So I thought I might tackle the tank screen today but when I propped the old girl up I was a bit confused at what I saw. Ive read that if you dont have a 46mm socket you can use a plumbers pipe wrench but there is barely enough room. The rear axle is in the way even if i got the socket. Also, there is a metal 'lip' around the inlet/outlet which prohibits me from getting a wrench in there.. What gives? This is supposed to be an easy task... I snapped some pictures...


ALSO... There seems to be an in-line filter on the otherside of the tank near the right rear axle.... Is this factory??

Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you guys think..



PS... I was in a booooorrrinng meeting today at work and managed to snap a picture of the old girl from the 4th floor window while the boss wasnt looking... :-)

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the third pic is the inline filter...?????????

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It's an easy task if you have the socket.

It's a dead end if you don't.

But, you can get yourself a 1 13/16" socket (will be 3/4" drive) and put a pipe wrench on the OD.

Any other recommendations, including using the line fitting as your removal tool...........just forget about all of them unless you consider yourself extremely lucky.

I had the socket, but couldn't use it. The axleshaft is directly below and there's no room.

Do you put a oil filter strap around the socket or what?

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

...........p i p e w r e n c h ............

One of these:



I am about to try this job myself.

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1992 300D 2.5T 249k - Parked with a bad transmission
1981 300SD 142k - Daily driver

I have pipe wrenches. There was no room for a pipewrench no matter how I positioned it.

I removed the tank.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

The socket extends downward toward the axle by about 2 inches. In that 2" space is plenty of swing room............between the body and the axle.

I presume that you had the vehicle on jackstands with the axles on the trailing arm stops. This provides additional room above the axle............and room for you as well.

Sometimes, loosening the hose fitting will loosen the screen instead. Some penetrating oil on the screen might increase the odds of that happening.

Installation remains a problem...........without some type of tool on the wrench flats.

Not if the hose is installed first.

I'm still not comfortable with it. I'm not convinced that the torque on the screen is sufficient when simply tightening the hose fitting. It might be.........but, I'd rather use the socket.

My experience suggests that your concerns are over rated.

Hmm, I can get the socket on, and the pipe wrench around the socket, but the pipe wrench can't get a good enough grip on the socket to turn it. I might look for an angled 3/4" ratchet driver.

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1992 300D 2.5T 249k - Parked with a bad transmission
1981 300SD 142k - Daily driver

Did you try a wrench on the hose fitting?