, 02:43 AM

R Leo -
Most vegetable oils will solidify if you put them in the refrigerator. Actually, a common method of degreasing soup or stew is to put it in the fridge (or outside on a cold night..) and scraping off the chilled fat.

If you mix veg oil with diesel, or heat it like the veg oil conversion kits provide for, you're ok. On an empty tank in cold weather? I think you've got Crisco!

R Leo · #22 07-18-2003, 06:43 AM

Quote:

a common method of degreasing soup or stew is to put it in the fridge (or outside on a cold night..) and scraping off the chilled fat.

Greg,
Good point. But, in those situations, it's generally the animal fat that is congealing so that you can degrease your stew.

I've done some testing on this and straight canola remains fluid (although viscous) down to at least 35º. It rarely gets colder than that in this part of the country so, on a chilly night with nothing but a Costco or Sam's in sight, I wouldn't hesitate to use a vegetable oil (not shortening) as an emergency fuel. IMHO-The biggest drawback is of course, the cost.

Now, if you've decided to live any place with a latitude value greater than about 33º (north or south) all bet's are off. You would need to heat the oil in order for the lift pump to be able to move it to the IP.

I haven't completed all of my low temperature experiments with waste fry oil/diesel mixes yet but I suspect that WFO pumpability probably improves with the addition of diesel.

Plenty of good info on WFO/SVO use here:
http://danalinscott.netfirms.com/

and here:
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=frm&s=447609751&f=159605551

mercedesmatt · #23 07-20-2003, 02:52 AM

advantages: mbz diesels are louder than gas, so pedestrians can hear you coming and get out of your way, and if they cant hear you coming..... they should be able to smell you!!!

disadvantages: diesels are loud and smell funny.

#24 07-20-2003, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mercedesmatt
advantages: mbz diesels are louder than gas, so pedestrians can hear you coming and get out of your way

Even more so, now that I have completely removed the exhaust system post downpipe!

mickey mouse · #25 07-21-2003, 12:05 AM

Two years ago I bought a 90something caravan to drive back to Mich. It ran well until about Chacigo and started to vapor lock. That condition didn't stop until I got back to Calif. and no one offered a solution for the condition. Ruined my trip. I made a vow never to attempt another trip like that in a gasser.

I feel a major + to diesel is the reliablity. If there is fuel in the tank and the batt will turn the starter, it will do what I bought it for. No surprise $500 repairs for computer control units (except tdi cars) amoung the list of many expenses that gas owners are constantly faced with. I have never enjoyed such reliablity/ low operating cost in a gas car. That along with the sound (music)of the diesel and of course reading this forum. However, if I could for some reason not own my diesel cars I would still read this.