E300 | w210 | water separator | FM100 ?
 

I'm interested in adding a water-separator to my E300.

Reason: 1. From all I've read over the part few years seems to point that diesel fuel likes/attracts water, hence there should be a system to separate this water from the fuel supply.... Also from what I've read the full flow filter on these OM606's may separate a small amount of water (be careful if you cross the filter separation threshold :-) )

2. (non-scientific assumption, rather more-so an observation) I've come to notice that when the engine starts nailing randomly nailing during highway travel and then I look at the fuel cap from the fuel tank, I can see condensation that has accumulated. Ex. this past Monday night I embarked upon a 200 mile journey (rount-trip). On the way up approx. 30 miles up I stopped at a local Hess and filled with approx. 10 gallons of their "juice". When I opened the cap there was no noticeable condensation on the cap. On my return trip I could hear the engine randomly nailing when under moderate load. Hearing that nailing can make you a little uneasy, especially at night. I pulled into a rest area and added the remaining bottle of my Redline Diesel Catalyst to the tank. When I reviewed the fuel cap, I saw a considerable amount of condensation (water droplets) all over the cap. The evening was rather brisk I might add, ambient air tmep was in the 40-50's. Proceeded with my journey and my nailing dissapeared.

Expection(s): I would like to locate a water separator to add to my fuel system with a main purpose to separate the water from the fuel. In addition I don't want a filtration unit that will add a lot of resistance to the fuel system and cause premature failure, leaving my stranded somewhere. I've read the TDI Forum and a thread by another member adding the Stanadyne FM100 unit...


Thoughts guys?

How about some HEET gas line treatment in the red bottle. That should work for diesel. I don't know what the red line stuff is also doing but IF water were the issue, HEET might work. In my SUV which is diesel and my 99 E300, I haven't noticed the issues you mentioned. Still, if you must, get something like a marine system and plumb it in. Personally, I think your problem is elsewhere

You must either be using really horrible diesel, or theres a problem with your car. At 195,000 miles I've never noticed any condensation or random nailing while driving, not even after short trips.

Condensation has no regard for miles driven.

I installed the Stanadyne FM100 on my '82 300D two years ago. No complications so far.

My filler cap has condensation on it at certain times of the year and was beginning to get a little rusty so I repalced it recently.

Never had any nailing while driving after a fillup.

Seems to me to be more condensation present after burning a tank or two of B99 but can't say that with certainty.

See if HEET will work. If it doesn't there is no water there.

HEET contains alcohol, right? That's a real no-no in a diesel FI system. :o

Red Line, Power Service and Primrose remove water from the system.

michakaveli, have you tried purchasing fuel elsewhere? Do you normally fill at just one place?

The "nailing" isn't normal. I've never experienced that on any Benz diesel we've owned.

The Red bottle is IsoHeet and it is cleared for diesel or so they say

What I'm saying is that even at high mileages I have never suffered condensation under the cap, short or long trips. The metal is completely rust-free.

Makes me think that some areas of the US have really dodgy diesel - you wouldn't be alone, I filled a petrol car up once at a motorway garage near me, the damn thing was stuttering for a good 50 miles after that fillup until I reached the next garage and topped up again.

It's equally likely that the culprit is a Deep South phenomenon known as "heat and humidity." Fuel depleted form the tank is replaced by warm, moist air. And condensation occurs in the tank, no matter how dry the fuel was.

Would there be that much condensation if you filled up? That is unless the cap is no longer airtight.