As I stated before, I can't argue against anyone doing it right, but most of these conversion are minimal and most are putting a lot of otherwise nice Mercedes in junkyards.
Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/ 256-656-1924 -----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of ernest breakfield Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 1:50 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Doing SVO Wrong hi Tom! a couple of points i would take exception with below: - better 2-tank WVO systems will switch over automatically; no manual intervention required. - your fuel source isn't necessarily as unstable as you make it sound; sourcing oil from a known restaurant can be at least as consistent as what we get from some #2 pumps,... ;-* the better Japanese restaurants we know barely use their oil before they throw it away, and it's very clean. it can often even be picked up in the same containers it was supplied to them in so you can see what the source oil was. - you didn't address any of the issues related to making of BioD; ranging from dealing with chemicals to disposing of the inevitable waste (the Elephant in the Living Room in BioD discussions). cheers! e Tom Hargrave wrote: > Steve & Peter, > > I believe you just made the argument against burning WVO that I was trying > to figure out how to type. > > The issues are: > > You need a relatively complex, relatively expensive system to properly run > WVO in your Mercedes including 2 tanks (original diesel & added WVO). > > You need a multi-stage heating system. > > You need to remember to switch between fuels. > > The fuel source is unreliable & unrepeatable. And because of this, you > always risk engine damage. > > The engine must be in excellent shape. If not then you risk engine damage. > > With everything the two of you pointed out, I wonder why anyone would risk a > WVO system in their Mercedes when you are a few steps away from BIO-diesel. > > The advantages of BIO-diesel are: > > Much more consistent quality. The WVO quality will vary from load to load > and the conversion process is modified with each batch to cover this > variation. The end result is a much more consistent product. > > You still burn a waste oil source. > > No modifications needed to the fuel system. > > No special heaters. > > No second fuel tank. > > No need to remember to switch back & forth between fuels. > > Minimal risk to the engine. > > Thanks, > Tom Hargrave > www.kegkits.com > http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/ > 256-656-1924 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] > On Behalf Of Steve MacSween > Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:52 PM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Subject: Re: [MBZ] Doing SVO Wrong > > on 5/10/09 10:59, Peter Frederick at psf...@earthlink.net wrote: > > >> If you have poor combustion, I suspect that WVO WILL coke up the >> rings pretty fast, and I suspect most of the cheapskates who want to >> run "free" fuel aren't going to put the $ into getting the engine >> into tip top shape first. >> > > That is one big problem. > > The other difficulty is that the existing **mainstream** kit manufacturers > (e.g., Frybrid, Greasecar, NOT the $500 fly-by-nighters like Lovecraft and > certain eBay vendors, who are just Gong Show peformers) tend to deliver > basic packages that are lowest-common-denominator at best. > > The kit suppliers just cannot arrive at an acceptable market price point by > including everything necessary to ensure optimimum performance and best > insurance against premature wear for a wide range of vehicle conditions and > operating conditions (use patterns, climatic conditions, driving habits). > > As well, they vary in terms of how well they screen their potential > mail-order customers in terms of the destination vehicle's age, maintenance > history, compression specs, etc. (They are, however, scrupulous in terms of > how they assess the vehicles they convert in-house.) > > In my opinion, there is not one kit on the market that does not require > additional gear to safely run SVO/WVO over the long term. By my standards, > not one kit provides sufficient heat at the injectors, and many are way > below spec even before the injection pump. > > And there is almost nowhere in the U.S. or Canada, save perhaps afternoons > in Death Valley, where you can safely run a single-tank system. Anyone who > sells such solutions if pushing garbage for profit (excepting the German > firm Elsbett, whose kits are very pricey and technically sophisticated, and > not aimed at either DIYers or North American conditions). > > The other big problem is the question of the actual oil. A good deal of used > restaurant oil is far too worn out to be usable. > > Worn out or poorly filtered WVO will ensure you kill a motor. Add to this > poor compression, as Peter was talking about, and you will kill it even > quicker. > > Proper WVO treatment is an entire area of debate in and of itself. Many > people have complex arrangements, and do their own batch testing. I am not > knowledgeable in this area. > > WVO use IS an experimental concept. It is not for everyone. If you think > it's hokum, I am not likely to convince you otherwise. > > OTOH, bear in mind that the mainstream of car enthusiasts feel about the > same about people who choose to drive 15-30 year old diesel Mercedes, as > Luther feels about WVO. You have to at least keep an open mind. > > Cheers to all. > > Mac > > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.12.11/2089 - Release Date: 4/30/2009 > 5:53 PM > > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.12.11/2089 - Release Date: 4/30/2009 > 5:53 PM > > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > -- I am crewing on the Motorcycle Safety Crew for the AIDS LifeCycle ride from SF to LA for a week in June to raise money for the fight against AIDS. 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