I have narrowed my fuel problem to the tank strainer. I have about a 1/2 a tank of fuel in the tank. What tools do I need to get to the strainer and what is the best way to clean it?

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http://www.libertyagrifuels.com
1984 300D Turbo
1980 300SD Sold
1983 300TD Sold
Dagger 16 ft. Legend Canoe (for the weekends)
Marin Northside Trail Mtn. Bike

To get to the strainer is pretty simple. The strainer itself takes a 46mm socket, or 1 13/16. I have a 3/4 drive one, with an adapter so I can use my 1/2 drive ratchet. I got a new output line and strainer when I did mine, but that's neither here nor there. 1/2 tank is going to make a big mess, you need to drain it almost completely. Here's how I did it. Jack up right side of car only, and place jack stands. Remove fuel tank fill cap. Place pan under area where fuel is going to drain. Remove output line, and start draining fuel into pan. Go shopping or something to waste an hour. Come back, remove strainer. Get soaked in diesel. Use some diesel and toothbrush to clean strainer. Reinstall. I think I posted pics before, you should be able to find them. Good luck.

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79 MB 280 SEL Euro 133k
77 MB 450SL 154k
05 Mustang GT Vert (3) 104k
12 TSX Wagon Tech (66k) (192k)
06 Subaru Outback base (135k) 164k
16 Acura MDX (109k) 111k
18 Silverado 2500 LTZ Midnight (212) 56k
97 Ford Ranger 163k
11 RAV4 154k
01 Escape 173k
04 Honda Pilot 292k
1967 Mustang (Resto Project)
1968 Mustang (Parts Bin)
00 Ford Ranger 124k

thanks a bunch. I am going to treat the tank w/ stratron. Do you think I should do this b/4 or after I clean the strainer?

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http://www.libertyagrifuels.com
1984 300D Turbo
1980 300SD Sold
1983 300TD Sold
Dagger 16 ft. Legend Canoe (for the weekends)
Marin Northside Trail Mtn. Bike

If you have fungus, it will not be the last time you remove your strainer. treat it first, I'd say- then, if possible, do some driving- whippin $#!tties or whatever, to loosen everything up. then drain.
repeat. repeat. repeat. 'til clean.

or pull the tank and have it steamed.

or- on my TD i cut the strainer off the plug, and carried many extra inline filters. at one point, I could not get 50 miles w/out changing one. now, 15k later, I get 2500+, and pretty much change them on princaple.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

That's the hard way.

Kerry did it the easy way:

Disconnect the fuel return line under the hood and connect a length of hose to it. Run the hose into a container (or, in his case another diesel). Start the engine. Wait about 15 minutes until the engine stalls.

Now go underneath and R & R the strainer.

Fill the tank and use the primer pump to fill the secondary completely.

Start the engine.


As mentioned, you'll need to be below the 1/4 mark (maybe 1/8) if you want to use a single five gallon container. Otherwise, you'll need two of them.

Never thought about using the pump to empty the tank. Done that on cars with electric pumps, dont know why I didn't think about that with a mech one.

Don't feel bad.........I covered myself in fuel as well...........

That is a fine idea. It makes perfectly clear sense but I too would have never thought about it. How much Stratron should I use?

__________________
http://www.libertyagrifuels.com
1984 300D Turbo
1980 300SD Sold
1983 300TD Sold
Dagger 16 ft. Legend Canoe (for the weekends)
Marin Northside Trail Mtn. Bike

read the bottle. it all depends on what brand/type biocide you use.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Don't know how much clearence there is to get to the strainer on a W123, but if it's anything like on my w126 there isn't a lot of room to work with. This might help. Since most sockets this size are 3/4" you need a adapter to go from 3/4 to 1/2. With the adapter, you don't have much room left to get a breaker bar or ratchet on. My solution was to not fully insert the adapter into the socket and then use a 3/4" wrench on the adapter to turn the socket. Hope this might help some of you.

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'83 240D (for sale)
'84 Harley FXRT
'85 300CD Turbo (Sold)
'85 500SEC (for sale)
'04 Dodge Dakota Quad
'06 Harley FLHTCI
'97 SL320

..............18" pipe wrench on the OD of the 3/4" socket...........no adaptor.........no socket wrench...........no clearance problems...........

Ok I just want to be sure what you are referring to Brian. Your are saying the tank strainer needs a 3/4 in socket and I need to use a 18 in pipe wrench to take the strainer on and off w/ the 3/4 in socket for my W123??

__________________
http://www.libertyagrifuels.com
1984 300D Turbo
1980 300SD Sold
1983 300TD Sold
Dagger 16 ft. Legend Canoe (for the weekends)
Marin Northside Trail Mtn. Bike

The strainer needs a 1 13/16" socket (46mm). The socket is 3/4" drive. It's huge. To drive it with a 1/2" ratchet requires an adaptor. The length of the socket, adaptor, and ratchet gets too long and you'll hit the drive axle.

So, I just use a pipe wrench on the OD of the socket.

If you want to risk getting lucky.........attempt to remove the strainer by putting a wrench on the fitting for the fuel line. If the fuel line fitting is very tight, the strainer will rotate. But, if not.........you're stuck and cannot finish the job.

Read post #2, that explains the size you need. Brian was refering to
a 3/4in drive socket. not a socket for a 3/4 in bolt head.

I have read post where the supply and return lines have been reversed
when the strainer is plugged up. could do this to use up the fuel until
the reserve light comes on.

I have an extra tank in my trunk (NO not for WVO) it`s when we go on
long trips so I don`t have to stop for fuel as often.

I have them hooked into a Y connection, and wanted to add a ball valve
to shut off the added tank. I ran the fuel down to the reserve light, and
drove about another 50 miles or so.

When I drained the fuel, I let it run out of the hose into a container. It
runs out slow, so no mess was made. I used Vice grips to clamp off the
hose, and drained ea tank seperately. I had 7 gallons drained with the
2 tanks.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

There is really no risk involved. If the strainer turns when the wrench is applied to the hose fitting, you can stop fretting over the 46mm socket, etc. If it doesn't turn, nothing has been lost.

If you still don't want to fret over the big socket, just buy a new fitted hose (you could probably use a new one anyway) and install it with some permanent thread locker. Then the strainer is almost guaranteed to come out when you attempt to loosen the hose fitting.