tank choice- Goodwin
December 30, 2004 - 9:58pm
Chris Goodwin, you said something about not being able to use the stock tank for diesel if once you start using WVO there .... I believe it was in the discussion of your conversion stuff which I cannot find anywhere (link, please ----- and do you plan to sell your exchanger, I hope?). I was thinking of putting a small tank in the side well in the trunk of my 123/240 & use that for diesel --- put veggie in the stock tank. I was figuring I'd just go back to using the stock tank for diesel if I took a trip ------- but you say one can't . Would you mind elucidating a bit, please? I live in Fla & wasn't planning on heating either tank.
I learn an awful lot from this forum --- thanks for all your (& all you others, too) careful advice.
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84 240D 5sp (Euro)
December 31, 2004 - 10:21am
#2
Putting a tank in the side well will make the front of the car light and you will feel like the steering is dodgy, fill your diesel tank and put another 120lbs in the back of the trunk and go for a drive, you won't like it. Why not put a 5052 aluminum tank just behind the rear seat in the most forward part of the trunk and use this for VO, in Fla. you will most likely not need to heat the tank if you put a pump at the tank and a heated fuel filter next to it - you need to heat the filter or it will plug quickly and the pump will help that poor little lift pump to deal with sucking thick VO from the back of the car.
The 240 has perfect places to run the VO lines under the body, use 3/8 soft copper water supply line (arguement to insue) or pex or Viton lines.
I have the heat ex for sale on my site www.frybrid.com
Chris
December 31, 2004 - 3:30pm
#3
Thanks very much for the help -- now I understand (not bright, but trainable). I remember the argument against steel tanks, now. Since I'm not planning to heat the tank, how would you feel about a plastic (?) marine tank? They sell them ready to place below a deck, with sender installed, etc. I am not running long commutes at the moment & 7 or 8 gallons would be sufficient, I think (enough over 5 so I could pour 5 in without gushing over)(mostly).
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84 240D 5sp (Euro)
January 1, 2005 - 6:20am
#4
OK Chris, I'm taking the bait....
About the copper lines: IMHO don't do it. Copper is a reactive metal and oxidizes when in contact with acidic fluids such as VO (fatty acid). The corrosion presents as the green copper slime we are all familiar with, and if someone can show me some proof that this does not adversely affect IPs, fuel injection systems, emissions, etc, then I will quickly retract my argument and stand, without pride, rebutted.
If you are bent (pun somewhat intended) on using metal lines (not sure why you would be), why not use soft aluminum tubing instead?? Works just as well, is just as cheap (or cheaper), and doesn't have the corrosion issue.
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Justin Soares
Grease Works!
www.greaseworks.org
January 1, 2005 - 2:06pm
#5
Justin - Great! I would rather use aluminum...Where can you get soft aluminum 3/8" line? I will buy a 100' roll today!
Geezer - The plastic tanks are fine if you are not going to heat them and they are easy to work with. Personally I like aluminum 5052, but I have TIG, MIG, and a full shop.
Chris
January 1, 2005 - 2:16pm
#6
Justin - you are right! Aluminum tubing is available everywhere, I am retracting any refference I have made to copper fuel lines, aluminum is what I will use on my next conversion.
January 1, 2005 - 11:14pm
#7
CG -- you are generous with your expertise, & many thanks for it.
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84 240D 5sp (Euro)
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If you choose to use the stock for diesel consider this:
1) once filled with VO you will need to remove the tank to clean the VO out before using it again for diesel.
2) The 240 uses a steel tank and the acidity of VO will rust it.
3) Mercedes uses a tube type level sensor with steel wires exposed to the fuel. The float will not work well in thicker fluids and the wires will rust causing failure of a $200+ sender.
4) The stock tank is DOT approved for diesel, if you ever had an accident and had diesel in a non-approved tank you could have an issue (remember this is the country where McDonalds got sued for serving hot coffee to someone stupid enough to pur it in her lap and 30' ladders have a sticker on the third step reading "do not stand above this step").
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