Anyone empty their fuel tank by adding a length of hose to the return line, diverting it into a fuel container and running the engine until dry? When doing purges it seems there's a fair volume coming out of the return line and it seems easier than siphoning or crawling underneath.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

That is certainly possible. It runs the risk of draining the entire fuel system, thus making it hard to re-start the engine after whatever work is done. It also risks sucking whatever dirt is at the bottom of the tank into the fuel injection system.

I found it was not difficult to simply clamp the rubber jumpers that run between the metal fuel lines and the tank, thus preventing fuel from escaping the lines. Then the jumpers can be removed from the tank. After the tank has been drained, it can be removed, leaving the clamped jumpers as plugs to keep fuel in the lines and the fuel injection system.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Agree on the former. Although, if the engine dies, and you don't attempt to restart it, usually you'll be fine. Just a small drop in fuel pressure would cause it to stall at idle.........the first sign of fuel starvation.

This approach is a hell of a lot easier then the "underneath" approach. Fuel goes all over the GD place............

The thought of "sucking dirt into the system" from the bottom of the tank is largely a fallacy. The supply hose is attached directly to the bottom of the tank via the strainer.........it's always drawing from the bottom of the tank.

You could disconnect the return line and pump the primer pump till the tank is empty into a container.... (might not be the easiest approach)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

All right if you have nothing else lined up for the week!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I think what I'll do, rather than filling a container, I'll just pull my other car alongside and feed the return line directly into its fuel tank.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

then jack up the car and give her a good port list and you wont get a fuel oil shower

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I just cleaned my in tank filter. I started by syphoning fuel from the tank like a thief in the night. There was not much left to drain from under the car.

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1982 240D Euro Stick 4

Your sig mentions an 1882 240, that's rare!

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83 SD

84 CD

After what I went through on the SD, I am coming up with a different approach on the TD.

I didn't think about it at the time, but in the middle of it LOGIC STRUCK.

If the fuel strainer is plugged up (and it is about 2" in length)... THERE IS 2" of fuel in the tank. Take it out and ... well you can guess the rest.

I am going to pump it dry from topside.

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

If the fuel strainer is plugged up...........there might be 12" of fuel in the tank...........if the vehicle won't run. If the vehicle runs, the fuel strainer is not completely clogged and you can drain it from the bottom.

But, I agree, pumping it dry from the top is a much cleaner (and drier) solution.

Smart move, but I think the strainer is more like 3 or 4 inches. We got little over 3 gallons out of mine after it was starving for fuel.

Could be wrong about the length as I have slept since last time I replaced the strainer.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Could be 3 or 4 inches... I couldn't see very well after all the diesel sprayed me everywhere

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

Switch supply and return lines and pump the tank dry by drawing thru the return. Anyone know how high the return outlet is from the bottom of the tank?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

See two previous postings.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.