Fellow diesel enthusiasts,
My 1975 240D (170K) has been stalling on me while driving. A few strokes of the hand pump, two minutes of cranking, and it runs again. It happens about once every 10 days. The fuel filters have been replaced with no effect. Also, filling with fuel from a different station has no effect. The fuel lines are bone dry with no outward signs of a leak. I also ran a can of fuel treament through with no effect. Please share your ideas on what might be wrong. Thanks! Andrew Seidel.

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86 560SEC
85 500SEC Lorinser
83 300D Turbo
75 240D

TXBill,
Thank you for your reply! It has the original screw-down pump. It still builds pressure, but pisses all over the place. I have the later model on order. Do you know what is involved in removing the old one? I don't see a place to get a hold--pipe wrench time?

I have also ordered replacement rubber hoses for the whole system, just in case there is a leak I can not see. I also wondered about a clogged tank strainer or a clogged return line--I will open the fuel cap and listen for vacuum. Cheers, Andrew Seidel.

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86 560SEC
85 500SEC Lorinser
83 300D Turbo
75 240D

I removed the fuel cap after driving around -- no pressure difference. Can someone offer further advise, please. Thanks! Andrew Seidel.

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86 560SEC
85 500SEC Lorinser
83 300D Turbo
75 240D

Andrew,
Good chance it could be a bad fuel line that is allowing you to suck air into the system. You will not always see an outward leak in this circumstance.
Your hand pump can be a source of leaking also but it sounds like you have that one planned for repair.
Let us know how it goes.

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'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

The fuel lines may have a leak under vacuum as mentioned above. I ran across another problem with a gas motor. There was a problem with the pickup screen in the fuel tank. It was being obstructed by a parking tickit someone put in the filler cap.

That made them park without warning!!!!!!!!!!

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

I'm just starting to go thru that too. I think it's the filter in the tank by the way it flows better on a full tank (forum tip), and have gotten the gasket and filter ready in case the old ones self-destruct (another forum tip) but can't get the allen for unscrewing it yet. It's huge, 20 or 21 mm.



Good luck 5banger

Gentlemen,
The final verdict in my case was that I was sucking air at the tank. My fuel guage was not reading accurately and my odometer was broken--not filling often enough to keep up. I did, however, replace the hand pump, all filters, and all rubber hoses. In combination with a valve adjustment, the engine ran noticeably better. Let me know if additional information would be of use, Andrew Seidel.

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86 560SEC
85 500SEC Lorinser
83 300D Turbo
75 240D

240Dnewbie: You can remove the tank drain with a bolt with the 22mm head (7/8") Use the bolt head as an allen wrench. Grip it with a vise grip pliers. You could also use a tall 7/8" nut turned with a box wrench.