466e vs 466

[warewolff]

Hi all,

I'm pretty sure I'm going to make an offer on a DT466, but the last full mechanical sold this morning (sucks, I know) and the only ones left are the 466E's, late 90's - early 00's. Can I get a WVO setup working on the electronic engine or is this going to be a wash?

[GreyCoyote]

You can make an alternate fuel setup run with a 466E (and some have done exactly this and published the result), but it isn't always pretty. That computer is pretty smart. And those injectors have some very close tolerances that may not like an "alternative" fuel. If it was me, I'd stick with the non-E engine if you're going to play like that. You can't change the programming in the 466E's computer like you can play with injector timing/fueling with a mechanical setup, and that could be a real problem.

Having said this, the DT466E is a fine engine. I just did a 4500 mile trip in mine (a 1998/1999 model year BBird), and the damn thing is just a Hoss! Nary a missed beat. No drama. Just chugs alongs and climbs hills like a 13-ton leech. It's not going anywhere fast, but it'll get you there while hauling tons (literally) of gear and get 9-10 mpg doing it.

The DT466, in any injection flavor, is an amazing engine with a well-earned reputation for durability.

[warewolff]

GreyCoyote, can you reference that post? I searched but can't find it.

[GreyCoyote]

I should have been be more clear. The posts I am referencing are not on this board. Hopefully I'm not stepping outside the line by doing this, but a quick Google brought me this gem which would be a good starting point:

Dt 466e | BinderPlanet

The bottom line seems to be "it works", but you need to be very careful how you do it. Personally, I'd stick with normal diesel, but I do get the fact the urge to tinker is a powerful urge indeed.

[jazty]

The DT466e uses the same injector technology as the T444e/7.3l PowerStroke, if I'm not mistaken.
There are many successful cases of people running WVO through the 7.3l. In fact, it's quite a good engine design for WVO since there are no injector lines exposed. The high pressure lines to the injector are actually machined in the cylinder head, which means the fuel is properly heated by the time the WVO gets to the injectors. As long as the WVO is properly filtered; you do a proper purge with diesel on shut down; and make sure the engine is up to temperature before switching to WVO you should be in good shape.

I'm not sure if the DT466e also feeds the fuel through the cylinder heads (it probably does. the HEUI injector technology sort of requires it), but if it does it should be an equally good platform for clean WVO.

[Tango]

Personally...I try to avoid anything with an "E" on the end.

[warewolff]

Originally Posted by Tango

Personally...I try to avoid anything with an "E" on the end.

We will be putting some miles on it and locally the mechanical 466's are really hard to find with low miles. The 466E's I'm looking at are generally late 90's, under 150k miles, no leaks, no rust, with an asking price of less than $3k. I might have to bite the bullet and spring for the 466E instead. Thanks for the info everyone, please feel free to chime in with success or horror stories on a veggie conversion using electronic fuel injection...

[plfking]

Originally Posted by GreyCoyote

and climbs hills like a 13-ton leech.

[jazty]

Let us know how the purchase goes!

[Night Roller]

Not sure where your located, but...
I purchased my '95 Am Tran/International last fall at North Central bus sales in St. Cloud, MN (yes, the same place the slicer on the news) Checked their inventory, they have a '96 Am Tran with the DT 466 for $2700, & less than 200K miles.

[warewolff]

Just snagged a 99 dt466e with 100k miles for $2200!

[GreyCoyote]

Originally Posted by warewolff

Just snagged a 99 dt466e with 100k miles for $2200!

Score!!!!!! (I'm jealous. The core for that engine alone is almost 2k. Well done!)

[Nick_Brown]

I too have a DT466e. If anyone comes across a clear guide for WVO conversion can they please post a link?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[bessiethebus]

I also have a 2001 dt466e and am curious about the possibility of cutting the diesel with who. Does anyone have any experience with that as opposed to complete separate fuel system?