Does this sound plausible, 300D moved from south Ga to Chi town
 

I recently sold an 85 300D that ran/runs great to a guy in Chicago. The fuel that was in the tank when it was shipped up there was probably put in the car in Oct/Nov and the car sat in guys garage for weeks on end. The new owner emailed me saying that the fuel gauge got to 1/4 and did not change after filling up and after he had taken a 40 or so mile trip at 60+ then got stuck in traffic during which time it was running rough and stalled. He let it sit for a few mins and it started. I suggested he get some antI gel in the tank. I'm thinking the Ga summer blend is probably not working very well in cold Chi town. Any thoughts/comments?

Quick check of Chicago weather shows it's 31 and snowing, dropping into the lower 20s tonight. Certainly plausible that you have gelling fuel especially if it was filled in the fall in the south.

Sounds like a fuel filter problem.

Thanks, I told him to change fuel filter too.

He will want synthetic oil there also.

I doubt that diesel fuel changes between GA and IL, since not uncommon for people to fill-up in the south and drive north, or the wind can blow down from the Arctic. I recall the first year I lived in Atlanta I started riding a bike to church in early Dec w/o checking the weather and turned back since too cold and very windy. Found it was 5 F. More likely the station where you filled had left-over summer blend, if not an active location.

Makes me wonder about my location. Some stations now sell R99, which is up to 99% bio. I think it is different than traditional bio-diesel, and chemically converted to act similar to D2. One brand is Propel's Diesel HPR and they describe it well, but others (Union 76) just have a sign at the pump to advise you, with no other info and the counter guy is clueless. It is just an 80 mile drive up the hill to be in 10 F Sierra snow conditions like the Donner Party, so if it gels it could surprise people driving I-80 E.

Sounds like a stopped up screen at the tank where the fuel enters the fuel line. PITB to drain and fix but it's one of the cheapest things to fix and it doesn't need to be repeated for years and years if you buy fuel from reputable distributors.

You gave him good advice. Diesel fuel antifreeze will go to ice where ever it is in you fuel line and melt it in a half hour or so. I know it sounds implausible but it does.

Winter Fuel Problems
 

I've used a product called "Diesel 911" to good effect, get it at truck stops .

Diesel fuel in Chicago regions wont start to be difficult until below 20 degree regardless of windchill, then Mercedes recommends cutting it with kerosene or unleaded fuel up to 50/50 below zero.



The fuel sender and likely the fuel tank are gunked up. Tell him to buy the correct socket to pull the fuel sender out and clean it off gently. While the sender is out inspect the tank for corrosion or crud build up especially around the fuel tank screen.


Anytime a fuel gauge doesn't go back up on a full tank you can be sure the fuel sender is covered is diesel crud. Tell tale sign is getting stuck on R or 1/4 tank.


Probably going to want to change the fuel filters as well.

Perhaps cold enough there to have frozen any residual water in the fuel system.


As mentioned treatments seem to deal with any ice fairy quick.

I notice that the only available fuel sender is from URO. Genuine MB is NLA. Does the URO unit work correctly?

It should, but have you determined what's wrong with the old sender?
They're really simple devices, easy to open, and clean.

Go into your back seat, remove the first aid kit, and there beneath will be the sender. You can use vice grips to bite it if you don't have the correct socket. Otherwise, autozone will have what you need.

There should be a small nut cover on the bottom. Remove and unscrew very carefully.

See what's wrong. You can solder the wires back into place if they broke. Most of the time it's grit/algae that gets into these and prevents it from rising or falling.

If it's diesel herpes (algae), a gallon of biocide will do the trick. If it's grit, flush away with carb cleaner and consider pulling the tank for a flush. A radiator shop can clean your tank for very little money and get you something very clean.

:eek: MB recommends cutting diesel 50/50 with unleaded gasoline, I do't think so.

Its more like up to 20%.