Are these filters specific to Mercedes, or can you get them at auto parts stores like Auto Zone?

Thanks for the info!

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Aklim,

OK, your fuel filters are different than mine. I certainly prefer mine, though. I prefer more the older types that had a drain on the filter case and a replaceable core. Even the primary filter was inside a little can and only the core was replaced.

If U get bad fuel, It won't matter how new your filters are. I got bad fuel in CO one time and it plugged 3 filters in 200 miles. Since I always carry extras, I didn't get stuck on the road.

I think anybody driving a car should know how to fix simple things on the road. My wife has already changed filters.

U are right, most of the time I change filters on the road during a long cross country trip. I had a fungus problem one time and it still seems to reoccur sometimes. Its no problem to me. I usually get to a rest stop so I can wash my hands instead of using the hand cleaner I also carry. If U get bad fuel like I did, and didn't have tools or filters U will be stuck along the road. See how much that costs.

I always carry enough tools, spare parts and filters to do simple fixes on the road so I don't get stuck there.

Fiter efficiency is measured by the size of particles it will pass, not the amount of fuel it will pass. Pass larger particles: less efficient.

U can't tell if a filter is clogged by looking at it. U have to flow test it.


P E H

This is the kind of thing I want to learn. I don't I'll ever get into any in-depth type of mechanical stuff. I just want to know how to fix common problems such as this.

Maybe there sould be an entire section on the forum for simple, basic problems like this. That would be a real boon to people like me.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Actually, there is an indicator in the instrument cluster that will show you when the secondary filter is clogged.

I gladly replace anything that looks like it might consider thinking about failing anytime soon. I probably average $2-3K per year on maintenance/repair for my car alone. That's the only way I know to keep my cars as reliable as new. The other option is to write a $60K check for a new car that I wouldn't like as much, anyway. I drive about 40K miles per year (all away from home) and I just don't have time to deal with the "drive it until it breaks" approach. If I couldn't trust my car to work perfectly when I need it, I would be driving a new one. The cost of filters, etc. is trivial.

BTW, I hate to admit it, but my family probably spends more than $100 at starbucks every week. As I said, this is very silly.

Cute.

I actually replace mine periodically because I don't want to deal with the possibility of them collecting water and letting any into the IP, very cheap insurance. I also carry spares just in case I get bad fuel on the road someplace.

Just order them here or go to the dealer and buy a handful, they are very cheap:

http://catalog.worldpac.com/mercedesshop/sophio/quote.jsp?clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&cookieid=1CQ0J3JZ428W0TRPNK&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&partner=mercedesshop&year=1984&product=E1000-11999&application=000016822

I like the clear ones here better than the opaque ones that the dealer now sells.

X2 get the clear ones so you can see whats going on inside.


I had a couple that were leaking air like crazy and if they were not clear I wouldn't have known that, and I would have went nuts trying to track down the air leak.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

That's pretty much my approach, also. I woud rather deal with things on my terms rather than chance something failing at the worst possible time. (When I get finished with this post, I am going to take advantage of this 75 degree December afternoon to repack my front wheel bearings, which I know could go another 10k miles.)

Unfortunately, that approach is just not viable when it comes to fuel filters. One bad tank of fuel will clog a new filter just about as fast as one that has been in service for years. Sort of like running over a nail will flatten a new tire just a quick as an old one. All the preventive maintenance in the world won't help. Carrying a spare will.

Your wife, maybe. I don't trust my wife to get me anything mechanical. When her car dies, the first person to get a call would be me. Don't get me wrong, she is a wonderful NP. She sucks at anything mechanical or electrical. If I wasn't there, she would have it towed to a service facility. If she tries to fiddle with it, I will end up having to not only fix it but fix the mess she created. I have found it easier and way less frustrating to fix it myself instead of having her try anything.

My thinking is that if I change the filters at the proper intervals, it will lessen the chances of me having to do a roadside repair in ill weather or whatever. Now, if you get a batch of bad fuel, that won't help. If I do maintenance, I will be changing the filters at a time of my choosing instead of it one day, clogging up in the middle of nowheres and I have to get fixing. You obviously don't mind doing a roadside repair. I'd rather not especially when it concerns my having to run out of whatever I am doing to fix it for the wife.

Won't flow volume decrease as the filter gets more and more items stuck in the mesh?

I know that you can look at a filter and give it a SWAG as to whether it is clogged or not but you are right, you cannot know for certain till you flow test it. That is why I prefer to just change it and forget about it. $10 every 30K or 60K isn't that much, IMO when you are thinking about the inconvenience of doing a roadside repair.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

For which car?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

One bad tank will clog the filters. However, won't they get piled up with crud over time? A little here, a little there and soon we have a lot of crud and less fuel flow?

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

That's great. Thanks.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Charlie..Where in Houston are you? I live out in the UNwild West..lol..I am looking for a 63-67 bug myself for fall/spring fun..Give me a shout brother!!

Dakota

1981 300d W123 193 K

I think he's talking about any car with a speedometer.