ATF is indeed automatic transmission fluid. Our engines will eat a lot of things that are flammable and will pour, at least on a temporary basis. It's important to know what you can get away with and what you can't, because some things are flammable and will pour and will cause $eriou$ damage in a hurry. A fuel filter full of ATF certainly won't hurt anything and there's some good reasons to believe it might do some good. Our engines run best and longest on clean diesel fuel.

Either aluminum or copper crush washers are fine, whatever seals. Copper tends to be more reusable than aluminum.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

om617yoya beat me to it, but yes ATF is auto trans fluid.
I have been using it to fill filters for many years, and does not hurt the Injectors or IP.

My short time around MB`s since 97, I have only seen Aluminum washers used under the Filter Bolt. Never seen Copper used as I remember.

Once you sort out this filter change and leak problem, why not look for a filter head from a 84/85 300D/SD.
The center bolt uses 2 "O" Rings and no Aluminum washer under the bolt head.
It would have part# 615-092-02-08.

What you have is part# 615-092-01-08

First time I had ever heard about using ATF was from an old truck driver back in the late 60`s.
He would dump in a QT of ATF in the tank of his old Peterbilt with every fill up, said it would keep things clean etc...
As I remember he said to use type "F" as it would clean better.

Now if you are out on the road and you need to change the filter because the engine starts to loose power.
You may not have ATF with you, but maybe you have a QT of engine oil, that will work also to fill the filter and get you going.
Or just pump on the Primer Pump 200 times.
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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

Is there really any demand for these ? .

I have a couple spares .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I got a couple new washers and orings and filled the filter with what was left of an can of diesel purge - figured that was good as anything.

I still seem to have a very very small leak around the washer. I know it should take monster wrenching to tighten this, but how tight should? If I was using a torque wrench about how much do you need without over tightening. The aluminum washer is supposed to compressed flatter right?

The late filter head doesn't use a gasket, that's what the O-Rings are for .

I got the correct O-Rings cheaply from Mercedes and !PRESTO! no more fuel weeping from the bolt head .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Which Filter Head do you have?

The 615-092-01-08 ...One Aluminum Washer and one "O" Ring on bolt shaft.

Or

The 615-092-02-08...NO Aluminum Washer, but uses 2 "O" Rings on the bolt shaft.

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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've got the early one - washer and one o-ring - which I just replaced both. Hard to say if its leaking now, maybe a tad. I'm afraid to keep cranking it down with the wrench, but I know i have to compress that washer somewhat for it to work...

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Andrew
Montclair, NJ
--------------
1982 300D Turbo
120k
Petrol Blue Green

That washer is a PITA. It is not a standard size and must be bought from Mercedes. Every time you change filter you disturb the washer seal surface and it may leak on you. Best to upgrade to the later 02 version with 2 o-rings, no washer needed. I have 2 of them if you'd like to go that route.

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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

yeah. i bought 4 aluminum and 4 copper ones from pelican - definitely the right size and it seems to be pretty tight.

but i'd be interested if you've got the newer style to sell funola. I'll pm you. I'm in ny/nj.

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Andrew
Montclair, NJ
--------------
1982 300D Turbo
120k
Petrol Blue Green

On the W123 I have filled the seconday filter but I mostly just use the hand primer.

However, in my 18 years as a diesel mechanic filling the filter with diesel fuel was always sufficient and the majoirity of Diesel Engines I have worked on have no hand primer.

Many of the Engines in Trucks have a Fuel Filters that hold lie 1.5 quarts of Fuel (or Air if you don't fill it) in them. With no way to prime the system besides cranking the Engine filling the filter with clean diesel fuel is the best option.

The one place I worked for 3 years had 40 acres of dirt and was windy. Inever had any issue caused by filling the filter.

A bigger worry for me was the dirt and crud that accumulates around the lip of the Filter Housing.

The do have Funnels some sort of filter on them.
On place I worked the Fuel to fill the Filters was kept in a large 1 quart oil quirt can. That would allow you to squirt the fuel through the smaller holes on the outer side of the Filter Element but was of course slow and ment you had to fill the squirt can frequetly.

I bought a CAT 1R-0750 on eBay and it had one way obstruction built into it. I look on the internet and found out that obstruction was to keep you from filling the inside of the Fuel filter with fuel. The older ones did not have that.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Buggering up the internal threads on a filter is not uncommon. To chase the threads you have 2 choices.

Turn the Filter upside down and tap it out allowing cips to fall out. Or do the same but put Grease in the flutes/grooves of the Tap to trap the chips.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

There's a non-MBZ plastic washer from the plumbing section that you can use to replace the top crush washer, sealed with much less force, worked well for me. PN is floating around here on the forum somewhere, I don't have time to dig it up right now.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap