Bobby,
Thanks for the suggestions. We have monitored oil over the years but have not seen any obvious indications of pollution beyond normal diesel oil wear. I am considering sending off some for chemical analysis.
Oil consumption was "normal" according to MB before the failure. My experience with this engine started with about a half a quart consumption every 3000 miles (my typical oil change intervals with diesels). Peaked at around 2 quarts at point it failed.
I have had starting issues with car that originally pointed me at the starter. Engine would seem to be locked and starter would not spin the flywheel. We determined that the starter was bad and replaced. (Note: the starter on this engine is too heavy to handle with one hand overhead and under the car - unfortunate near miss was learning opportunity here) Rebuilt the starter and all was good for about a year. May not have been entirely the starter as car started to feel "locked up" once or twice which a bump or two with starter would "free" the engine and it would start right up.
Mechanic felt that the car ran too smoothly for a bent crank arm when this started.
Additionally for some reason we started to experience a loss of coolant a 30,000 before failure. No sign of water in the oil. Eventually we found some pin hole leaks in water pump that prompted replacement
I am not ruling out an issue with #1 cylinder. Regardless we are planning to replace all the crank ams with larger ones if they are not already there.
Where would you look for after market fuel warming add ons?
I am pretty sure that some of the bio d we make is sub par. I have had 2 incidents with glycerol in the fuel. Removed, cleaned and replaced tank and all lines and filters and pumps on 2 of 3 diesels.
Am also interested in options on injectors. My bio d partner has an elsbett kit in his VW that seems to eat anything it is offered. Question is would some modification to the injectors offer any engine performance improvements?
Thanks for your input,
Rusty
--- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, Bobby Yates Emory <liberty1@...> wrote:
>
> Rusty,
>
> MaBenz will rebuild and fix these for free, if it has not already been
> upgraded. (Note: this is rumor, not something I have done.)
>
> You and the re-builder need to carefully check several items, to find out
> what went wrong, and correct it.
>
> 1. Empty the oil and check if it seems OK or if it has been "polluted".
>
> 1. A. Is the level about what you expect or is it over full?
>
> 1. B. Is the oil diluted by the B95?
>
> 1. C. Is the oil jelled?
>
> If A and B, then check the rings for letting the fuel gets passed and the
> injectors for being clogged. If either, heat the fuel more before it gets
> to the injection pump.
>
> If A and C, then your transesterfication is not converting all the oil
> to bio-diesel. Veggie oil is not compatible with engine oil.
>
> 2. Are the rod and main bearings bad? If so, check the oil and see A-B or
> A-C.
>
> 3. Are the injectors slightly clogged or grossly clogged?
>
> If slightly, get new injector nozzles and rebuild injectors.
>
> If grossly, get new nozzles, rebuild injectors, and add more heat before
> the IP.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Bobby
>
> On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 10:31 PM, rmh3_98 <rmh3_98@...> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > I'm am having my 91 SDL rebuilt after it died a while back. Not sure what
> > killed it yet as we will learn more after we crack open the engine. I have
> > run bio diesel in her for about the last 100m miles. I am pretty sure that
> > this had an impact on her demise. I am also prepared to find the infamous
> > "crank arm" issue. We are planning to upgrade to heavier crank arms to
> > start.
> >
> > My question is "What would you modify, replace or upgrade during the
> > process?"
> >
> > I plan to continue to use bio diesel. May blend it down a bit below B-95
> > though.
> >
> > Suggestions or directions to other sources is greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Rusty
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Toward freedom,
>
> Bobby Yates Emory
>
