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Charles Munn -> RE: what's the best wvo conversion kit (9/9/2006 8:59:07 PM)
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I hooked up the Mercedessource.com single tank kit yesterday and compared to the greasecar.com 2 tank system, it was a piece of cake!
It comes ready to install for your specific Mercedes. Mine is a 1982 300D Turbo called Bruno. Directly behind the left drivers headlight is the veggie management control. It consists of a voltage boss with 4 separate circuits so that you may hook up your choice of modular units, a clear inline filter, a 5 micron filter and water trap, a heater and thermostat set at 150 degrees, and a final inline filter before it connects into the engine fuel pump. The Veggie management taps off the battery and off the fuse box/ignition switch. That keeps its circuitry independently fused and separate from Bruno's electronics.
Turn the key one click, and the Veggie management heater, as well as the Fuel sump chamber heater fires up. This is controled by a switch under the dash. Wait a 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the weather, while the fuel sump chamber in the trunk warms the fuel to 100 degrees and the electric fuel pump kicks in and sends the 100 degree oil to the veggie heater where it's heated to 150 degrees. Turn again and the glow plug comes on, start when it goes out.. Maybe a total of 4 minutes in the dead of winter.
If you're on a trip and can't find veggie oil, then burn diesel. Just turn off the heater and fuel sump switch and turn on the fuel return switch. All are located under the dash. I've also added a non connected diesel switch, just in case I decide to add that second tank....
And I do have the option of adding a second diesel tank in the trunk. However, since we have mild winters here in western WA, at this point I merely intend to add a bit of diesel and/or kerosene during the winter. Still, [;)]since I enjoy tinkering, I'll probably eventually add that extra tank...
The hardest thing about the installation was draining the diesel tank, removing the screen and cleaning the thing. But even that wasn't so bad. I backed the car onto ramps, and sucked out most of the diesel with a pella. I had less than a liter of diesel to drain. Fortunately the screen came out with the fitting and it was as clean as a whistle. I added another metric fitting with a 1/2' connection for the new fuel line down to the Fuel Sump Chamber. The FSC is below the main tank, so gravity keeps it full. I then tapped a 5 /16" fuel line off the new electric fuel pump and fitted it to the existing factory metal line. ( I will eventually insulate all elements, including fuel lines, from the fuel tank to the engine., I use the foil line bubble wrap which I buy from the insulation dept at Ace hardware. )
Then I opened the bleeder screw on the veggie manager, pumped the air out, and filled and turned on the heater. I also turned on the return fuel switch so it would pump any air back into the tank. ( You only have to do that when you change to SVO, or if you've run out of fuel and bleed the engine, or if you're burning diesel. ) I waited a couplle of minutes, turned off the return fuel switch, and fired it up. It was a nice sunny day and ol' Bruno ran smooth and extra guiet from the start. My wife and I drove about 80 miles at between 70 and 80 mph... This is absolutely the best he's ever ran. Still, I intend to do a lubo moly purge and ALDA service at least every 6 months.
Next, I'll prep him for painting....
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