Advice needed please - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

miljohnj5 · #1 07-22-2008, 09:31 PM

I've posted on this forum a few times. I would greatly appreciate some assistance. I'm pretty whizzed off so please forgive spelling.
I left upstate NY for AZ on Monday. After a sick drive of 15.5 hours I finally arrived at my reserved hotel which mapquest said was 11 hours away, not 15.5. I went to the car this morning, the cap was off and sitting in the ledge of the fuel port door. I noticed kids hanging outside the night before and I think they dumped stuff in the tank. The car ran like absolute crap. I changed both fuel filters and it still ran like crap. I checked the new filters and they're almost totally clean. Tank filter?
I called the hotel about it and the guy said "yeah, we have a form for that" like it happens all the time or something. The hotel said they would look at video footage and tried to hang up before I even gave the description of my vehicle.

I'm stopped in St James MO right now. I hate to keep driving but I tried. I can only get to 30MPH on the thruway which is Min. 40MPH. I almost was hit twice by truck drivers and its not worth it.
Advice needed here please. Has anyone had the same experience? If the footage confirms it, then what? Restitution of an engine? Insurance for me (USAA) won't cover the cost of an engine I don't think. Call a good indie?Any suggestions for a good indie?
I'm at wits end. Suggestions please...

NJ300sdl · #2 07-22-2008, 09:38 PM

I understand that the feed and return lines can be reversed at the engine to bypass the tank filter.

Burnzy · #3 07-22-2008, 09:43 PM

Sorry about your troubles. For what it's worth, I would have your tank and fuel lines drained by a mechanic, fill it about 1/4 tank with diesel( I say 1/4 tank because if by chance you have to drain it again you won't go broke), change the filters and see what happens. Your filters should have captured any solids if any, and draining your tank and lines will eliminate any liquid contamination. I hope you get everything worked out!!

zeke · #4 07-22-2008, 09:44 PM

How much fuel is in the tank?

Maybe you could drain the tank into a bucket or something from the line exiting the tank strainer and refill if you think the diesel is affected?

kerry · #5 07-22-2008, 09:54 PM

To diagnose the problem, get a 2 liter soda bottle. Fill it with clean diesel. Insert the inlet and return fuel lines in the engine compartment into the bottle. (buy some sections of fuel hose at an auto parts store if necessary). Secure the bottle under the hood and drive the car on this fuel supply for a few miles. If it runs ok this way, if confirms the problem is in your fuel tank. If it is, you'll need to remove the fuel strainer and flush out the tank.

miljohnj5 · #6 07-22-2008, 09:55 PM

3/4 diesel in tank
I cannot reverse the lines myself, I wish I could.
How much would this cost? Can any mechanic do it?
What is the probability of it just being in the tank?

kerry · #7 07-22-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miljohnj5

3/4 diesel in tank
I cannot reverse the lines myself, I wish I could.
How much would this cost? Can any mechanic do it?
What is the probability of it just being in the tank?

Reversing the lines only requires a screwdriver and takes less than 2 minutes. If you pay a mechanic to do it, I'd recommend the mechanic try the diagnostic procedure I outlined. If you simply reverse the lines, you will end up with an inlet line without a screen filter on it. If they put something nasty in the tank, you could suck it up into the filters and engine.

The probability that the problem is only in the tank is quite high.

zeke · #8 07-22-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

To diagnose the problem, get a 2 liter soda bottle. Fill it with clean diesel. Insert the inlet and return fuel lines in the engine compartment into the bottle. (buy some sections of fuel hose at an auto parts store if necessary). Secure the bottle under the hood and drive the car on this fuel supply for a few miles. If it runs ok this way, if confirms the problem is in your fuel tank. If it is, you'll need to remove the fuel strainer and flush out the tank.

she knows what she is talking about. If you don't feel up to it, best get it to an indy to do it. The indy can drain the tank and replace the screen.

vstech · #9 07-22-2008, 10:14 PM

look over this pictorial
http://www.dieselgiant.com/injectorcleaning.htm
put some fresh diesel in the bottle and see how it drives...
really easy 3 feet of 5/16" hose, two bolts, a bottle at least 2 litres and some clean diesel fuel

JimmyL · #10 07-22-2008, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

If you simply reverse the lines, you will end up with an inlet line without a screen filter on it. If they put something nasty in the tank, you could suck it up into the filters and engine.

The probability that the problem is only in the tank is quite high.

These are excellent points!

Actros617 · #11 07-22-2008, 10:38 PM

Man that sucks especially when you have lots of fuel, I would hunt them down and teach them a lesson, now i read this thread i need to start locking my fuel cap... (quickly ran out and went to Lowe's to buy a LOCK)

kerry · #12 07-22-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Actros617

now i read this thread i need to start locking my fuel cap... (quickly ran out and went to Lowe's to buy a LOCK)

Your vacuum lock system automatically locks the fuel door if the system is functional. The OP's lock system must not be working.

miljohnj5 · #13 07-22-2008, 11:09 PM

ok guys.
By purging I could know whether the problem is in the tank for sure? I'll try it tomorrow and give a shop a call tomorrow and get an idea for draining and replacing the filter. I'll have to overnight a filter I guess and stay here in this hotel for a while.
I'm right next to the old route 66 so I'm sure there's many mechanics familiar with diesels. Get your kicks on route 66 eh? I just have to look for the good right now... Especially after the car repair bill I just paid to travel cross country safely. Now it looks like an injector is leaking too. I traveled 10 hours just to get here. I have to switch off my brain- hello sleeping pills

kerry · #14 07-22-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miljohnj5

ok guys.
By purging I could know whether the problem is in the tank for sure? I'll try it tomorrow and give a shop a call tomorrow and get an idea for draining and replacing the filter. I'll have to overnight a filter I guess and stay here in this hotel for a while.
I'm right next to the old route 66 so I'm sure there's many mechanics familiar with diesels. Get your kicks on route 66 eh? I just have to look for the good right now... Especially after the car repair bill I just paid to travel cross country safely. Now it looks like an injector is leaking too. I traveled 10 hours just to get here. I have to switch off my brain- hello sleeping pills

Screen should be capable of being cleaned. No need to order a new one. It's more likely that a return line is leaking rather than an injector.
If you really want to keep driving in redneck style, you could always rig up an alternative fuel supply using some lengths of fuel hose and fuel containers in the trunk or on the roof.