I am thinking of setting up a single tank SVO rig on my '80 MB 300CD. I live in the deep south where it is hot most of the year. The kit that mercedes source (link below) sells was my first choice. Does anyone else have a better suggestion. building my own kit from scratch would be cool too.

http://www.mercedessource.com/node/4636

If you are going to run single tank you want to ensure your engine is in good order.
Injectors, glow plugs, injection timing, valve adjustment, starter motor, charging system, battery, thermostat and your engines compression all need to be good to ensure trouble free motoring.

Looks like their kit is a filter, hand pump and electric fuel heater (I guess made using a glow plug?) with all pipes, wires etc. Looks well assembled and components look good quality - although I've never been too keen on glow plug based fuel heaters.

For the same kind of money I could do you a Bosch electrically heated filter, filter mounted diaphragm hand pump. Also heavy duty glow plugs and a replacement extended duty glow plug relay which should make a big differences to your cold starting (something that that kit does not address).

Should be able to throw in some reconditioned injectors (best ensure your injectors are good when running single tank) with new flat cut pintle nozzles (the best type for running SVO) and even an electric valve (filter mounted) to allow you to, while driving, switch in your parallel plumbed original filter when your heated filter is not able to give enough flow - due to cold waxing (see posts 16th January here- http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1521076562/m/9461002272) or contamination - nice to be able to keep motoring under such conditions.

Stick a FPHE before the filters, maybe advance the injection timing 2 degrees and you've got a comprehensive single tank set-up.

quote:

and even an electric valve (filter mounted) to allow you to, while driving,

hi darren,

I could use one of those. ;-)
had to switch in the backup filter many times this week. 0*F today...

They are built into a M14 banjo bolt so one or the other of your filters will need to have M14 ports. Selling them for £38.84

The filter in the middle of the bottom row has one fitted to one of the ports on the left.
http://trueasset.org.uk/index.php?page=fuel-filters

Eventually I'll get round to listing them on the shop.....

Hey vegburner.uk,
I like the sound of your rig. Shoot me a message or post with your price and some pics would be good (kind of a visual thinker). I am looking to set up the system in the month of February and start running it in the spring. I will be doing a complete tune up on the vehicle at this time as you mentioned. So, your offer of rebuilt injectors with SVO specific nozzles is highly intriguing.

Brad

Brad,

I've put a page up with details - pricing to follow, currently some components are priced elsewhere on the site.

http://trueasset.org.uk/index....age=single-tank-kits

Best

Darren

Darren,
That looks like a great kit. So, I just need to get a flat panel HE and your kit has the rest? Sounds good to me. Let me know when you get a price on the kit.
Thanks,
BRad

Mississipi,

Sorry about the delay in getting back. I've been moving house and workshop and everything is up in the air.

Yes the kit just needs the addition of a FPHE. There is someone in the States who sells them cheap on ebay.

Looks like price should be about £220 for the basic kit for a 123 series Mercedes.

The type of glow plug system you have will effect the price. Do you have the older M18 threaded glow plugs or the later M12 type?

I can also price any of the kit additions in which you are interested.

Probably best to take this off forum... Best to contact me through the website.

Best

Darren

1985 300DT with Unknown Mileage
100 % SVO (about 20Kmiles)
No kit everything Stock


I'm in Los Angeles pretty warm all year around

Hello all

Ken the welder here. I just started this whole wvo thing. I am running a one tank system on an 87 toyota 4x4 xcab pu. I just started collecting in feb and have put about 8000 klm on straight wvo. I am not heating my tank, but I did make an inline heater out of a glowplug and a 1/4 pipe T. The toy didn't come with a lift pump so I put in an old one and it seems to be doing the job. I also rapped a 1/4" chunk of copper tubing 3' long around the turbo housing but I don't know if the air traps are worth the heat.

I'm going to PG this weekend to see the car show. I'll post how it went

Nice thread!

I have a two tank 7.3 with about 80K on veg... My Girl Friend just bought a 1984 300 TD wagon that is beautiful!

The car came with a Plant Drive single tank conversion.. (I am actually a plant drive kit installer, but the previous owner installed this one). The kit includes

1. looped return
2. Vormax heated filter
3. Vegtherm
4. Aux transfer pump... not usually used

and thats it. I was wondering if you folks in the colder climates have had any problems with fuel delivery upon initial start up when the temp is cool. IS the fuel in the cylinders hot enough with the glow plugs to return to the tank and heat the coagulated veg? What if there is a looped return? She does have a valve to send return to tank.. I guess we could do that until the veg is hot... Any thoughts?

Toph in Charlotte NC

Install a block heater.

1981 240d 20% dino 80% veg unheated , looped return, house hold water filter 10mic for fuel filter with inline cleanable filter just in case

Hey 240 D...

Do you mean a FPHE? What's a block heater?

quote:

Originally posted by Tofir Mira:
What's a block heater?

www.isuzucv.com/service/engineblockheater.html

A block heater is an electrical device (as John posted above) that fits (usually) in one of the freezer plugs of the engine block. When connected to electric power, it heats the engine coolant (and the engine, depending on how cold it is and how long it is on). Using one reduces cold start problems when using VO. It Makes starting the engine easier, and it reduces potential contamination of lube oil with VO "blow-by." There are other pre-heaters that go into coolant hoses, or are diesel powered (Webasto), and some have circulating pumps. Simple one like pictured is very cheap ($5?).

quote:

Originally posted by futant:
79 k5 Blazer w/ 6.2L GM diesel
33 gallon plastic tank
1/2" pickup and main line to Racor 1000 filter modified to go 160 degrees
4 fatty wagon IP line heaters
going to operate all heaters on a remote so I can start them 1 -2 minutes before hitting the glowplugs and starting.
going to adjust preheat timing to outside temp and watch my fuel temp gauge on the return line to make sure that temp comes up rapidly as possible.
<--- mainly hoping the fuel pumps survive
haven't started on WVO yet, finishing centrifuge rig.
planning to run 10%diesel most months in Texas, 20% blend in the winter 3 months. May need some block heaters too for those colder days.

I have now run 150 gallons. I mix 20% diesel blend at all times.
preheat for about two minutes the IP heaters get up to 150 degrees then i glow plug and start up.
Eventually the Racor 1000 gets up to temp (approximately when engine warms up) and the ip heater circuit cycles much slower, but the temp gauge on my injector line always indicates 145 -150 degrees.
Cold starts are slightly rough for about 30 seconds.
did not do the remote thing per above entry. I just do it manually hooked on ignition (but able to be switched off if i ever have to run diesel only or have a heating issue).
I have tried looping the return , or not looping it - makes no difference so I leave it not looped now. I've ran it looped for 6 months without issue, I just feel it probably saves very little electricity and i prefer the comfort of knowing any air would be bled.
I use a low psi WALBRO 1-3 psi pusher pump back by the poly tank up to the racor. Then from the racor to the IP i use a mustang high pressure / high performance pump (most likely vane style).
So far the only issues I have had is the WALBRO FRB 7-10psi pump I had quit working after two weeks.
Please search for my other entries to see my whole story on this. I do not suggest these WALBRO pumps for any reason - they are too weak.
SINGLE TANK ALL THE WAY!

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