just got an 83 300TD. Prior owner apparently ran it on biodiesel (homemade I believe) for some amount of time. within the first 100 miles of driving my prefilter was jammed up (see pic). i drained tank and tank screen seemed not so bad. replaced with new fuel and pre-filter looked the same after another 100 miles. afte reading some posts i assumed it was algae or fungus due to the biodiesel. i dropped the tank today, but looking inside, i'm wondering if its really an algae problem or if its rust?

i attached a picture. my understanding from prior posts was that rust isn't usually a problem because of the parafin in the diesel? but sure looks redish in there?

anyways, wondering if you think this is worth a try at cleaning or if i should just get a new one? was sort of a pain to get out and would hate to try and clean it only to have it jam with rust again...


::edit:: wow. after looking around i can't even find a new tank to buy. i'm horrible at googling but the only place i found had them for $1400!

Attached Thumbnails

   

Auto salvage yards.

clean it, take it to a radiator shop and have it boiled.....get some that purple degreaser and a pressure washer....if its not tar....should be easy to clean

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Before ever dropping a tank on one of these I would always use a biocide to kill any bacteria. Once treated the bacteria should come through the filters. That picture does not look bad to me (the inside of the tank). But since you have it off you should get it cleaned out.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

keep in mind, if there is rust, there was water. if water sat in the fuel lines, they are suspect for the condition as well...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

just to be sure.....you said 300TD, did you mean a wagon?

If you meant 300D, sedan, then I have a good used tank.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

If it is a wagon I know where you can get a good tank for $700 and the rest of the 85 wagon comes with it

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Moss Gate Bed & Breakfast
1985 300 TD GG done in by a red light runner
1984 300 CD Sold
2008 Titian
2000 Cadillac SLS
1966 FLH Sold
2003 Harley Ultra

... whichever vehicle you have, wagon or sedan... I've got tanks. and lines, and cars, and... whatever...

it's a wagon! his thread shows difficulties with it's removal.

I have two wagon tanks, and the lines to go with them. I also have the metal evaporation canister etc...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I think that is algae from looking at the pictures. I would have the tank boiled out then once its dry put it back in and run with it.

wow. once again this forum saves my as$ and my wallet. i'll look into a radiator shop first...and good to know that i can hit some of you up for tanks if needed! thanks everyone.
p.s. yesi ts a wagon

It is our pleasure to assist!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Judging from your pics, it is not rust, it is polymerized vegetable oil from the biodiesel that is probably not well made. Mercedes tanks are coated with a mix of lead and tin and do not rust unless that coating has been breached.

Here's the way I would clean it. Buy a gallon of Purple cleaner (exc solvent for polymerized VO) and dump it in the tank then fill it up to the neck with hot water. Let it sit overnight then drain and flush. You want to drain by removing the tank screen, not from the hose!. It would be hard to do so without getting splashed. I would find a suitable rubber plug attached by a screw and string and just pull the plug so you won't get splashed by the Purple cleaner, which is biodegradable btw. Repeat as necessary till clean. Mop up water with bits of towel then put a few 60 watt candle bulbs in the tank via the fuel sender opening to speed up drying.

Warning: Purple cleaner is Potassium Hydroxide (a caustic) and eats skin so wear protective clothing.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I bought a tank from a 300D that must have had this polymerized vegetable oil, it had some kind of yucky stuff about 1/3 the way up. really didn`t know what it was, but I used some lacquer thinner, dumped in a bunch and swooshed it around , tipping it on it`s sides etc... dumped it out and added some more. it sure did clean it out. then I rinsed it out several times with some gas and let it air dry for a couple days before I swapped it in.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I got a clean 300d -cd tank in N texas $200 plus shipping can ship greyhound possibly, if you live near a larger depot.

i'm resurecting this somewhat old thread. radiator shops and renu wanted about $450 to steam and/or refurbish my gas tank (and i didn't read the posts about the purple cleaner until i had already acted). i decided to see if it was fungus/algae first. dropped the tank and hit it with the power washer at the car wash. some crud came out. afterwards the inside looked like maybe it had a slight patina (rust?) but when i rubbed my finger on the inside it seemed to come out clean.

dried it reinstalled and put a little diesel in to prime all the lines. ended up being about a week before my biopor arrived. i dosed it and filled the tank all the way and let it sit a week. now i've driven through that full tank and been cleaning the primary filter the whole way. i'm wondering at what point i should decide its not fungus and assume its rust? how long does it usually take for biopor to kill everything and for the fungus to move to the filters? considering i had already cleaned the inside of the tank fairly well shouldn't i assume i had gotten most of it? did it all grow back in the week while i was waiting for my biopor?