Kit for pre-1987 Mercedes Sedan, April 17, 2006

Vendor

Frybrid

Greasecar

Golden Fuel Systems, formerly Greasel

Plantdrive*

Tank

5025 Aluminum, baffled, pressure tested, all internal fittings are welded, fuel level sender and billeted access plate attached with cork gasket and machine bolts, vented through fitting, inductive fuel level sender

Aluminum, fuel sender and access plate attached with machine bolts and threaded inserts, sealed with silicone sealant, vented through cap.

Aluminum, fuel sender attached with cork gasket, no access plate

Tank sold separately though included in this comparison; Aluminum, pressure tested, baffled, no internal fittings

In-tank heat exchanger

Aluminum Coil surrounding fuel pickup, coil TIG welded to billeted fuel and coolant manifold and access plate. Fuel reservoir around heat exchanger to improve efficiency and avoid interruption of fuel supply when cornering. Coolant lines connect to heat exchanger with compression fittings outside the tank.

Copper Coil mounted and connected to coolant with compression fittings inside the tank.

Coolant channel along length of bottom of tank

Stainless steel coolant loop, fuel drawn through center of heat exchanger. No fittings in tank.

Heated fuel lines

Aircraft aluminum fuel lines, hose in hose heating

PEX fuel lines, hose in hose heating

Regular fuel line, hose on hose heating

Fuel line not included, kit designed for hose on hose

Fuel return

Return to diesel tank on diesel, return to vegetable oil tank on vegetable oil

Return to diesel tank on diesel, return to supply line on vegetable oil

Return to supply line on diesel or vegetable oil

Return to diesel tank on diesel, return to supply line on vegetable oil

Purge cycle

Supply from diesel tank, return to vegetable tank in vegetable oil return line

Supply from diesel tank, return to vegetable tank in vegetable oil supply line

No purge cycle

No purge cycle

Shutdown procedure

15 seconds of purge cycle. Purge time set with fuel dye and sight glass and programmed into microprocessor.

1 minute of purge cycle. Time set by looking into vegetable oil tank for returning diesel, thereafter controlled by holding switch for determined time.

1-2 minute of running on diesel.

1-2 minutes of running on diesel.

Contamination of diesel tank with vegetable oil during shutdown procedure

No

No

No

Yes

System control

Microprocessor controller switches to vegetable automatically when coolant at appropriate temperature. Push button to start purge cycle. Toggle switch to turn off system and default to diesel.

Three way toggle switch for diesel, vegetable oil, and purge cycle

Toggle switch between diesel and vegetable oil

Toggle switch between diesel and vegetable oil

Purge warning

Warning buzzer

Buzzer sold separately

None

Warning buzzer

Heated filter

Heat exchanger on top of filter

Copper coil wrapped around filter body

Electric band heater wrapped around filter body

Coolant heated, two-stage filter

Final heat exchanger

8500 BTU heat exchanger

None

None

240W, 12V electric heater tube

Fuel Valves

Aluminum body solenoid valves

Stainless steel body solenoid valves

Plastic body solenoid valve, manual brass ball valve

Pollack motor driven valve six port valve with fiberglass reinforced nylon body, manual brass ball valve

Indicator lights

Lights indicate when diesel, vegetable oil, or purge cycle

Light in switch indicates diesel, vegetable oil, or purge cycle

None

None

Gauges

Fuel level gauge

Fuel level gauge

Fuel level gauge and vacuum gauge

Vacuum gauge on filter in engine compartment

Available volumes for vegetable oil tank

21, 15 gallons

15 gallons

17; Golden Fuel sells some kits that are designed to use the stock tank for VO, and an auxiliary polyethylene tank for diesel. These auxiliary tanks range from 3 to 12 gallons.

Tank sold separately, 24 gallons

Coolant and fuel hoses and clamps

Included

Included

Included

None

Price of kits

$1795 with 15 gallon tank $1895 with 21 gallon tank

15 gal. tank
$995
$300 controller
$250 heat ex.
$75 filler =
$1620.00

$1200

$1999, price includes 24 gallon tank sold separately *

Notes:
* Plantdrive chose this Mercedes kit for comparison, as they state that it will function for users not subject to "extremely cold weather."