[Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel
I've recently acquired a 1982 Mercedes 300SD. It is clean, rust-free, and very well maintained, but has never run on BD. Could someone familiar with Mercedes of this vintage comment on my checklist of things to do: -Remove in-tank fuel screen (Car alreadyhas a prefilter and a fuel filter accessible from above). -Set timing back 2 -3 degrees. -Keep a couple of prefilters and in-line filters in the trunk. -The hoses and seals appear to be in very good condition. I don't plan on replacing them. I have diesel mechanics in the family who are willing to do whatever is necessary,but their area of expertise is buses, so any info. would be appreciated. Tom ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel
Hello Tom, it seems that you have done everything right, maybe with the exeption that you should have proper tools in the trunk for changing filters if necesarry. But I doubt that you will need them though, assuming that your BD is of high quality. Best of luck to you ! Jan - Original Message - From: Thomas Kelly To: biofuel Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 5:35 PM Subject: [Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel I've recently acquired a 1982 Mercedes 300SD. It is clean, rust-free, and very well maintained, but has never run on BD. Could someone familiar with Mercedes of this vintage comment on my checklist of things to do: -Remove in-tank fuel screen (Car alreadyhas a prefilter and a fuel filter accessible from above). -Set timing back 2 -3 degrees. -Keep a couple of prefilters and in-line filters in the trunk. -The hoses and seals appear to be in very good condition. I don't plan on replacing them. I have diesel mechanics in the family who are willing to do whatever is necessary,but their area of expertise is buses, so any info. would be appreciated. Tom ___Biofuel mailing listBiofuel@sustainablelists.orghttp://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.orgBiofuel at Journey to Forever:http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.htmlSearch the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages):http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel
I just started using B100 in a 1984 Mitsubishi diesel. Similar vintage, although different design. Why remove the in-tank fuel screen? I think the gunk that biodiesel dissolves is usually much smaller particles than will clog this screen (someone else correct me if I'm wrong), and you loose protection from getting large particles farther along the fuel system. I would replace all the fuel filters after a while, even if you don't think you need it. I replaced mine after 2,000 miles on biodiesel, and found a noticeable increase in power, although I hadn't noticed any real problems before. Little tiny rust and dirt particles in the filter. Plus its easier to do as a planned replacement, than an emergency one on the side of the road, even if you do have extras in the trunk. What is the consensus on retiming the injection pump? I advanced mine about 3 degrees, but that was also because I went to higher elevation, not because of switching to biodiesel. I am keeping an eye on the hoses and seals, but have not replaced any. On 9/22/05, Thomas Kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've recently acquired a 1982 Mercedes 300SD. It is clean, rust-free, and very well maintained, but has never run on BD. Could someone familiar with Mercedes of this vintage comment on my checklist of things to do: -Remove in-tank fuel screen (Car already has a prefilter and a fuel filter accessible from above). -Set timing back 2 -3 degrees. -Keep a couple of prefilters and in-line filters in the trunk. -The hoses and seals appear to be in very good condition. I don't plan on replacing them. I have diesel mechanics in the family who are willing to do whatever is necessary, but their area of expertise is buses, so any info. would be appreciated. Tom ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel
I just started using B100 in a 1984 Mitsubishi diesel. Similar vintage, although different design. Why remove the in-tank fuel screen? I think the gunk that biodiesel dissolves is usually much smaller particles than will clog this screen (someone else correct me if I'm wrong), and you loose protection from getting large particles farther along the fuel system. Petro-diesel often has water in it and tanks on older cars can get rusty, especially if they're left standing for awhile before you buy them. A couple of cases have been discussed here before. The biodiesel loosens the rust and it gunges up the in-tank fuel screen, which you then wish wasn't inside the tank but outside it. It can stop you if you're not ready for it. It happened to us too. We installed a fine mesh screen outside the tank, which we had to clean a few times and had to change a filter element in the meantime too, but later when we checked the inside of the tank we found it's clean, the problem solved itself. Otherwise, it all sounds good. Best Keith I would replace all the fuel filters after a while, even if you don't think you need it. I replaced mine after 2,000 miles on biodiesel, and found a noticeable increase in power, although I hadn't noticed any real problems before. Little tiny rust and dirt particles in the filter. Plus its easier to do as a planned replacement, than an emergency one on the side of the road, even if you do have extras in the trunk. What is the consensus on retiming the injection pump? I advanced mine about 3 degrees, but that was also because I went to higher elevation, not because of switching to biodiesel. I am keeping an eye on the hoses and seals, but have not replaced any. On 9/22/05, Thomas Kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've recently acquired a 1982 Mercedes 300SD. It is clean, rust-free, and very well maintained, but has never run on BD. Could someone familiar with Mercedes of this vintage comment on my checklist of things to do: -Remove in-tank fuel screen (Car already has a prefilter and a fuel filter accessible from above). -Set timing back 2 -3 degrees. -Keep a couple of prefilters and in-line filters in the trunk. -The hoses and seals appear to be in very good condition. I don't plan on replacing them. I have diesel mechanics in the family who are willing to do whatever is necessary, but their area of expertise is buses, so any info. would be appreciated. Tom ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel
Aha. I stand corrected. Thinking about it more, I've actually had the rust problem with a WVO setup on a schoolbus because we got a used tank that was really rusty inside. We thought we had really dirty oil because the canister filters were only lasting about 100 miles, but after the tank was clean, they last several hundred miles now. Petro-diesel often has water in it and tanks on older cars can get rusty, especially if they're left standing for awhile before you buy them. A couple of cases have been discussed here before. The biodiesel loosens the rust and it gunges up the in-tank fuel screen, which you then wish wasn't inside the tank but outside it. It can stop you if you're not ready for it. It happened to us too. We installed a fine mesh screen outside the tank, which we had to clean a few times and had to change a filter element in the meantime too, but later when we checked the inside of the tank we found it's clean, the problem solved itself. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] 82 Mercedes Turbo Diesel
Thanks Zeke, Jan, and Keith for your quick responses, You have inspired me to fill it up with homebrewed biodiesel. After all that's what I got if for. Tom ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
