How do I drain water and fuel from a 1998 e300 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Larry12 · #1 02-25-2009, 03:38 PM

Again.
How do I drain water and fuel from my 1998 E300 diesel fuel tank?

Larry12

KarTek · #2 02-25-2009, 04:17 PM

Are you just trying to get the condensation out or do you need to empty all of the contents? Simply replacing the fuel filter regularly gets rid of most, if not all of the water because it collects in the bottom of the filter.

Larry12 · #3 02-25-2009, 04:25 PM

No, Someone swiped my fuel and then stuck a hose in the tank.
I changed filters 2x in 2 minutes and each time it was full of water.

I had left the car unlocked because We have lived in the same place for 25 years without and problems. Our Doberman just died 6 months ago. Looks like we have been watched closer than I thought. We have a full acre that is secluded. Looks like another Doberman is in the future plans.

So it looks like I have a 1/2 tank of water.. Just guessing.

KarTek · #4 02-25-2009, 04:35 PM

Sorry to hear that - the dog and the car... I'm not sure how to drain the whole tank but you might be able to siphon the water out of the bottom of the tank and run the rest off in the filter. You may also be able to start a siphon off the fuel inlet to the filter assembly.

Another thought is that if you tried to start the car with water in it, it's probably filled the fuel system. You can hook a bottle up to the fuel inlet and return and run the car off that to purge the water.

TMAllison · #5 02-25-2009, 04:43 PM

#23 or 35 look promising.

http://detali.ru/cat/cats/my.mycat?Form

KarTek · #6 02-25-2009, 04:43 PM

Linkus interruptus...

Maybe this? http://www.detali.ru/cat/cats/my.mycat?Pic&syspm=d4fdd18b8b85b3e5b7afb1a0fa916206380d4f575948656a7c7e6936757e4274491313150c1524665c6e40752735ce c2c78ea096a89dfff0e7aee0d5cac8b3c6f8&pm=281125786d62606b3d100d0b0211191d5e22505f5c4141484cb0b5b8bfbeada1ad90969fae80b5e7ff8f818e8ad2e4f6e 9d8d1d1dfc8f6c8fd5f50470e407d7b4c41565c5f3204

Is what you had in mind Terry?

dieseldan44 · #7 02-25-2009, 04:45 PM

I don't know the car, so I cant help with the technical issue. But I am very sorry to hear someone would do something like that. Its horrible.

I dont know, but I think this could be an insurance situation, especially if damage was done to the engine as a result. You should file a police report just in case.

Maybe just flatbed it to a local garage? Maybe they put something else in there, like sugar or worse. If it were my car, Id remove and steam clean the tank.

Good luck,
dd

TMAllison · #8 02-25-2009, 04:50 PM

www.detali.ru look in 210.025 and then the "fuel" section 47, subsection 15.

edit - Evan got it. Guessing 35 is the access to the sender unit and 23 obviously the tank strainer where the supply line ought to be able to be pulled and drained into a pail (or 4).

PS: if you blow compressed air into the tank to help push out fuel the tank "WILL" deform. Is very thin alum.

Larry12 · #9 02-25-2009, 05:17 PM

Nice, but I do not read whatever language it is written in.
210.025 ok but from their I did not find anything.

In crawling under the car I see two rubber hoses from the tank.
1. on driver side - tank outlet?
2. on passenger side - maybe this is the return?

guess no harm to pull both and drain.

Yes, I may just call the insurance!

Larry

Larry12 · #10 02-25-2009, 05:54 PM

It is on the drivers side.
So far 8 gallons of water
Still Draining wow and it ran!!!
Just no power up hills.

I'll head over to the station and get 10 gallons and put in 2 and re-drain that and then fill her up.

Larry
Thanks Again!

TMAllison · #11 02-25-2009, 06:10 PM

Some water is going to bead and still be present even though drained. You are prob going to want to get a product to dump in there (maybe with a biocide agent too?) to collect water that results from condensation and also keep changing filters.

There's good and bad living somewhere where it's warm all year round.

el sea · #12 02-25-2009, 08:01 PM

Harbor Freight has a product called "Jigger Hose" (i think that's the name). It has a check valve in one end and open at the other. Simply lower the CV end into the tank and 'jigger' up and down. It will fill to the top and suck the tank dry. PS, make sure the cv is resting on the bottom of the tank for complete draining and make sure you collect any fuel before it hits the ground. Also, empty the entire tank, water WILL quickly go to the bottom.

jim16671836 · #13 02-25-2009, 08:08 PM

Sugar in the fuel system will not normally do any harm unless they can put in so much that it wiill clog the whole tank, gasoline will dissolve it.. If they put it in your oil then you will have a problem... Jim

Larry12 · #14 02-25-2009, 08:20 PM

Just called AAA and they no physical damage to the vehicle-no coverage.

I have only been with them for 20 years.

I promptly cancelled my insurance except liability on the 1987 300dt,
The 1997 X-90, and my Rock crawler.

The rest to be cancelled when I find another carrier, along with my houses.
Yes I am ticked off!!!!!!!

Larry

WINGAS · #15 02-25-2009, 09:07 PM

I used my oil extractor to get the last bits of fuel out of the tank before I dropped the tank strainer. That would work, or, I'd just drop the tank strainer over some open ground. There will be some fuel in there, but....