I am wanting to change the fuel lines where there is rubber before starting on biodiesel. Can you possibly shed some light on which ones to change, and where to get the synthetic hoses at? Also, if the hose ends are changed do I have to reprime the engine?

Viton hose.............its resistant to 100% biodiesel

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Where do you get this viton hose??

Gates apparently makes B100 fuel line, "Gates fuel hoses 4219G & 4219M are compatiblile for biodiesel/vegetable oil based fuels. "
I have sent them the message to locate distributors in my area.
This form might get you the info you need.
I have heard that new MBZ line is already immune, and I will find out, because that is what I used.
Viton is great stuff, but awfully expensive.
Good luck and let us know what you come up with.

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

http://www.greaseworks.org/viton_bulk
$2 an INCH!
cheaper here, but not much: http://www.mcmaster.com/, and many choices to choose from/ i.e. buy the wrong stuff

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

I just bought some of the new OEM fuel hose today, my little piece between the primer pump and the prefilter was deteriorated and drooling on the ground....so I went to the stealership to get some new hose, its this super strong rubber stuff now, not like the braided hoses of old. However, 1 meter of it cost me $23!!! I only needed 5 centimeters of it!! At least I have some for other uses I guess....like purging.....but that was expensive!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Place called McMaster is one place...

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

There is no need to change fuel hoses when using biodiesel!
LSD & ULSD also cause deterioration of the fuel hoses, but no-one is recommending that everyone change the fuel hoses on every diesel in the country.
Checks of fuel hose condition is part of good preventative maintenance. Look for moist looking fuel hoses, replace any hoses which are suspect and keep a supply of the 2 sizes used on your vehicle available for this purpose.

Biodiesel (& vegetable oil, mineral oil and diesel fuel) does degrade NATURAL rubber. Fortunately vehicle manufacturersw do not use NATURAL rubber in fuel hoses. They use NITRILE rubber, which is RESISTANT to deterioration by these substances.
The MB fuel filler neck sealing ring to the body, is NATURAL rubber and I need to replace this item on our 2 MB300Ds, - deterioration due to spilled fuel.

If you need to replace any fuel hose on the fuel delivery side, priming the fuel system is advisable, although you can get away without priming, if the fuel tank is low and the time taken is short (fuel does not have time to drain back to the tank), or if the vehicle fuel tank is near full (fuel tends to leak from removed hose).

Hoses replaced on the Return side, do not require priming of the fuel system.


Remember that biodiesel will clean the gunk out of your fuel tank and dump it into the prefilter. Buy a few of the cheap inline fuel filters and place one in front of the prefilter. Replace the cheap filter when you notice a loss of performance.
Much cheaper to replace 2, 3, 4 or 5 of these than having to replace the stock MB prefilter.

__________________
Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.