Considering switching to WVO in the 98 E300
 

Even at 30mpg, I find myself spending $80+ a week on fuel the way diesel prices are.. and they certainly don't seem to be getting any cheaper. I went through alot of posts while searching, but nothing specifically covering this model (OM606 E300 Turbo) and the actual construction of the system.

Here is what I have gathered so far in my research: I can run straight waste vegetable oil, after it has been throughly filtered. I am friends with two owners of chinese resturants who I'm sure will supply me with all the oil I need. I will need to build a 2nd tank system which consitsts of:

1. Several gallon container located in the trunk and fastened down
2. Fuel lines running to and from the trunk tank
3. Coolant lines running inside trunk tank to copper coil to heat WVO
4. WVO temperature guage
5. Electronic switch valve to switch between diesel and WVO
6. Heavy-duty fleet type fuel filter system for WVO

Am I missing anything? Anyone know of a good site to show some homemade systems? Is there any risk of hurting the injection pump or engine? Will I need to start running diesel, then switch over to WVO until the stuff heats up?

Thanks for your help! I'm sure I'll have alot more questions..

Do a search for "How to filter vo for use". There is a lot of useful info at this tread. :rolleyes2

Frybrid
 

Check out www.Frybrid.com

Here, in addition, is where many DIY veggers discuss, with no particular commercial affiliation (I am in no way dissing Frybrid, he has top of the line stuff):
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/ubb.x/a/frm/f/159605551
You are missing the pre-filter set up, arguably the most important component.
If you never introduce oil that is not properly filtered (less that 5 microns, dewatered), and it is hot enough fot the IP, you will do fine.
In addition to coolant heating, I would consider an electric heater, such as Neoteric's VegTherm.
Search the archives, there is tons of stuff on the Maui board.
And here too, in the archives.

you need to keep your wvo heated all the way from the tank to the secondary heat exchanger, do a hose-on-hose or hose-in-hose delivery from the tank to the with coolant running around the wvo on the way to the engine, a secondary heat exchanger under the hood, and, well, since you're in new jersey, you might want to install a veg-therm right before the ip to assure you have optimum wvo temp (arguably about 180f) when the oil hits the ip. two 3-port solenoids, one before the ip and one after the ip will control the switchover to wvo after warming on diesel and allow you purge the outgoing wvo from the return lines before shutting down on diesel. a temp gauge will allow you to monitor the point where the wvo is hot enough to switchover. just do a little research, and the aforementioned frybrid is the joint to do it.

How is the conversion going for you? Where and what system did you use...

I will be converting my '99 e300d over the next few weeks. I'm setting up a website that will detail how I do it, including pictures, videos and plumbing/wiring diagrams.

I'll be using 2 3-port valves, a Vegtherm, and flat-plate heat exchanger. It looks like I'll make my own tank.

I've posted some info here:
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/159605551/m/3751001422

When I have my site up, I'll start a new thread.

I think we'll see lots of e300d's being converted over the coming months and years. They are becoming a reasonably priced used car, and they seem to be an excellent candidate for WVO/SVO.

The only systems I've know of being used on the 606.962 by forum members is Elsbett.

I don't believe any of those owners burn WVO; only SVO.

I understand there is an excellent company out west somewhere... CA maybe... where they will convert ANY diesel, without any concern for whether it is a suitable candidate - they even use most of the tanks and things your car came with, and the service is excellent. :D:P

On a serious note, your biggest enemies are pollutants in the oil (sugar, salt, fry pieces...) and cold oil. If you arrange it to a point where your oil is always clean, and is only burned hot... I think you should be okay if dumpster diving doesn't sound like more trouble than it's worth to you.

I'll be up in NJ pulling the head from that 606 in a pick n pull in about 6-8 months....


SVO use= future parts cars




why ruin such a good car with an ILLEGAL fuel


try biodiesel



WVO= waste veggie oil

SVO= straight veggie oil


two different acronyms... SVO denotes running only on veggie whereas WVO just stands for used cooking oil for all applications

I have used the Elsbett system for the past 40k miles on my 99 and it has worked extremely well. It starts and drives as normal with just a little longer glow time when it gets below 50F. When it gets into the 30's and below two or three gallons of diesel to 20 gallons of wvo works excellent. It starts as normal with just a little longer glow time.

The key is you MUST use canola oil. It can be slightly used but not abused. Make sure all oil is never hazy when going into the tank. ALWAYS filter with .5 micron sock filters from Filtersource. They are the best. The ones from goldenfuel systems aka greasel are not as good.

I have just about always used wvo not svo.

DO NOT use soy or peanut in the winter. I would not used peanut at all. It leaves syrupy residue on the cap and filler neck. Soy leaves waxy crystals. Most Chinese restaurants use soy so check.

If you stick to canola you will not have any problems and your filters will last thousands of miles. Best places are Baja Fresh and Taco Bell but any place that uses canola and it looks good is great. Check for partially hydrogentated oil and DO NOT use it.

Different terminologies.....to clarify, to my knowledge the forum members running veggie here are all using "new, never before fried with veggie oil". I know of no one using W(dirty)VO in a 606.

Wow they are getting cheap enough to get hacked, damn that sucks. E300D's are nice cars, fun to drive with the chip, shame to see this.

10k... cheap.. maybe... but watch.. when these SVO people go and try and change the GP and thrash the head in the process.. we might see more of these cars in the scrap yard.....

Yeah if you don't want to pay for fuel NFW are you going to pay to fix stuck GP's. Or $3k to rebuild the trans, or $100 to change the oil.:D Or do nice things like replace the cracked dash's, pitted headlights, and put AMG wheels on them. Spend money, oh no, oh no, rumble, rumble, rumble.:D;)

My friend was calling junk yards looking for E300D's but no dice, this may soon change!:D

I'd love to get a 606, slap my IP on it and do a swap. An intercooled 606 would look real nice under the SDL's hood!:D:cool: