e300 td and wvo

[Futureoils.com]

If there was one mod I would recommend when running wvo/svo it's to advance the injection timing -

With the MB mechanical systems (fabled Bosch in line pump) there is no way to allow for wear (chain) other than to physically move the IP -

Running svo/wvo will retard the ignition by a small factor so to allow for this you need to advance it by 2/3 degrees


BUT.... here's where I think a lot of the problems occur; the older MB's have a reputation for running veg oil as is, and whilst this may have been true when they were in tip top condition it may no longer be so 10 years down the road when the chain is worn -

So you may purchase a good well cared for MB with timing already retarded due to it's age (this is partially MB's fault for making a engine that will run on paint stripper poured out of a rusty can )

In total your older MB may need as much as 5/6 degrees movement of the IP to run properly on veg with minimal risk -

Hi David,

Some good posts on hear. Did you try soaking your pots with the 50/50 ATF diesel mix and may I ask what blend of diesel to SVO you are using with your 300TD? Have you advanced the timing on both engines like you suggested and has this had any adverse mpg/power/other effects when running on diesel?

 

[spock500]

Hi Dylan,

Yes, tried the soaking routine with everything you can think of but no joy.

I think I posted the link to the peach parts thread in the US, have a look at the photos, they were really bad.

On the 300TD have run up to 95% svo/5% petrol without problems, that said I prefer adding a bit more diesel when using soya, it's not good and Elsbett warn against it - if it was rapeseed would use 100% this weather.

I have only advanced the timing on the C250D which is still garaged at the mo although I did take it around the block before the brakes went -

i am just talking Oliver through doing his 300TD so he maybe able to post further info.

Cheers,

 

[SilverSaloon]

the soya stuff is nasty.

only times i've had problems its always just after running on that stuff

keep to rapeseed!

 

[spock500]

I forgot to ask Dylan, what was the outcome with your engine, did you get a second hand one in the end?

 

[Futureoils.com]

I forgot to ask Dylan, what was the outcome with your engine, did you get a second hand one in the end?

Hi David,

Unfortunatley my mechanic has told me the cylinder walls are far too gone for an 50/50 ATF/diesel soaking.

The consensus seems to be that the 6 cylinder 300 is a lot more veg oil tolerant than the 5 cylinder C250. I'm finding it quite hard to get my hands on a nice well maintained low mileage C250TD engine. I've been offered a few cheap ones with too many miles and a lack of service history and some in the region of £600 supposedly in the region of 50-70,000 miles from Dronsfields UK Mercedes dismantlers but I'd really want to cold start them and test drive them running for a while before taking the risk on one. Luckily I have another 65K C250TD at the moment so I guess I'll be driving that for a while until I can locate a good engine. I presume the mark 2 C250TD engine will fit in the mark 1 or better to check this out with MB?

Luckily my mechanic has gone on his summer holidays until the 4th of August so hopefully this will give me enough time to locate one or if any one reading these posts knows a good place to pick one up this would be of great help. :bannana:

 

[Olivier]

Where about is the deep south of Ireland?

 

[spock500]

I forgot to ask Dylan, what was the outcome with your engine, did you get a second hand one in the end?

Hi David,

Unfortunatley my mechanic has told me the cylinder walls are far too gone for an 50/50 ATF/diesel soaking.

The consensus seems to be that the 6 cylinder 300 is a lot more veg oil tolerant than the 5 cylinder C250. I'm finding it quite hard to get my hands on a nice well maintained low mileage C250TD engine. I've been offered a few cheap ones with too many miles and a lack of service history and some in the region of £600 supposedly in the region of 50-70,000 miles from Dronsfields UK Mercedes dismantlers but I'd really want to cold start them and test drive them running for a while before taking the risk on one. Luckily I have another 65K C250TD at the moment so I guess I'll be driving that for a while until I can locate a good engine. I presume the mark 2 C250TD engine will fit in the mark 1 or better to check this out with MB?

Luckily my mechanic has gone on his summer holidays until the 4th of August so hopefully this will give me enough time to locate one or if any one reading these posts knows a good place to pick one up this would be of great help. :bannana:

Is the head off? if so take some close up pics of the bores, need to see if the cross hatching is still there -

what tests has he performed to arrive at this diagnosis assuming the had hasn't been removed ?

 

[Futureoils.com]

Hi David,

Yes the head is off and the sump has been removed so I'll take the camera out and take a few pics of the bores when he gets back on the 4th.

