trap oxidizer and vegie oil on 85 diesel coupe - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chinese food · #1 01-30-2007, 12:52 AM

i've gotten the run around from mechanics on whether or not i can run veggie oil on my 85 mercedes cd300. it has a trap oxidizer (california car) which was updated by the dealer back in 97. some say running the vegie oil will destroy the oxidizer and i need to bypass it. others say i need some special pipe from the dealer. still others say i can use vegie but should mix it half and half with diesel. and if the thing screws up, to get the bypass done.

does anyone out there have experience with this car and this problem?

thanks!

greasybenz · #2 01-30-2007, 12:57 AM

Yes you can run veg oil in your 85. NO do not mix it with diesel. to run it properly without damaging the engine get a 2-tank kit from greasecar, frybrid, plantdrive, etc.

If the dealer updated the emissions then you dont have a trap oxidizer you now have a catalytic converter thats in the same shape (metal football) of the previous trap ox.

there has been issues with the cat clogging but i think it would have to do with to much sulfur. But now we have ULSD and veg oil has no sulfur in it so you shouldnt have problems running veg oil with the cat as long as you heat it properly and use a 2-tank kit.

EDIT: if you want you can remove the cat and in its place put a pipe. But it shouldnt make a difference whether you run the car on diesel, biodiesel, or veg oil.

I think your mechanic is just trying to pry some money out of you by wanting to remove the cat and put in a pipe instead.

chinese food · #3 01-30-2007, 04:21 AM

thanks for your response.

what about a single tank system like lovecraft's?
am i asking for trouble?

#4 01-30-2007, 04:23 AM

Single tanks do not work. They are sold by people looking to make a quick buck from people.

Any "single tank" or similar system should be avoided as they start the engine on cold oil. That is VERY hard on the injection pump and will wear it out at a significantly faster rate that it otherwise would.

Kynetx · #5 01-30-2007, 06:24 PM

Golly, I sure wish someone MADE a bypass for the cat/trap. It would sure make me happy. hint-hint-HINT-HINT.

#6 01-30-2007, 11:11 PM

There is a bypass. It's called get-a-federal-intake-exhaust-exhaustdownpipe-and-oil-lines mod.

vwbuge · #7 01-31-2007, 12:56 AM

(here is my shameless plug)

I should start charging for this.

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/OM617CalToFed

bjenterprises · #8 01-31-2007, 05:53 PM

this is what I was looking for. Great job_ anyone looking to Trade an 85 turbo and pipe for an earlier year? 81 - 84

#9 01-31-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjenterprises

this is what I was looking for. Great job_ anyone looking to Trade an 85 turbo and pipe for an earlier year? 81 - 84

You can reuse your turbo if it is not damaged. You will just have to reclock the turbine/compressor housings and replace the oil return line.

JackG · #10 01-31-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinese food

thanks for your response.

what about a single tank system like lovecraft's?
am i asking for trouble?

ok, gonna toss my hat in on this. STAY AWAY.....FAR AWAY, FROM LOVECRAFT!!!!!!!

chinese food · #11 02-02-2007, 03:18 AM

why do you say stay away from lovecraft????

greasybenz · #12 02-02-2007, 03:27 AM

Because the "conversion" lovecraft offers isnt really a true wvo conversion. All they do is add a big heated filter inline to the stock setup. The engine starts on cold wvo which causes coking of the injectors and polymerization in the cylinder walls that will later on ruin the engine.

Trust me im not against wvo conversions but i do know what can go wrong with single tank "conversions"

Here is an example of a coked injector. I pulled 5 of them from my ex-300SD when i was experimenting with wvo/diesel/rug mixes.

Bottom line. Get a 2-tank kit.

There are many affordable 2-tank kits. IMO greasecar with a vegtherm added is about the best option in terms of efficiency and price.

TwitchKitty · #13 02-02-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greasybenz

Because the "conversion" lovecraft offers isnt really a true wvo conversion. All they do is add a big heated filter inline to the stock setup. The engine starts on cold wvo which causes coking of the injectors and polymerization in the cylinder walls that will later on ruin the engine.

Trust me im not against wvo conversions but i do know what can go wrong with single tank "conversions"

Here is an example of a coked injector. I pulled 5 of them from my ex-300SD when i was experimenting with wvo/diesel/rug mixes.

Bottom line. Get a 2-tank kit.

There are many affordable 2-tank kits. IMO greasecar with a vegtherm added is about the best option in terms of efficiency and price.

There is a lot more to this story, search and read if you are interested. The picture of the injector that I saw in this thread looks better than most I have seen pulled out of these cars even if they had only run diesel fuel and no veg oil.