I'll be doing a diesel purge by the end of this month & suspect I will need to change fuel filters afterwards. I'm looking for some tips, as the last time filters were changed on my car, I wasn't the one changing them.

-I have a W115 240D, with the old-style injection pump & main fuel filter inside a black canister. The service manual says to "drain fuel" out of this canister, but gives no indication on how to do so. Is the main fuel filter different on these than the W123? (it looks like it)

-It also mentions cleaning the filter rather than placing it. Were these really designed to be cleaned? (I have several new ones on hand).

-After putting in a new filter, it says to loosen bleed screws on the filter housing & injection pump. I know about the bolt on the filter housing, but what about the IP? Is it necessary to do this if one fills the filter housing with fuel?

-Does anyone have tips on minimizing fuel loss during filter changes, or is this inevitable? I do remember making something of a mess last time I changed a pre-filter & would like to do it more gracefully if possible.

-I had a wacky idea yesterday when making dinner; people have mentioned using WD-40 sprayed into the intake to make the engine fire when prime is lost & air is in the system, but what about using cooking spray (like PAM?)

Thanks....

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1976 240D "Katja"