MB diesel fuelling advise needed

[anna]

Hi all,

What happened was MB ML280CDI (W164) was fuelled with biodiesel in Germany by a mistake and during running on this fuel did not have any probs. After putting another 60L of a normal diesel, there were several occasions the car could not start. The starter was turning the engine, but no luck. The diagnostic PC showed that one error has been recorded - low pressure in the common rail pressure system just before a high-pressure pump (330bar is normal, but was 90bar).

Now the problem is that non-MB alarm system has been recently fitted with one of the relays fitted in the common rail pressure system.

My questions is could fuelling a diesel car with a biodiesel fuel cause any problems with car fuelling system or it was due to the wrong/incorrect alarm system installation.

Diesel owners please come forward

 

[anna]

Unfortunately, I do not know the type of biodiesel used. All I know it was costing around euro 1.44

 

[anna]

The car never had a problem running on diesel, only several times did not want to start. naughty...

 

[Dieselman]

The biodiesel shouldn't have caused any damage to the lift pump or any part of the MB fuel system, however due to the Bio cleaning all the accumulated gum out of the fuel system it's possible that the fuel filter is now blocked.

Certainly one possibility is that the solenoid valve could be faulty, possibly caused by the Biodiesel if it uses neoprene seals in it as opposed to metal or teflon seals.

Change the fuel filter and if that doesn't work try a fuel line connected straight to the pump out of a can.

Would I be right to assume you won't be doing the work yourself, if not I'm surprised the garage hasn't thought of this.

 

[glojo]

The biodiesel shouldn't have caused any damage to the lift pump or any part of the MB fuel system, however due to the Bio cleaning all the accumulated gum out of the fuel system it's possible that the fuel filter is now blocked.

Certainly one possibility is that the solenoid valve could be faulty, possibly caused by the Biodiesel if it uses neoprene seals in it as opposed to metal or teflon seals.

Change the fuel filter and if that doesn't work try a fuel line connected straight to the pump out of a can.

Would I be right to assume you won't be doing the work yourself, if not I'm surprised the garage hasn't thought of this.

Hi Will have you noticed your post count?

If we only put approved fuel in our vehicles would we have these issues?

John

 

[television]

, if not I'm surprised the garage hasn't thought of this.

Since where do you find Dieselman other than here the can trick was recommended at the last seminar I attended.

 

[anna]

Hi, thanks for your reply

Yes, you are wright I am not gonna do this myself. The problem is that I am not sure who or what to blame either with an electrical fault (due to the alarm system) or its due to the biodiesel fuelling.
So you suggest to change the fuel filter and see if it helps, right?

It only happaned several times. Like I came to the petrol station to fuel and then couldn't start the car for 30-40 mins - very annoying.
Now I have no problem at all. This is just I am concerned if I should do anything now apart from changing the filter
to avoid such disappointment like trying to start a new car for 30 mins

BTW, the car has only been delivered on Nov 2007

 

[Dieselman]

Hi Will have you noticed your post count?

If we only put approved fuel in our vehicles would we have these issues?

John

Yes I did.

I was going to post a palindrome thread but decided against it...
thanks for noticing though..have to go a bit to get to the next one..

Depending on whether the fault is actually anything to do with the biofuel or not then the answer is either yes or no.

If the filter is blocked then sort of yes as it's cleaned the dirt out of the fuel system and deposited it in the filter, if it's the solenoid valve then it's probably just faulty.

I've known of two cases of the filter blocking so it can happen, but only on initial clean out. Once the system is clean it won't happen again.

One was on our trusty Skoda and VAG say that can run 100% Bio...

 

[Dieselman]

It only happaned several times. Like I came to the petrol station to fuel and then couldn't start the car for 30-40 mins - very annoying.
Now I have no problem at all. This is just I am concerned if I should do anything now apart from changing the filter
to avoid such disappointment like trying to start a new car for 30 mins

BTW, the car has only been delivered on Nov 2007

That sounds like a sticky shutoff solenoid jamming closed. If the car had already been running then it's hard to see how the fuel could be at fault.

If it continues have that solenoid either replaced or bypassed.

I doubt your car has had enough fossil diesel through it to have gummed up the fuel system sufficiently for the Bio to have had any cleaning action.

 

[Dieselman]

Since where do you find Dieselman other than here the can trick was recommended at the last seminar I attended.

Ha..

I used this to great effect the other week on a Ford van.

All symptoms pointed to an air leak or blocked filter and had been worked on for two days to no avail.

Connected a can straight to the pump and tried it...same symptoms.

End result a new pump for £950. The pump was sucking air in internally.

 

[anna]

Ok, so I'd go for changing the filter and then take it from there...
Guess this is the trial and error process

 

[Dieselman]

I think the valve is more likely.

 

[anna]

really? why the car is starting ok now then if this is the solenoid valve?

 

[Dieselman]

The same goes for the filter. probably just sticking due to heat soak, but a bit more worn now.

Might not be, of course.

 

[bolide]

I suspect this is nothing at all to do with Biodiesel. Most commercially available Biodiesel in Germany, as far as I have been ascertain, is B5, 5% Bio and 95% Diesel, though 20% and 100% blends may be available

http://www.whatgreencar.com/biodiesel.php

If it comes out of a pump in Germany I think you can assume it is safe to use

Most of the comments in this thread are more applicable to the use of SVO than Biodiesel

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[anna]

Ok, in this case I assume it was B5 when I take the car to the garage

 

[Dieselman]

B5 is used all over Europe, including the UK.

 

[anna]

I am very much concerned as the car did not start for 30-40 mins.
Fine, it happaned several times only, but what if its gonna happen again when I need the car the most? Or what if it does not start say at the ferry? I have to be absolutely sure about it

 

[Dieselman]

Most of the comments in this thread are more applicable to the use of SVO than Biodiesel

Which ones are they?

 

[Dieselman]

anna
If it's not faulty now then there's not much can be done in reality. You could have a new valve and filter but I doubt it's worth it.