Check out this fuel pickup screen
 

out of my 79 240d. Is this algae? I bought the car three weeks ago and drove it from Maryland to North Carolina where I pulled the tank and replaced the pickup screen. I'll be driving it out to California in a couple of weeks.
This is a sweet car; I thought I loved my 300TD until I drove this.

No, it does appear to be fungus however. ;) If not that, its some sort of dirty fuel sludge or something. Clean er' off and you'll be all set. :D

its alge/fungus... and thats a ***** to take care of...

Run some bioside through it, and be prepaired to replace many fuel filters, and possiably the lines...

~Nate

It looks like algae to me. I suggest you add a half ounce of algacide every time you fill the fuel tank; this will prevent growth of algae in your fuel tank. I get algacide from a boating supply store here in San Diego. It's not very expensive and it's good preventive maintenance.

I think the screen has been replaced already, so that is handled. However, you will want to treat with a biocide of some sort, and get some fuel filters to carry around with you. Then drain the tank again and clean the screen after awhile.
Enjoy that 240. I hope it is a standard, my future dream car... Finding a standard 240D could save me from a 5 speed volvo 240 some day... (although I would enjoy both):D

LOOK OUT dsl4evr,
You are in danger of getting the fungus vs algae lecture. Don't say I didn't warn you.......

I hesitate..but
 

I had months of algae/fungus problems with my 300D. I used boicide and it didn't go away until I used StarTron Diesel additive...It works via enzymes and since I used it I haven't had to change filters once. Also available at Boat supply stores...like West Marine

http://www.starbrite.com/prodcatalog.cfm?ProductCat=Automotive&ProductSCat=Gas%20%26%20Diesel%20Additives%20%28Auto%29

ROFL, lecture time
 

Algae/Fungus fixation...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/138733-algae-fungus-fixation.html

:GRIN:
Have a great day

What you have is a microbial growth that occurs when diesel fuel sits in a tank with excessive air space and the heat changes produce condinsation and provides a breeding ground for the mocrobial spors that feed on hydrocarbon fuels commonly know as "diesel algae".

This information is courtesy of startron.

i dropped the tank in blondie then used 5 qts of iso propayl alcholal to rinse the inside. each rinse came out cleaner. put in a new o ring and cleaned the filter and it has stayed clean. it is also a good time to take out the fuel sender and clean it so it goes up and down nicely.

Since pulling the tank I've driven 1100 miles and have run it down to two gallons in
 

the tank and the primary filter is only showing a little contamination. I'll put in an additive first chance I get. The crazy thing is, this car was still running fine with all this crap in the screen. However, the primary filter clogged whenever I got below half a tank.

It is a 4 speed 240d, and having the manual tranny seems to make all the difference in the world.

Impressive
 

This is a heavy truck tank filter.
It is included because it is an impressively disgusting example of the issue.

http://dieselcraft.com/siteadmin/files/tank-sludge.jpg


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Recycled for new members
 

Recycled for new members

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I have put a half gallon of gas in my diesel tank when filling up about once every six months. It kills the Bacteria/Algae/Fungus (take your pick).

I would bet the tank screen in my parts car looks like one of these. The PO ran anything that would burn in it :eek: