Waste Vegetable Oils cars.?

Question

Ok, so I have a 1970 automatic 240D which has been converted to run on vegetable oil. Since we've converted it, my family has run this sucker off of straight waste oil. It's been about 8 months and there hasnt been any problems yet. However I recently read an article which said something about the longevity of this conversion. Anyone know anything about this?

Answer 1

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

Answer 2

In general the extra viscosity of the veg oil puts a strain on injector pumps, but those on the 240D are said to be able to handle it OK. Does your conversion heat the oil before it hits the pumps? Some do and if so this reduces the strain. Another idea is to run about 10% Diesel fuel in your veg oil.

Another factor is whether the engine is direct or indirect injection. Direct injection of unconverted veg oil can cause carbon build up on piston rings and can affect injectors. Severe engine damage after 800 - 1200 hours operation seems to be the average. But I understand the 240D has indirect injection, which means this form of damage is not supposed to happen. The conversion may have changed the injector nozzles too.

Do you cold start on Diesel fuel? If so run a little longer on it if the engine can still burn it. This may reduce any unwanted deposits.

Answer 3

It's like anything else about a Mercedes diesel. If you take good care of it, do all the maintenance, treat the veggie oil properly, change filters, adjust valves regularly, change oil regularly, you'll have a pretty reliable car.

If you buy into the "myth" that you can abuse a Mercedes diesel and not do crap to it and it'll run "for 500,000 miles" and all that BS, then you'll end up with a dead car like most of them now in the wrecking yards.

Answer 4

I have known people who have ran veg oil for years. Unpon talking to a long term owner it was said to 1. ensure that the veg oil is well filter, 2. occasionally add some diesel to clean up the injectors. He has been runniing veg oil is his 300D for 11 years and it still runs.

Answer 5

Your exhaust will scent a touch humorous. you even ought to fill up utilizing 5 gallon packing containers and a funnel once you're utilizing biofuels. also - as those get extra universal then the cost of bio gasoline will likely upward push. on the different hand previous diesels are very sturdy - even at the same time as operating non-commonly used fuels.

Answer 6

No but i always had concerns about its affects on the cylinders, sludge build up from cooking grease is a nasty thing to chisel off of stoves, what about injector nozzles, many things that could happen, I'm not talking about you but the trend its self,, i think the whole idea of putting cooking oil in a fuel tank of a car must have came from the mind of a person without much cash on hand to buy real fuel, i have a 1975 240D Automatic, and i think it would die if i filled it up with cooking grease, and what about the poor little injector pump, Mr Bosch would roll over in his grave to think people put cooking oil in his pumps,their are many ways of doing things I'm sure. but i wouldn't risk my motor to save a fue dollars on diesel.

Answer 7

When diesel climbs to $5.50 a gallon this summer,you won't worry about it. A diesel, or a real diesel like the old Mercedes,will run almost anything.

Answer 8

Vegetable oils tend to build up deposits at a faster rate than Diesel. You may have to replace your injectors after 100K miles rather than 200K miles.

Answer 9

i heard of heating up the veg oil first so it can flow better but thats it.