Can I siphon most of it from the filler neck, drain it from the plug, or should I drain through the filter and pump hoses? Going to take it to a radiator shop to get it refurbished.

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1973 280SE 4.5 Papyrus White/Blue (Siegfried)
1979 450SL Astral Silver/Red (Inga)
1985 911 Targa Meteor Grey/Black (The Porsche)
2010 Mazda CX-9 (Sensible Transportation)

Not sure if 79 450SL you have is same as my 72, but if it is full, you could get most of it out by siphoning. Then get the rest of it out using the hose that leads from the tank to the fuel pump. Clamp the hose off while you disconnect it. You could add a small valve to the open end - I didn't have one so used a small pair of vice-grips with plastic tube over jaws as a second clamp. I had run fuel down to close to empty so only had to collect about 2 gallons. I forget what container I used, but it of course needs to be something that will fit below the fuel pump level.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I recently rebuilt the fuel pump assembly in my w116. You can get a siphon for $5 from a place like harbor freight. I just kept siphoning into a 5gal container then unloading it into other vehicles. I figure I got about 99% of the gas out that way.

This is for the '73 280SE....just want to get as much bad gas out as I can. I'll get some 5 gallon tanks and start pumping it out, then drop the tank.

Thanks for the replies guys! Still wading my way through the W108!

John

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1973 280SE 4.5 Papyrus White/Blue (Siegfried)
1979 450SL Astral Silver/Red (Inga)
1985 911 Targa Meteor Grey/Black (The Porsche)
2010 Mazda CX-9 (Sensible Transportation)

If you have never done this....

Dropping a tank is easy since gravity is on your side.

Putting it back in is tough since you are trying to lift it, line it up, and keep it from tipping over at the same time.

It is best to get two friends over to help with the installation. It will still be tricky but less so.

Duly noted!

Is it four bolts or three? I need to get under there and double check.

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1973 280SE 4.5 Papyrus White/Blue (Siegfried)
1979 450SL Astral Silver/Red (Inga)
1985 911 Targa Meteor Grey/Black (The Porsche)
2010 Mazda CX-9 (Sensible Transportation)

Buy a facet fuel pump and hook it onto the fuel line in the engine bay. Run the discharge line out to your cans.

BTW, if the fuel is old, find someone who does single tank vegetable oil. They like the old gasoline. It thins out the vegetable oil.

Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

ctaylor738 has posted some info on this when he did his 350 SL in 2007.

I do not know how to add his comments to this thread, but if you put his name into the search box this posting should come up.

If your tank needs cleaning, then you might also want to replace the filter that is screwed into the bottom of the tank.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D