So, for anyone following along, I have a bug problem clogging my pre filter.
After just 20 miles, it would look like this;
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qq4UeN3VKN8bQ3gGaLsOyA?feat=directlink
I was told to either pull the tank and clean it, or add chemicals and replace filters as they plugged.
I opted for the fuel additives, but I cannot be troubled to go driving around changing filters. I would prefer to fix it and have it nice and reliable before I set off on my journey. Noone could say just how many times I would get a plugged filter and so i came up with an idea to get and replace plugged filters in my driveway.
I took a fuel pump designed for a refrigeration unit on a semi trailer, and looped it with a pre filter onto the cars supply and return lines. It is designed to run 24/7 and it is rated at 30 gallons per hour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECfzMU3Catc
This pump has a built in removable 80 micron screen, then I had the stock Mercedes prefilter. I don't know its micron rating and I couldn't find it on the web. I let it run for 40 hours, circulating fuel from the tank. I figured 40 hrs * 30 gal per hour is 1200 gallons filtered, divided by 23 gal (tank size??) So theoreticly simulates having gone through 52 tanks of fuel.
After that time here is a close up of the screen in the pump, there were also little black specks in the screen.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pQFtpB735S1jZ1PoeWywLQ?feat=directlink
Here is the prefilter, Doesn't look like anything in there...
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u8zlQAs4s4KTyCIyyvojNw?feat=directlink
Now I will go out and hook the lines and filters where they belong, and see how it goes. I think it is relatively cleaned out. Any further advice, opinions or comments are welcome.