The deep south of Ireland refers to Kinsale Olivier.

 

[vwtdi130pd]

well all took the plunge today and filled up with a mix of 60 derv and 40 wvo so far so good fingers crossed

 

[spock500]

Hi David,

Yes the head is off and the sump has been removed so I'll take the camera out and take a few pics of the bores when he gets back on the 4th.

The deep south of Ireland refers to Kinsale Olivier.

Hows the photo shoot coming along

 

[spock500]

well all took the plunge today and filled up with a mix of 60 derv and 40 wvo so far so good fingers crossed

You should be fine on that sort of ratio but all the same would check your filters as the veg will loosen deposits on the walls of the tanks.

 

[vwtdi130pd]

hope so how doy you think the fuel lines will cope going to change the filter when i empty the tank

 

[spock500]

The standard fuel lines are ok with these sort of temps but will struggle when it gets colder -

You have a couple of options when it does, either blend with diesel/petrol or put a three way valve on the return to loop it when cold and unloop when hot.

What type of oil are you using?

 

[Futureoils.com]

Hi David,

I haven't had time to get out to my mechanic yet as I've been too busy trying to locate a decent 2nd hand C250TD engine but would you believe the EPC is giving me trouble on my other C250TD possibly a loose connection but I'm going to get onto Mercman if not or eBay as they have some 2nd hand for £65.00

I'm wondering if selling the 190D was such a good idea after all? I now believe these will become a sort after classic in good condition.

 

[Olivier]

I think its more what you would enjoy driving then a car becoming a classic?

 

[spock500]

Hi Dylan,

I had a 190E which was one of the best cars I ever owned, the quality is superb coupled with a lively 2 litre engine -

My C250D is back together and running well, just need to get a ticket on it before putting on some miles so will report back how that performs. My current W210 300TD is running 95% svo without mods, no probs at all so hoping the C250D will be the same although its twin tanked.

Btw, are these saloon or estates? if saloon how did you overcome the problem of the twin saddle tanks draining only one side?

On your car i would want to be 100% sure the engine is no good before hunting down a replacement - could you not get a second opinion without offending your mechanic?

 

[vwtdi130pd]

its just wvo not the soya stuff its from my local curry house haha

 

[vwtdi130pd]

i now have fuel lines are now starting to weep some fuel from the o rings any one know the size of these o rings its the plastic ones at the pump is there a how to ,that would show me how to change them

 

[Futureoils.com]

Hi Dylan,

I had a 190E which was one of the best cars I ever owned, the quality is superb coupled with a lively 2 litre engine -

My C250D is back together and running well, just need to get a ticket on it before putting on some miles so will report back how that performs. My current W210 300TD is running 95% svo without mods, no probs at all so hoping the C250D will be the same although its twin tanked.

Btw, are these saloon or estates? if saloon how did you overcome the problem of the twin saddle tanks draining only one side?

On your car i would want to be 100% sure the engine is no good before hunting down a replacement - could you not get a second opinion without offending your mechanic?

Hi David,

After much deliberation I have decided to recondition my old engine as my mechanic seems to think it's salvageable and finding a well maintained C250TD engine with low miles is proving hard to come by. Fortunately I manged to reset my other C250TD's EPC by unplugging it and cleaning the contacts with some electrical contact cleaner so I still have some transport in the meantime. I think it's a case of my mechanic would prefer less work fitting the 2nd hand engine rather than having to deal with getting my old engine reconditioned and refitted. I'll keep you posted once the ball finally gets rolling next week.

 

[SilverSaloon]

i now have fuel lines are now starting to weep some fuel from the o rings any one know the size of these o rings its the plastic ones at the pump is there a how to ,that would show me how to change them

come to the scottish meet on the 12th September - i've been through all this stuff with my own E300D - same engine as in yours - i can show you exactly what you need to do.

once all these things are done, you should be fine to run on veg without any issue. i have done about 30k on veg on-and off, and if i have been using veg its been 80% to 100%. no issues once i'd sorted the leaks.

things you will need to do are:

delivery valve seals - if they are not new, the veg will kill them.
o-ring on the shut off valve on a 210
o-ring on pre-filter
renew or clean pre-filter
replace all clear fuel pipes and/or their o-rings
replace fuel tank strainer
replace mains screw-on fuel filter

cheers

Derek