E300TD air in fuel lines - no start - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diesel911 · #16 12-03-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckman999

I replaced the prefilter and Oring today. I can't imagine the Oring being bad on the prefilter that was in there...it was in there pretty good and the ring looked fine. Filter was pretty sooty looking though.

I parked it nose up, but it's full of gas again. I was hoping for some definitive "yup, theres a bad oring" when I pulled it out. But nope. The line going to the prefilter was in there pretty snug as well.

A sooty Prefilter could be significant. The soot has to be coming from somewhere.

Makes you wonder what might be on the Fuel Tank Screen or inside of the Secondary filter.

muleears · #17 12-05-2010, 05:36 AM

Don't let the condition of the O ring fool you. I'm with Diesel911. My former Indy spent $700 of my money to not find a bad pre-filter O ring (which I found 10 min. after getting it back home). My indy had replaced the pre-filter O ring with one that was too large and it was not sealing. Be sure you replace it with the MB O ring for that filter. It isn't a standard size O ring.

The "soot" in your filter may point to a fungus in your tank. If the tank screen is getting clogged it may have put extra vacuum on your fuel system which brought the air leak to your attention.

KarTek · #18 12-05-2010, 07:41 AM

I'll throw out a recent experience for me that may be related:

In the last few weeks, my car started running out of fuel at around the 1/4 tank mark. Everything looked good on top so I pulled the tank screen. It was completely obscured by a black gel that was covering the bottom inch or so of the tank.

Since that time, I've started treatments with "Startron" marine fuel tank cleaner as well as filling up the tank at the 1/2 way point. No problems since. In a few weeks, I'll inspect and replace the fuel filters again since the dissolved biologicals will eventually clog them.

Duckman999 · #19 12-13-2010, 01:38 PM

Car did it again this AM. Mind you it's been perfect since I last reported fixing it.

1/2 tank of gas, crank crank crank nothing. Tried it 3-4 times, tried holding it over. Battery is weak now. It's 22deg and blowing outside (wind chill in the low teens) which isn't helping the battery at all.

I didn't get a chance to pop the hood and inspect this AM, was dark and cold. I'll take a peek at it this afternoon when I get home....but I suspect that it's got to be leaking air in from somewhere else now.....

I suppose I also need to order a few more pre-filters and O rings...and some biocide of some sort. I searched the site for pics of prefilters...mine wasn't covered/slimy/etc...was just dirty looking....perhaps the shade of used motor oil.

TMAllison · #20 12-13-2010, 11:34 PM

I once had to crimp the hold down washer on the pre-filter/fuel line 32 to get it to seal after changing the oring. Age had probably reduced the angle such that it wasnt putting enough downward pressure to seal up.

You wouldnt be the first person to get one that had a manufacturering flaw or minute crack in it either.

Duckman999 · #21 12-14-2010, 12:14 PM

Tried this AM(16 deg). Batt is completely shot. I'll get a new one/install/report back

Duckman999 · #22 12-14-2010, 05:23 PM

New battery in

Crank crank crank cough cough...sputter sputter....pedal pedal pedal...sputter sputter...vroom.

Running again.

I noticed that the prefilter has a minute amount of diesel around it, and that if I press down on it it will squeeze down a bit more. I guess it's time to bend the bracket a little bit and see if that will keep it sealed.

I'm assuming now since the tank is half, I probably have some fungus on the tank filter that on an incline, with the increased "drag" on the pump trying to suck through the filter, that it's pulling in air easier?

What do I do if bending the bracket down doesn't keep the air out?

Olivier · #23 12-14-2010, 06:21 PM

As Kartek, the tank strainer can be really clogged... Mine was a mess.

nhdoc · #24 12-15-2010, 08:19 AM

Your strainer may very well be a problem but I don't believe it is THE source of the trouble you are having. The fact that you can get the car to start means that with enough cranking you are refilling the system with fuel after it has lost its prime. A clogged strainer will not cause the system to lose prime; only an (air) leak will, period. If it is not at the pre-filter it may be at one of the connections under the hood or even a fuel hose itself.

vstech · #25 12-15-2010, 08:36 AM

good tech member winmutt lives in atlanta I think, send him a PM and see if he's available to assist ya!

bustedbenz · #26 12-15-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckman999

Tried this AM(16 deg). Batt is completely shot. I'll get a new one/install/report back

Is the battery several years old or something? Seems like replacing instead of just recharging is overkill unless you know for a fact it's near to the end of its life.

Duckman999 · #27 12-15-2010, 02:50 PM

It was 3 years old, but the temps in the teens is what wasn't helpIng

I need to investigate the prefilter holder more. Like I said, I can press down on the prefilter and get some fuel to show itself around the outside, so I'm thinking the hold down clamp isn't putting enough pressure on the prefilter to seal the oring.

TMAllison · #28 12-15-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckman999

Like I said, I can press down on the prefilter and get some fuel to show itself around the outside,

That sounds a lot like someone forgot to install a oring under the rim of the pre-filter......

Duckman999 · #29 12-15-2010, 06:20 PM

Well, I was the last person to touch it, but I did install the ring

It's nit like I can push it down very far at all, just a smidge.

TMAllison · #30 12-15-2010, 08:34 PM

Then concentrate on the prefilter & oring, hold down clamp and fuel line connecting to the top of the prefilter. Something is bad there....