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  #16  
Old 11-18-2009, 12:45 AM
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Oh, the low fuel level in the filter...

I noticed that when I initially decided to flip~flop the hoses for the 1st time.. my spidey senses were tingling and telling me that the strainer was plugged. When I did that, drove for a bit, and flipped the lines and changed filers (see my previous post) I noticed that I was able to fill the filter up via the primer to where it should be.. mine IS full of air again tho... so I can't assure you that it's based on my theory of the IP creating a lil vacuum effect due to a restricted strainer, causing less fuel volume in the filter....

Sixto.. the tank vent is basically a one~way valve on a rubber line under the car, center rear, up by the tank, right??

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  #17  
Old 11-18-2009, 12:47 AM
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i will try sixto's test of the fuel filler cap and reverse the lines to try and clear the strainer temporarily. how do i get to the strainer? so you replace them or just clean them? should i still put some startron in if i do all of the above? or will the chemicals from blended fuel do the trick?

the learning curve is steep but i am wearing my hiking boots!!!
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  #18  
Old 11-18-2009, 12:48 AM
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Re: tank vent = you'll have to wait for someone with a 123 to answer that.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #19  
Old 11-18-2009, 12:52 AM
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The strainer is at the bottom of the tank above the passenger side axle. It's held by a 46mm nut. There's a rubber hose extending from the center of the strainer to the metal fuel supply line under the car. The tank will drain completely when you remove the rubber hose so do this with the tank as empty as you can get it and have a big container ready, wear eye protection and have necessary precautions close by.

Someone mentioned an o-ring or some type of seal for the strainer so consider having a new one on hand as well.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #20  
Old 11-18-2009, 12:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chelsea's dad View Post
i will try sixto's test of the fuel filler cap and reverse the lines to try and clear the strainer temporarily. how do i get to the strainer? so you replace them or just clean them? should i still put some startron in if i do all of the above? or will the chemicals from blended fuel do the trick?

the learning curve is steep but i am wearing my hiking boots!!!
The Tanks Strainer can most often be cleaned (after the TAnk is drained)but you do need an new O-ring when you assemble it.
For more details
Repair Links
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/forumdisplay.php?f=82
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf
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  #21  
Old 11-18-2009, 12:59 AM
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Hmm.. Biodiesel!

Sixto.. thanks for suggesting using bio for cleaning... didn't really think of that! I DO plan on using Bio/WVO at some point, but I'm still getting this thing road-ready... The ball joints are shot, brakes are soft, and let's not talk about that lovely HVAC system.. LOL

I did get lucky tho... got an entire setup for the front end on ebay.. upper arms w/ ball joints and bushings, lower bjs and bushings, tie ends, sleeves, center link, idler arm kit, torsion rod bushings, sway links etc.. basically everything but a steering dampener, shocks and springs... brand new...

$200 shipped...

Now, I just need springs.. someone put lowering springs on this thing.. I looked.. they're NOT factory worn ones. Anyways, back to the sludge issues at hand...
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  #22  
Old 11-18-2009, 01:00 AM
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A new strainer is ~$20 and an o-ring is ~$1 from Phil through the Fastlane link in the Buy Parts tab at the top of the page.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #23  
Old 11-18-2009, 10:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvmytat2s View Post
I noticed that when I initially decided to flip~flop the hoses for the 1st time.. my spidey senses were tingling and telling me that the strainer was plugged. When I did that, drove for a bit, and flipped the lines and changed filers (see my previous post) I noticed that I was able to fill the filter up via the primer to where it should be.. mine IS full of air again tho... so I can't assure you that it's based on my theory of the IP creating a lil vacuum effect due to a restricted strainer, causing less fuel volume in the filter....

Sixto.. the tank vent is basically a one~way valve on a rubber line under the car, center rear, up by the tank, right??
That's going to depend on what 123 you have, please put that in your avatar or signature. That will help those that are trying to help you.
That will also depend on early or late model 123's, #51 or #73 or #73a.
Attached Thumbnails
Clogged Fuel Filter Symptom Questions-fuel-tanks-001.jpg   Clogged Fuel Filter Symptom Questions-fuel-tanks-002.jpg  
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  #24  
Old 11-18-2009, 11:04 PM
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Updated and informed!

