Almost out of fuel??

[JDmills]

Twice now I have been driving along with the gage just getting to the reserve and the car starts to surge after cornering to the right. once the road streightens out, it will lunge forward again.. so I pull into the nearest fuel spot, and put 14.7, (the first time) and 15.0 gallons of fuel in My 300 TD. The manual says that the fuel tank takes 21 gallons, with a 2 gallon reserve. (althoug my owners manual is not for a TD, but a 240/300D.) Do I only get a 15 gallon tank? Or do I have a plugged screen in the tank?
Jason

[Ara T.]

Are you sure it says 21 gallons for a w123 sedan? My 1985 300D manual says 14.7 gallons i think and a 2 gallon or so reserve... which makes sense cause i was driving on the reserve tank for a while and just filled up with 16 gallons.

[Hatterasguy]

W123's have small tanks! I have 23.5 gallon capacity and the light is supposed to come on after 20 is burned off. But I never run it that low, I usually only run it so I have to add 19-17 gallons.

[aklim]

How are you filling up? When I let the pump shutoff and then I ease gas into the tank till I can see it at the filler mouth, the difference is about 3 gals

[Brian Carlton]

I remember the W123 having a total capacity of 21.7 IIRC.

But, I also remember running out of fuel and putting 18 gallons in it to fill it completely.

[Ara T.]

I'll have to double check my manual..for some reason I really remember 14 something gallons.

[TonyFromWestOz]

Originally Posted by JDmills

Twice now I have been driving along with the gage just getting to the reserve and the car starts to surge after cornering to the right. once the road streightens out, it will lunge forward again.. so I pull into the nearest fuel spot, and put 14.7, (the first time) and 15.0 gallons of fuel in My 300 TD. The manual says that the fuel tank takes 21 gallons, with a 2 gallon reserve. (althoug my owners manual is not for a TD, but a 240/300D.) Do I only get a 15 gallon tank? Or do I have a plugged screen in the tank?
Jason

Another possibility is that the fuel supply and return fuel lines have been swapped over (I did this to SWMBO's 300D due to fuel starvation problems). The car is normal for 3/4 tank but starts sucking air below 1/4 tank.
Swap over the fuel lines in the engine bay (Cigar hose goes to top pipe IIRC) See if it makes a difference.