Since the tank can't be drained OR cleaned once the fuel is contaminated it stays that way.... JUST keeps killing fuel pumps..we installed ALL of those tanks DUE to repeated fuel pump replacements!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

DOC, besides the obvious, is there a good tell tale sign when it is contaminated? We don't have a good fuel test kit here. If I don't see anything abnormal in the tank and the smell/color of the fuel appears normal, is there something obvious to check?

We couldn't even see any contamination in the fuel tanks on those early ML's, but MBUSI in Vance Alabama assured us that that was the problem & that their MAIN tanks were the problem..

Sugar OR other contaminates will not be seen BUT a local fuel distributor can check for those problems.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Sorry for my misunderstanding...but are you saying that I should have the fuel pump, fuel tank, and all the electrical components replaced? Is this gonna be like a $2K job?

I'd definitly get the amp draw test done FIRST. It should take them all of 20 minumtes to check that. Makes sure they check it with the engine up to operating temp. I've had several pumps that when started drew around 6 amps, and then after a while the amperage would climb above 10 amps= BAD. So it's not always immediatly obvious.
And money wise, it's probably cheaper to have a fuel sample sent out before throwing a fuel tank at it. Like DOC said, they couldn't even see the contamination.

DUH, forgot to ask what your original symptom was. Why do they keep throwing fuel pumps in?

will do...thanks you guys are a big help

When trying to start it, it just goes vrrrrvrrrrvrrrr. Happens about a week or so after I get it back from the dealership. This last time, it happened the day after I put gas into it.