Thanks for posting those schematics! I figured out how to set up the avatar/signature just now, so that should help people help me!

Now, I have the 1st illustration that your Parts Catalog shows... the vertical tank.. I see the vent valve in the pic, but with I'm seeing off of mine is WAY different. I'm going to guess that someone replaced mine with a cheapie 1-way valve from who knows what... but the book shows that it could possibly be a different design. I miss having a BMW, MB, Bentley and Rolls Royce EPC in front of me every day.....
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  #25  
Old 11-19-2009, 09:44 PM
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STARTRON UPDATE...

I let the full tank sit for almost two days, then started driving it today.. my strainer plugged up really bad... fast. Flip-flopped the lines, and found the primary just about dry and FULL of...... jello.

So, reversed the lines real quick, and popped on a new primary... ran decent, but the strainer feels blocked up again, as the filter isn't pure muck yet...

All this within 25 miles.

I can't say Startron is bad... I'm beginning to theorize that someone in the past dumped a bunch of crap in the tank, assuming the car could simply run on whatever... WVO and WMO, and I'm getting what looks like dirty oil residue too. I think that the Startron knocked a lot of gunk loose at the least, which means it did break down it's bonding abilities. I'm going to use the other two bottles for maintainence........

I ordered the new strainer (I'll clean the old one and keep it as a backup that I'll probably NEVER need) and o-ring for the morning. Hopefully, I can put it on the lift in the evening, and empty the FULL TANK out.... and do something.

SO... I have this degreaser that's concentrated... it's EVIL stuff.. It's a 20:1 ratio. I'm thinking of putting a gallon of this stuff in the tank and filling it with water... letting it sit for an hour, and re-draining. Anyone know of anything I should worry about, in regards to water left in the tank or anything?
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"Bane" 1983 300D with 197K


(I'll re-name it Lazarus when it's done being evil and milking my wallet dry with repairs).


And in loving memory of my now~gone 1985 AMG 1000SEL that was mono white...


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  #26  
Old 11-20-2009, 12:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvmytat2s View Post
I let the full tank sit for almost two days, then started driving it today.. my strainer plugged up really bad... fast. Flip-flopped the lines, and found the primary just about dry and FULL of...... jello.

So, reversed the lines real quick, and popped on a new primary... ran decent, but the strainer feels blocked up again, as the filter isn't pure muck yet...

All this within 25 miles.

I can't say Startron is bad... I'm beginning to theorize that someone in the past dumped a bunch of crap in the tank, assuming the car could simply run on whatever... WVO and WMO, and I'm getting what looks like dirty oil residue too. I think that the Startron knocked a lot of gunk loose at the least, which means it did break down it's bonding abilities. I'm going to use the other two bottles for maintainence........

I ordered the new strainer (I'll clean the old one and keep it as a backup that I'll probably NEVER need) and o-ring for the morning. Hopefully, I can put it on the lift in the evening, and empty the FULL TANK out.... and do something.

SO... I have this degreaser that's concentrated... it's EVIL stuff.. It's a 20:1 ratio. I'm thinking of putting a gallon of this stuff in the tank and filling it with water... letting it sit for an hour, and re-draining. Anyone know of anything I should worry about, in regards to water left in the tank or anything?
I think the Starron works but has limits as to how many of the dead Fungas bodies it can break apart. If there is enough of them they are still going to plug up your Filters.

I would worry more about leaving some of the degreaser in the tank than the water. Water is a common contaminant in Diesel Fuel.
You Seconday filter has some room to handel a small amount of water.
Besides if you do not pull the Tank out there is no choice.

