Has anyone tried running biodiesel in their Benz yet? I have a 2007 ML320Cdi and have been burning only the ULSD so far. I am just beginning to look in to biodiesel and learning there are different kinds (B20, B99 etc.). I live in Austin, Texas and B20 appears to be easy to obtain, B99 a little more difficult. I am hesistant to try a new fuel until I hear a few success stories.

Does anyone have any experience to share on biodiesel?

 

In my experience, my benz's (all from the 70's and 80's) have had the least trouble adapting to biodiesel of my entire fleet, which includes or has included a 10 litre cummins (heavy duty truck motor), a 14 litre cummins, a caterpillar and two internationals.

my first attempts were with 100% biodiesel processed from recycled vegie oil, I had trouble with all four of my trucks, and the benz's never missed a beat.

for the last two years I have run B99 made from virgin soy oil and I have had no trouble at all since making the switch.

Bio diesel is hard on rubber but since about the early 90's, I understand that the motor manufacturers have all switched to viton instead of rubber and it stands up to bio much better. The recycled bio gells at just about 30 degrees, and I haven't had any gelling at all with the soy down to about 26 degrees.

High mile motors will go through a few fuel filters as the bio disolves sludge in the fuel sustem left behind by dino diesel.

If you are going to run B20, you should have no trouble at all, and you will probably have no trouble with B99 either. My newer heavy trucks are computer controlled, and I sleep a little better running a tank of dino diesel about every third tank. It's okay to mix.

good lick
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well, that about takes care of that!
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Wow, thanks for the informative responses. Kind of a roller-coaster reading through the posts though...from "oh boy, it looks like it may work" to "rats, MB is being conservative and I can't take the risk". Too bad - I bought the diesel MB instead of a hybrid Lexus partially for the ecological footprint (also because MB diesel engines are great and have an long history while the hybrid motors are still in their infancy). Oh well, maybe this policy will change as the industry experience with biodiesel matures.

Thanks again.

 

Before I bought this old MB I drove a 1990 VW Jetta Ecodiesel and had no problems using commercial biodiesel... However, others did have a problem and that's because the ASTM standards are not stringently enforced in the USA as they are in Europe. That's also the reason many European vehicles are not warranted when using biodiesel made in the USA.
Here's a list of vehicles and warrantys when using biodiesel. But I suspect those warrenty'sonly applyin Europe.
http://www.biodiesel.co.uk/fuel_stor...se%20Biodiesel?

The same can be said for using VO. That is, as I understand it, a VO made under stringent conditions specifically for fuel is also manufactured in Europe. It's sold and controled by the same rigid ASTM standards and available instations thoughout Germany and Europe

Still, knowing that using biodiesel or VO, in the USA, particularly WVO, is a chancey experiment at best, about 8 or 9 months ago I bought this old 1982 300D TMB, with good compression, no rust, no cracks in dash, etc., for $400. I sold the Jetta for $3700. and concentrated on the MB. Both engines were older designs, and much more able to withstand the possible abuse of experimental fuels.

Granted, the VW had an aluminum head, but the MB is solid iron. Just to be sure, I adjusted the valves, replaced the timing chain, changed all of the injector nozzles, fuel return lines, replaced the glow plugs, and did an ALDA service as well as by passing the switchover valve. That is, for an ancient auto withover 300, 000 miles, it was running perfectly.

At first I burned commercial biodieseland didn't haveany problems. But because so many others had their tanksgummed up with commercial biodiesel, I'm still very leary of the stuff.So as soon as possible, I converted it to burn WVO. At least I have some small control in that area.

So far I haven't had any problems but I'm very particular about the WVO which comes from 2 Japanese restaurants. They pour it directly out of the fryers and into jerry cans supplied by me, therefore all of the water has been cooked out. I suspect they also run it through those paper restaurant filters, because it's always exceptionally clean... I then filter it to 5 microns before filling the MB tank.Before entering the IP, itgoes through another 4 different filters, including a 5 micron stanadyne water separator/flilter.

However, unless I lived in Europe where I can be reasonalbly sure of the fuel quality, there's no way in hell I'd burn US made biodiesel, homemade or commercial, WVO, or even VO bought at Costco, in a modern diesel engine.

 

I saw several comments about the 80's Benz Diesels, but does anybody know about biodiesel compatability with the 98 and 99 E300 Diesels?

I read something somewhere that said the injector pump was not made to run biodiesel, BUT.....that could really be said of any Mercedes Diesel, right? Besides the new CDI's, none of the injector pumps from previous years were made for biodiesel, right?

So, if I'm hell-bent on running B100 in a 99 E300D, what precautions and modifications, are necessary and/or recommended?

thanks.

 

Hey guys I have a question about biodiesel. I am going to try and start making it for my 240d. Do I need to change any lines? I also have a question about making it. 1. How do know how much lye, alcohol, and other stuff to use? 2. What else is there other than lye, and alcohol? For the alcohol can you use Iso Heet for small quanities like 5 gallons at a time I have heard it just don't know? I don't have a machine like the ones for sale so can I make it in pots for cooking?