Was there any mention by the OP that the engine stalled with sufficient fuel remaining in the tank?

If so, then I missed it.

Ya I failed to mention that the car starts idling badly once it gets to about half a tank. When I fill it up, its absolutely fine. Right now im around a little less than a quarter tank. Going to run it down either today or tomorrow.

I think im going to do what Yak recommended and pull the gauge sender. My gauge does dance when the fuel gets low so I might as well remove it and clean the contact and see how much crud is on there. Anyone know where the fuel gauge sender is on a TD?

Im getting my motor mounts replaced as we speak! Im really excited. Hoping once that's fixed and the tank screen replaced, the car would ride smooth like a babys bottom.

Nevermind, I found a thread showing where the send is.

Siphoning from the top is not a bad idea. I have one of those siphoning pumps people use to do oil changes. The name of it is escaping me at the moment. Maybe I could use that. Not sure if the diesel will destoy it though.

If it's intended for motor oil, diesel won't hurt it. Just be careful to not spill in the car or it'll smell.

I didn't recall it was stumbling at the half-tank level, I thought it was lower.

How low are you running it prior to draining? At a half tank, I'd have at least three 5-gallon buckets (or fuel cans) with the plastic snap-tight lids. A large funnel and maybe some sort of fuel strainer in case you plan on reusing the siphoned, possibly gungy, fuel. Worst case speculation if it stumbles at 1/2 tank might mean looking for a new(old) tank or a cleaning service.

You have verified the supply and return lines are correctly connected? Supply is lower on the TD tank, return is higher.

BC - he didn't post the fuel level info in this thread. It was my recollection from when he got the car and had a long, expensive estimate from his mechanic. A low-/no- rust euro 300TD w. ABS (I think) in NYC. A rare creature, possibly the only one left alive...

Hey Yak! Your recollection is perfect. Impressive!

This is the fluid evacuator that I have. LINKIt's only 7.2 liters but might be enough to get rid of the final bits of diesel.

It stumbles at around half a tank but I am still able to keep it alive by being aggressive with the accelerator. Right now it's about half way between the empty and a quarter tank. I really gotta give it juice to keep it alive. Hoping to run it to empty tomorrow.

Yes the fuel lines are correct.

I tried removing the fuel gauge sender but I couldn't. It was way stuck on there. After I plugged it back in, the gauge jumped to the half way mark. I have amost 400 miles on this tank so I'm sure I don't have half a tank. Gonna maybe spray some penetrant tomorrow and see if I can remove it

Im obviously missing something here.

The issue is to drain the fuel tank ?

What is wrong with a good 'ol plain and simple siphon hose stuffed down the filler tube ??

LOL Didn't think of that...

I think I had a little less than 1/2 tank in there. The engine wouldn't run below 1/4 tank with the strainer clogged.

The fuel will start to trickle out as you loosen the strainer, but you don't get a significant amount until the strainer is free of the hole. Then it will start to gush, of course.

I got a new O-ring (from Lowe's -- it didn't come with one) and pre-installed it on the new strainer.

I wore rubber gloves and didn't try to "catch" the old strainer -- I just let it fall in the drain pan when it came loose. I had the new one in my other hand ready to thread in.

On the wagon the tank is flat and the strainer points straight down in pretty much the exact center of the tank. There's no hose coming out of it on a wagon. So it's basically almost like a drain plug. Naturally I put a big catch pan under it before I started.

I wish I'd thought to put the shop vac hose in the filler, though, that's really clever!

Nothing! I just didn't have a good place to put 10 gallons of diesel, and I was pinched for time, so I went the expedient but slightly messier route. ;)

Tennessee credit card?
 

I have a 7 ft clear hose just for such.

You know you can wrap an old sock around the opening where you insert the hose just enough to stop the air flow then blow pressure on the hose and let the pressure prime the siphon?

And they say I have nothing to contribute!

It's an evolving thread. E.g. Remove the strainer. Get the fuel out first. Maybe drive it to near empty, but tough to tell with a wonky gauge and rough idle from 1/2 and below; maybe run it down @ idle by feeding the return line. Strainer clogged, that might not work well. Maybe check the tank; etc etc

At the end of the story the strainer needs to come out and there'll probably be some quantity of fuel coming with it.

A siphon would work down to about how much left? If he's got about 400 miles on this tank then there shouldn't be too much left. What's a TD tank hold? 18, 20? He's probably burned 15 or more.

Ok im at the car right now. First things first... im trying to remove the damn sender and its not budging! What have you guys used before? Im using a channel locks and can not get this thing off. Just sprayed some pb blaster on it. God damn this thing is a little *****!

Your answer is right here in the link I posted in Post#5
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/2913905-post5.html

In this post#3, Brian Carlton gave the socket size.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/2913905-post5.html

But to save all that time wasting reading while in waist deep gunk. ;)

You will need a 1 13/16 socket or a 46mm socket.

the socket is a 3/4' drive, and by the time you drop that down to a 3/8' adapter, and insert your ratchet, it will be hitting on the axle or differential. not a lot of room. even tried with a swivel.
I do have a 3/4' breaker bar and still not enough room.

Finally after much agrivation, i got the floor jack under the diff. and remover the 4 13mm bolts and lowered the Diff. then plenty of room.

I think you are working of a TD, and may be different.

swing by your favorite sears and a craftsman socket is around $13. I got mine at a used tool store for a few $.

Charlie

This is what you need:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/300693-alternative-46mm-socket-td-fuel-sender.html

That's for the tank screen no? I want to remove the fuel gauge sender so I can maybe start removing the fuel from the top.