So i was changing my fuel filter and i saw the secondary fuel filter was black, so i assume that the fuel in the primary (spinn on) fuel filter was black, so i took it out to check it out, but it was not black, it was Clean even the paper filter in the can was still white?? So what makes a secondary fuel filter turn black... (the old filter was used for 6 months)

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

I do not remember which it is technically...some biologist corrected us the last time.
but it either algae or fungus....
Slimey bugs at the very least...

Actually the small "clear" filter is your primary filter. Fuel from that filter then goes into the lift pump and then through the canister filter and only then does the fuel flow into the injection pump. You might have an algae problem in your tank.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I always though the big one was the primary and the 90* angle one was the secondary..., algae problem you say?? Hmm...is there something that i can put to get rid of them

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

It could also be little bits of rubber from the fuel lines, or rust flakes ftom the tank.

Poke at the black stuff with a fingernail. See what it feels like.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

it feels slimy, has a very fine grainy feeling...

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

yes, there is stuff you can put into the tank.... marine stores sell it for sure... if you have trouble finding it in regular auto stores...
but you should read the archives on this....
if you just put it in the tank it may cause one or more of your filters to completely clog...
You may need to clean the screen filter in your tank...if you have one..I only know 123's...
your lines going to the front...both of them.... and replace your filters at the same time...
then you can keep some algaecide in the tank to slow future growth.... not really able to keep it from happening again because it is in the fuel you buy... then grows in your tank...

You need Startron in your tank.
It's an Enzyme that sets up a reaction that kills the fungus and reduces the
particulate matter into small enough bits to pass through the Fuel Filters and
be burned in the engine without harm.It will also eliminate future problems if
used in small maintenance doses.

West Marine ,some pep boys,walmart (sometimes)
OR call them direct.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

The small filter is primary and it is doing its job from clogging the secondary filter ( spin on ). What is the problem here? I really do not see any problem, the primary is stopping all the crap from 25 years old gas tank. Changing it out after 6 months seems normal schedule to me.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Also, If you just looked down inside the spin-on, IIRC thats the fuel outlet. The pleats on the outer layer inside (cant see without cutting open) are where the crap will be. My D-max has a filter with 2 elements inside. The inner one is always clean looking. The outer filter media is only dirty on the outside of the pleats. It gets this black crap on it too. Ive been it the tank of it and its pretty dang clean inside. The only thing i got was if i rubbed my finger across the bottom id get a lil darkness on my finger, just diesel sedament. My only guess to the black crap is from fuel lines and such.

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87' 300D, Currently undergoing an OM606 swap/build! SUPERTURBO!!!
03' 2500HD Dmax + goodies!
82' 300SD, parting out!
93' 300TE 4matic, parting out!
83' 240D Project Cheap Drive
89' 300E, parting out!
74' Datsun 510 wagon
88' RX7 10thAE, 13B track car build soon

Skippy~ As for perception: Drive what you like and can afford. Those who don't like it can supply vacuum to one of your components. LOL

If you need parts, I have some!

Does his car have a filter inside the tank ?

Can it finally stop up due to this growth ?

If it stopped the flow enough to strand the car would it do it out on the road or in his driveway ?

Have other persons had growth stop up their in tank filters enough to be a problem ? Would that be in the archives ?

I've had that gummy black crap clog up my filter a number of times. It even covered the fuel tank screen so I removed the tank. The tank was clean, but the screen was covered 100%.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Yes, the tank screen at the outlet of the tank can also plug up and strand you. An emergency solution on the road is to reverse the supply and return under the hood to get yourself going.

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

Yes to most of your questions.
There are some threads on prevention and methods to solve the problem.

Summary: You either pull the tank an d have it cleaned or use one of the chemical treatments to kill what is growing in the tank. After that carry some spare filters in the trunk and be prepared to change them on the side of the Road until all the dead body parts have passed out of your fuel tank.
If you are not having a problem now but just want to prevent it from happening follow the maint dose instructions on the Chemical you are going to use. However, I would still keep the extra filters in the trunk as even the maint dose of Chemical could loosen stuff in the Fuel Tank.

If you go to a boating forum you will find more info as it is more of a problem with them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Depends on who you ask.

In big diesels I've had, the primary filter is the one that does most of the filtering, regardless of the flow direction. Seems that Mercedes-US calls the first one in line the primary, even though it is not primary in filtration.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff