----- Original Message -----
From: "Megan Cosgrove" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 12:10 AM
Subject: [Biofuel] newbie looking for car selection advice
Hey folks,
I'm just entering the biodiesel realm, planning to travel around the
country on biodiesel or WVO, and looking for some advice about vehicle
selection. I am looking at a 1980 mercedes 300TD. The car looks like its
in good shape, 143k miles, and I have a diesel-savvy mechanic willing to
take a look at it for me. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience they
can share about these 20+ year old diesel cars.
Mine is a 1983 240D Mercedes and it took us on holiday, some 1500Km round
trip, on B100 all the way up and a good chunk on the way back with some dino
in between without a hitch.
It seems like a lot of folks are driving them with little difficulty, but I
am nervous about taking off on a road trip in such an old car. I really like
this wagon, but I'd welcome any other suggestions. Things I'm looking for in
a car: reliability (I know-duh, but I will be on the road, so thats a big
one), a wagon (I'm traveling with my dog and we need living space :)), and
eco-friendliness.
As far as the Benz goes, there is hardly a more "reliable" older car out
there. That said however, there is the matter of the screen sediment filter
that is located INSIDE the fuel tank. This little beggar is going to clog up
like the cement on a sidewalk after a few tank fills with B100, soooo, have
your mechanic friend strip the screen off the unit and install another
primary filter inside the engine compartment before the pump. That way when
the BD does it's cleaning job and the filter catches it all you will onlly
have to pop the hood and change the first filter (you may have to do this a
couple times). The alternative is to wait until it clogs and then do it, but
that is unpredictable and costs. It won't break anything, except maybe your
wallet :-)
The screen sediment filter can be seen here:
http://oem.overnightautoparts.com/parts/overnightautoparts/viewImage.jsp?image=img.overnightautoparts.com/live/E101087062MEY.JPG
It's not really a big problem as far as problems go, but it can be a PITA
(Pain In The Anatomy) if it clogs en-route.
Check the compression and have the valves adjusted and drive away undaunted.
Consider this; should you get the car, you will most likely not pay that
much for it, then even if you sink (only an expression) a few thousand into
it in upgrades ect. you are still WAY ahead of the game and the car will
outlast any new 40K Ford coming off the assembly line tomorow.
My 240D (4 speed manual 4 cylendar) Benz has 461,000Km original mileage on
it and has barely lived out half the engine life, which when it does will
only require a rebuild of replacing the sleeves,rings and injectors and it
will be good to go again. The older MB diesels were built like the big
trucks are, with sleeves inside the cylendars that take the wear and tear,
so the basic cylendar wall never gets worn out. It will require regular
valve adjustment though as part of standard maitenance.
For an excellent forum on everything Benz try :
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/default.asp and scroll down to W123 (that's
the body type of the 300D as well as my 240D) and ask about.
Luc
Any input would be very much appreciated!!
Megan
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