Maybe someone can answer if there is any Diesel Fuel Addatives (without starting a pro or con on addatives War) that would help process out the little bit of water that might be in the Tank after cleaning.
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Last edited by Diesel911; 11-20-2009 at 01:04 AM.
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  #27  
Old 11-22-2009, 07:50 PM
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H2O where it don't belong (In your fuel tank)

IF,you've already got the Fuel Strainer out of the Bottom of the Tank...
Take the Fuel Level Sensor out of the Top of the Tank...
AND using a Hair Dryer (or more Heat intense "Heat Gun") blow hot air through the Tank EVAPORATING ALL the left over cleansing water.

SAFETY DISCLAIMER !!!!
Y'all Gasoline/Petrol Burners
DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS "DRYING PROCEDURE" EXPLOSION and DEATH as RESULT!!!

Almost ALL "Additives" that claim H2O dispersal use ALCOHOL as an active agent.
[Then you're dealing with the whole Micro-Encapsulated water corrosion issue]
Injection Pumps and Injectors HATE Alcohol.
(No Lubricity and it destroys the natural Lubricity of the Diesel Fuel.)
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  #28  
Old 12-02-2009, 12:20 AM
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The MOTHER of all clogs!!

Ok... well, I spent my Thanksgiving Day cleaning out the fuel tank of it's gunk. I drained the tank (Which was full, of course) into a 20 gallon tub, and the fuel was brownish green... extremely murky looking. This fuel was only a few days old! I'm assuming that the Startron killed a bunch of stuff, and the fuel was full of it's carcasses..

Since it was draining slow, and I had a brand new strainer, I jammed a rod up into the strainer and ripped through the screen... making a HUGE diffference in draining time. (The original strainer was seized in the tank, so trying to pull it while it was still dumping out diesel was just a stupid idea).

After it was good and drained, I used vise grips to grab the bung of the strainer, and a bar to help twist it out.. it broke free, and I got to take a peek in the tank... and looked at it... OMG.



There was an inch and a half thick layer of gunk coating the inside of the tank!! NO CHEMICAL WOULD CLEAR THAT OUT!! I stuck my finger into it... and it was like silicon/jello/alien guts. The only answer was to pull the tank.

Tank removal is a breeze, so I had it right out. Upon inspection through the level sender hole, I could see that the entire bottom of the tank was covered, and the sides too. I used rods to scrape and stir, but the stuff was bound pretty strong, and was pretty fiberous in texture.. I knocked a small piece out from the side of the tank, which is only a small representation of what was in there.



I broke it up as well as I could, but realized that I needed a power washer. A friend and I spent 45 minutes blasting it with a 10hp power washer.. he sprayed in, and I pulled the chunks out by hand.. it felt like gutting a pumpkin. Needless to say, I filled a gallon bucket with the stuff that you see in the above picture. We got the tank spotless inside, then I used a heat gun to steam out the tank with the remaining water inside for a good hour.. the tank was almost too hot to touch when I went to re-install it. I put in the new strainer before replacing the tank, slapped it all in (Almost forgot the level sender!) and poured in 5 gallons of fresh, clean diesel from the station across the street. I popped in a new primary, and headed to fill the tank. I put in a bottle of seafoam, and drove to moms for dinner... and it ran great! An hour later, I got microwaved turkey day fixin's!


I didn't get a pic of the rest of the gunk, but I don't think you wanted to see that anyways. I'd say that I had the worst case of growth in a tank ever!!

I'd say that Startron did help a lot, but I obviously had a situation that no chemical could cure.. Gauging how the fuel looked to be full of dead stuff when I drained it, I'd say Startron does the job. I just had the mother of all infections!!!
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"Bane" 1983 300D with 197K


(I'll re-name it Lazarus when it's done being evil and milking my wallet dry with repairs).


And in loving memory of my now~gone 1985 AMG 1000SEL that was mono white...


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  #29  
Old 12-02-2009, 03:57 PM
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I've never seen pump Diesel do that. That looks more like animal fat remnants.

Sixto
87 300D
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  #30  
Old 12-02-2009, 03:57 PM
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I've never seen pump Diesel do that. That looks more like animal fat remnants.

Sixto
87 300D

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