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My new [old] car...got some questions.

1121 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  79Mercy
Greetings BenzWorld!!! I'm new to the forum, glad to be a member.

After much research and waiting, I finally purchased my '82 240D last week for $2000. Its a big change from my previous ride, a '97 Mazda MX6 coupe. lol I really dig this car and its class. Its a real head turner. I have plans to transform it into a greaser, stock piling VegOil from a restaurant I work at and installing the kit.

Also to come: a new paint job (possibly a military olive drab or matte black), install A/C compressor & new stereo, a new fog light, new drivers seat (its a bit sunken in), possibly putting on black steel "dog dish" wheels, and I'd like a Push Bumper mounted on the front though I am not sure if it is possible. Any info on that?

Just changed the oil today with my boyfriend and now the engine won't shut off when the ignition is turned off. We had to push the emergency stop lever on-board the engine every time we drove it today. It turned off fine the past few days I was driving it but today its being stubborn. :-/

I've read this is quite common, but I don't know what else to do with it at the moment. I heard it might be the vacuum system (though the locks work fine as well as the brakes), could also be the engine diaphragm...?

Like I stated in the title I'm a newbie and would appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks in advance!!


-JB240D
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Hey JB240D,
I'm not that far behind you as being a new person to the forums. So with that in mind, WELCOME TO BENZWORLD! I'm coming from a 420sel to my very first diesel (300d) and as much as I love my car, its a completely new learning process for me. The subject of running your 240D on wvo on this forum you will find that there are those who advocate, and those who are completely against it. In my first few weeks here in the w123 section I opened a few cans of worms on that subject. Now currently with the price of diesel being what it is I'm running on pure dino power. I'm not a greenie, but at the same time I hate being held hostage by big oil, which then also raises road usage tax and by running wvo are we trying not to pay our fair share which helps maintain the roads we use. So wvo opens many questions and can produce some heated responses.
On your other question regarding the engine not shutting off, I believe we have covered that subject in here before so try the search mode and I know a vacuum diagram was posted but if not there are many very knowledgable persons here who would be happy to offer advice. I wish you the very best with your Benz!
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Hello and welcome.
More than likely when you two changed oil, a vac line became dislodged somewhere. So first do a close inspection. I believe the engine diaphragm you refer to is a shut off valve. Take a look at the brown vac line coming from the bottom of the injection pump (IP), pull it out from the connector and see if there is any oil inside, this is an indication of a failed shut off valve.
The A/C is a common failure, and rather expensive. Also, with a 240 the engine is working very hard propelling itself down the road, the extra load of the A/C may give you pause about it's worth.
Fog lights can be pricey, so if you can find one at a junk yard, that's the way to go.
Steel wheels are hard to come by, I think.
I don't believe I've seen a push bar on the front of these, but years ago folks would rally race 'em, so maybe there's something out there. Just keep in mind that would be adding extra weight in front of the car.
I can't help with the WVO, but like the price of fuel! Hope it works out.
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All of the above and if your going to make it a greaser, use a GOOD 2 tank system! Lovecraft (Lovecrap) systems and other "single tank systems" will make sure you don't have your car for long! It is very hard on a diesel to start it on cold veggie oil and this will coke up the injectors, bind up the piston rings and could even jam valves in the head!:eek:

You know that hard greasy gunk you cannot get off your cookie sheets and frying pans? Also called "seasoning" on older cast iron cookware? Well that can destroy a diesel! It gets gummed up PLUS you have moving parts that won't like getting gummed up and your new Benz will barf those parts and the money just flies out of your bank account when that happens!

