I'm in the market to buy a used late 80's model Mercedes Diesel with the intentions to convert to veggie oil. Currently living in Northern California. I'm entirely new to the Mercedes crowd (previous Honda owner) although I am fluent in car mechanics. I'm curious as to the best engine model and make for that era. I've been trying to look for a comparison chart with no avail. Just looking to get a decent car to keep me off my feet ;)

300D or 300SD

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

coming from the guy who owns nothing else.

jk

hes right. although id throw the SDL in there too. as well as the 240D

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Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

Find one of the above mentioned models for cheap if you want to experiment with veg oil. That way if something goes very wrong, you won't feel bad about ruining a really nice example.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Thank you both for the input. I feel much more confident in buying my my first Merc.

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"A goal without a plan is only a dream.." - Little old lady.

If you truly mean "late '80s", there is the190D, 300D, and the 300SDL, both OM603.96x engines. The OM617 stopped in 1985 which by all definitions is early to mid '80s.

Both are similar in the fuel systems and fuel injection systems, mechanically injected inline pumps (Bosch MW series on OM616 & OM617 and Bosch M series on OM60x) with indirect-injection pre-combustion chambers and glow-plugs for pre-heating (starting).

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Thank you for catching that, I meant 80's in general. Is there a particular difference in performance between the engine types? Benefits/drawbacks?

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"A goal without a plan is only a dream.." - Little old lady.

The pre-'86 engines are the 616 and 617, there is a turbo and an NA. These engines are considered by many here to be more durable in that they have a cast-iron head and thus less sensitive to neglect (overheating damage). The 61x engines are a counter-flow head with mechanical lifters which need occasional valve-lash adjusting, are a bit noiser, typically last many miles if properly maintained.

The '86-'95 601 (4cyl) 602 (5cyl) 603 (6cyl) engines are similar, but are slightly modernized with a cross-flow aluminum head and hydraulic lifters, quieter and more powerful (hp/liter) and also burn a little cleaner but the '86/'87 version has a slight design flaw that tends to manifest itself in cracking heads in the combustion chamber to water jacket area, the common-knowledge here is that it is uncommon if the engine has not been overheated.

Later still ('95/'96 up) were the 606 version of the same engine, mostly the 603 engine with a 4-valve/cyl double-cam head, later versions being turbocharged and intercooled with an electronically-controlled injection pump (still a mechanical inline bosch M-series pump).

I would say that any of the above engines with their mechanical fuel injection are good candidates for WVO etc. conversions, provided the fuel is properly processed and heated to avoid premature wear to the injection pump and coked rings.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff