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  #1  
Old 05-24-2005, 04:54 PM
Phil's Avatar
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Question Tank Strainer

Can anyone tell me how / where to access the tank strainer and how to remove it? My car sits outside all the time and I feel that due to the wet winter we had in this area that it might be a good idea to check the condition of the strainer.

Does Biobor clean the tank, the strainer and the lines of all the gunk that can form and is this an alternative to removing the strainer? Where do you get Biobar?

Thanks for any help

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  #2  
Old 05-24-2005, 06:21 PM
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You should pull the strainer and clean it, use a new o-ring when you put it back in. Then treat the tank with biocide. Have about 5 new filters and prefilters ready to go. Change 'em when they plug up with dead fungus. The fungus will not disappear or dissolve or disintegrate, only be neutralized by the biocide, so just treating the tank won't be enough, you'll have to pull the strainer first to provide a way for the dead fungus to exit the tank and lodge in the filters where you can remove the dead fungus permanently.
Best of the best option is to pull tank, boil it out at a machine shop, clean strainer, replace with new o-ring, replace rubber fuel lines, treat tank for about six months all the while changing the filters as they clog. But that's too intensive I doubt everyone with fungus problems does it that way.
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  #3  
Old 05-24-2005, 07:15 PM
Brandon314159
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Where is the tank strainer accessable from on a w126?
THanks

Brandon
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  #4  
Old 05-24-2005, 08:54 PM
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Brandon, crawl underneath and look up at the tank, I've been wondering the same thing, but no SD here

swapping tank strainers can be done without emptying the tank but you might get a bath (like I did) if its your first time. as a suggestion tie some rags around your wrists to keep fuel from running down your arms. Also get a new hose and screw it into the new strainer so you can clamp the hose off and screw the whole thing into the tank without leaking too much out.

If you have a lot of gunk in the tank you might want to remove the tank to clean it out fully.
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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350
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  #5  
Old 05-24-2005, 09:05 PM
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Brandon. I got under it and looked. It looks like it is accessable. However it would be very difficult with out a huge socket or a bolt rig the right size to fit inside it. If I had a 3/4 inch drive socket of the right size it would be easy. This might be a crazy rig but might not cost to much. Get a 3/4 drive socket of the right size at a store/ get a 3/4 to 1/2 inch adapter the armstrong model is 12.99 at sears. Then get the 3/4 inch drive socket to fit it. This is going to be pricey but is probably the best bet. Between socket and adapter I am guessing about 20 bucks if they are not a major brand name. If you have an electric water heater this will also work nice to change the element. Now that I have researched this I am thinking of doing this myself. However I am going to use the mighty vac to start a siphon to drain the tank!
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  #6  
Old 05-24-2005, 09:13 PM
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Before you R&R the strainer, do this simple test: Remove the rubber hose that comes from the fuel tank where it connects to the steel fuel line.

If there is a steady steram of fuel about 1/4 inch in diameter, the strainer is not plugged and U will be wasting your time removing it. You don't have fungus either or the strainer would be plugged.

Wet weather does not cause Fungus to grow in your tank. It has to get in there from fuel contaminated with fungus. IN 35+ years driving Diesels I had only one car get fuel contaminated with fungus. But I live in the north and there is less chance of getting contaminated fuel in the colder weather.

I think U are imagineing problems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

P E H

Last edited by P.E.Haiges; 11-05-2005 at 09:23 PM.
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  #7  
Old 05-24-2005, 09:15 PM
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You're right Jim.

I picked up the 36mm (1/2") socket at sears for about $16. Add that to a flex joint, a few extensions and a breaker bar it should make fast work of that strainer.
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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350
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  #8  
Old 05-24-2005, 09:28 PM
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Thanks John that is great info!
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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory
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  #9  
Old 05-24-2005, 09:41 PM
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Smile Thanks

What a lot of good information. I think I'll start with P.E. Haiges' idea of testing the flow rate.
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  #10  
Old 05-24-2005, 10:21 PM
Brandon314159
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Hey,

I just wanted to have a look at my strainer for sake of knowing how to remove it and to make sure its reasonably clean. I don't believe I have a fungus problem however tinkering is fun espically when I am in that area already.

I wouldn't have to go buy a socket becuase my dad is a diesel mechanic by profession and has sockets/wrenches up and beyond 3inch sizes.
I have a socket for the tank sender too

Anywho its good to know that it is that easily accessable. Next time I am down there servicing/checking hoses I will maybe pull the strainer out (after draining the tank) and have a look.
I don't have a flow problem becuase I had to siphon some bad fuel out the other day from the engine bay and I had good flow from a 1/2inch line.

At the very least I can take a picture or two for some forum members so that they can find the location easier. Also help those people who don't know where the tank vent line is.

Take care
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  #11  
Old 05-24-2005, 10:30 PM
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Just an afterthought since I've encountered clogs in the line AFTER the strainer. Its a good idea to blow air back through the feed line while you have it disconnected from the tank and fuel pre-filter up front.
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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350
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  #12  
Old 05-25-2005, 05:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges
Before you R&R the strainer, do this simple test: Remove the rubber hose that comes from the fuel tank where it connects to the steel fuel line.

If there is a steady steram of fuel about 1/4 inch in diameter, the strainer is not plugged and U will be wasting your time removing it. You don't have fungus either or the strainer would be plugged.

Wet weather does not cause Fungus to grow in your tank. It has to get in there from fuel contaminated with fungus. IN 35+ years driving Diesels I had only one car get fuel contaminated with fungus. But I live on the north and there is less chance of getting contaminated fuel in the colder weather.

I think U are imagineing problems. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

P E H
I haven't done the test but my car has most of the classic symptoms of a clogged strainer. The main one is the car runs out of gas(diesel) with a quarter of a tank left.
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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory
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  #13  
Old 05-25-2005, 11:16 AM
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Compromise the in-tank strainer?

Folks have been left stranded b/c the tank strainer clogged. Theres pretty much no way your gonna repair that by the side of the road. ('cept maybe if you have the capability of backflushing your fuel lines w/ clean diesel or air)

I had a very bad case of algae/fungus/whatever and I clogged primary filters left and right, but I could still drive it well into the reserve, and had no power loss w/ clean filters. Further, when I change primary filters I usually park facing uphill to prevent the healthy stream of fuel from hittin the ground.

I'm pretty sure the previous owner removed the mesh from the in-tank strainer... and that might be the only good thing he did for this car.

Cheers,
Robert

ps. Larger boating stores are a great place to find diesel fuel additives, but they are usually more expensive
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  #14  
Old 05-25-2005, 11:38 AM
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DieselJim,

My 300SD did the same thing, runout of fuel (not Diesel gas) when the tank was low on fuel. The strainer was partially plugged with fungus but only the lower part of the filter was plugged.

I cleaned the filter and replaced it with out adding a fungicide because that was a while ago and I wasn't aware of fungus then. I was replacing fuel filters frequently and finally the strainer plugged again this time enough to stop the engine from running.

So I got some Biobor and haven't had any problems since, except to replace one in-line filter which I figured got plugged for the dead fungus in the tank.

P E H
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  #15  
Old 05-25-2005, 12:41 PM
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Yeah it is fuel. I was just using the old run out of gas phrase and then put the diesel as an afterthought. I already got some biocide from the marine store and have treated it once. I plan to change the filter and retreat after cleaning the strainer. The car sat in used car lots in alabama for to long being neglected. It is a good car but has been an adventure and is still a project. I have never run out but have gotten close to where it was missing under certain conditions but I always duck for a fuel depot before it dies.

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My Daily : 96 E-300 Diesel with 195,000 miles
Retired: 92 300D 2.5 T 345K miles and for sale
Retired: 95 E320 157K miles and currently parked with blown engine

Both retired cars are for sale as is my w124 shop inventory
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