Get a GOOD kit like from Greasecar, and start your Benz on Diesel and when it is hot, switch over to veggie and don't forget to switch back to Diesel before shutting it down and you should be fine.:thumbsup: Or you could use Biodiesel and not have to worry about any of this.:thumbsup:

Biodiesel's only drawback is that it doesn't like organic rubber fuel lines and it will kill the algae in your fuel tank and plug up your fuel filters for a few miles, then you will be fine. Good luck with your new Benz!
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Hey thanks for the replies. RMac you were exactly right, when we changed the oil a vacuum seal was disassembled. so it was a quick & easy fix. :)

As for the greasekit kit mrbenz suggested, we're looking into doing a 1 kit system for the summer months with mercedessource.com easy & inexpensive and come the colder weather we will mix veg oil with diesel and if we continue to live in a cold climate then we will buy the extention kit with the duel tank system they offer.

Thanks for the replies guys!

-JB240D
Glad to hear it was a simple fix.
You may want to check for references about the mercedessource set up.
Hey thanks for the replies. RMac you were exactly right, when we changed the oil a vacuum seal was disassembled. so it was a quick & easy fix. :)

As for the greasekit kit mrbenz suggested, we're looking into doing a 1 kit system for the summer months with mercedessource.com easy & inexpensive and come the colder weather we will mix veg oil with diesel and if we continue to live in a cold climate then we will buy the extention kit with the duel tank system they offer.

Thanks for the replies guys!

-JB240D
Guys, a 1 tank system is not good for the motor no matter how warm it is!:eek: You can do a lot of damage to a diesel engine starting it on cold WVO even when it is 90*F outside. Veggie has to be heated so it will not only ignite easily, but burn completely and you run the risk of coking your injectors and gumming up your piston rings with cold Vegetable oil!

When mixed with Diesel, a mix of no more that 25% is recommended and 20% is best to 80% Diesel. The reason you have a 2 tank system to begin with is to run your diesel engine to normal operating temp AND to heat up your veggie at the same time with both electric and coolant heaters so it will get thin enough to burn all the way. Your IP will not handle cold Vegetable oil well either and I've seen one case of a ruined pump that could not handle thick WVO or SVO in temps from the 50's *F and lower!
When mixed with Diesel, a mix of no more that 25% is recommended and 20% is best to 80% Diesel.


can you give me some more detail on this? website, etc. i have always wondered about biodiesel, is it simply mixing wvo with dino? i have also wondered about mixing used, but clean and filtered motor oil with diesel. maybe a 1-4 ratio.
When mixed with Diesel, a mix of no more that 25% is recommended and 20% is best to 80% Diesel.


can you give me some more detail on this? website, etc. i have always wondered about biodiesel, is it simply mixing wvo with dino? i have also wondered about mixing used, but clean and filtered motor oil with diesel. maybe a 1-4 ratio.
I would not burn motor oil! Motor oil is designed NOT to burn and mixing it with fuel will make it flammable, but it will also create lots of smoke and soot, plus your introducing by-products of combustion into your fuel injection system which could ruin your IP.

The file below is a study done by the University of Idaho in conjunction with Diesel engine Manufacturers who wanted to see how far Vegetable oil would power a diesel engine and with what kind of results. It's an interesting read!:thumbsup:

Attachments

Biodiesel is not mixing WVO with Dino, it is a fuel made from VO that is cooked to remove the Glycerins in it along with harmful fats that could cause engine damage. You take a certain amount of VO, heat it to 120*F to 140*F and add a mixture of Methanol and Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) or Potassium Hydroxide and the fatty acid chain is broken off the VO.

Then the fatty acids are drained off and the fuel "washed" to remove any stray chains then dried to remove the water. Try these websites: Utah Biodiesel Cooperative! and National Biodiesel Board - www.biodiesel.org - www.nbb.org
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I should say-- you may not need new fog lights. You turn them on by turning the knob to your regular lights, then pulling it back towards yourself. You might already know, but it took me a while to figure it out.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I should say-- you may not need new fog lights. You turn them on by turning the knob to your regular lights, then pulling it back towards yourself. You might already know, but it took me a while to figure it out.
To comment on this, it took me a while also, then I read the owners manual.
I would highly recomend you continue to run your 240D on diesel. Veggy oil will shorten th life of your motor drastically.
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