Hello - I am new here - have a 1984 MB 300D with 140K and an Elsbett single-tank conversion for the last 20K - started with Diesel Secret Energy, considered biodiesel, then went Elsbett and have been VERY happy with it. I have searched high and low and cannot find a good discussion of what the best winter additive might be for a single-tank WVO system. I currently use 10% diesel in the summer (b/c my mechanic recommends having some diesel for its superior lubricating properties) and up to 50% diesel in winter depending on the temperature (live in NC). I have recently looked into adding Diesel Kleen in order to reduce the amount of diesel I add, and have found out that some people add kerosene, or even RUG (which shocked me).

I am sure this will be a lively discussion, but that's what forums are for. I am happy to continue using diesel, but am curious as to people's experience with DK and RUG. The back of the DK container states that it can be used with up to 20% biodiesel (must add quite a bit more) - but it makes no statement re: its effectiveness with veg oil.

quote:

Originally posted by Halvo:
I currently use 10% diesel in the summer (b/c my mechanic recommends having some diesel for its superior lubricating properties).

Get a new mechanic. There are plenty of threads with citations to back them up showing that diesel typically barely passes the minimum lubricating specs for fuel and that adding 1-2% vegetable oil brings them in spec.

-Jim

kerosene is better than diesel, can use 1/3 less.
ex; for the same gel point can use 8:1 instead of 6:1.

Gasoline is best solvent,but don't use more than 3% or cetane goes too low.

you can add cetane enhancers if you use gasoline or kerosene. i didn't see much difference.

natural pure turpentine is best. equal to gasoline w/o the loss of cetane. but it cost more.

Re: 10% diesel in summer. Your mechanic is uninformed.

In my s-t elsbett TDI I use:

100% SVO down to 65*F.
5% kero down to 55*F
10% kero down to 45*F
20% kero down to 35*F
30% kero down to 25*F
50/50 SVO/diesel 25 - 10*F
40/60 SVO/diesel 10 - 5*F

I also double g.p. cycle, open the spare fiilter valve, and manually pump fuel with the ball pump for the first few minutes < 15*F.

Kerosense here in Tn is $4.29 a gallon.They are forcing people to heat with electricy.Dammn TVA.

In Minnesota I have 5000 miles experience running 10% RUG in my '78 240-D last summer up to first freeze then switched to petroleum. Starts rough but can't tell the difference once it's running.I may just run 100% WVO this summer.
Here is an interesting perspective:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...feature=channel_page

I think that you may have misunderstood your mechanic. If not, I wouldn't rely on his opinion related to fuel.

You can see from my sig what I do. Preheating your engine makes a big difference in performance and longevity. Elsbett systems (not like your or mine- heated injector nozzles, webasto-type engine heater, etc.) have been studied with 245K km.

If you have the manual for your car, you will see that one of the options they list for cold weather (using petro-diesel as fuel) is to add up to 20% RUG, IIRC.

Pre-heating is cheap and effective.

Search the blending forum.

regular unleaded works,and use turpentine to overcome octane.

Caution against using diesel fuel additives in a tank that has VO in it, the two are not necessarily compatible.

Research been done on that.. I've seen a paper written on the matter, that was examining ways of preventing VO polymerization and breakdown. Rather than mixing diesel with VO, and adding diesel additives to that, just use something to cut the VO that is more compatible with VO.

RUG can cause vapor lock if the pump is pulling negative pressure on the FPHE and filter, ie if the pump is sucking the fuel through these devices. Negative pressure lowers the boiling point of RUG, potentially causing the vapor lock.

There is no problem blending VO with diesel. Diesel fuel additives that are purchased and added separately to the fuel should not be used. Turpentine, acetone, naptha, etc. are OK.

I use a pump to push fuel thru filters,and fphe.