Diesel shouldn't look like this!! - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

barry123400 · #16 09-29-2009, 09:10 PM

Remember gentleman. The lift pump internal seal can leak motor oil into the fuel supply as well. That motor oil is so black very little leakage of the lift pumps internal seal over time also would color the fuel pretty dark easily.

mikemass1221 · #17 09-29-2009, 10:03 PM

Good to know for future reference. But the dirty, dark fuel I am talking about hasn't even been introduced to the vehicle yet. This is just old sludgy crap that came out of a guy's home heating tank. Once i let all the sludge settle, the fuel on top is very liquidy. Sludgy thickness is not the problem, it's just very dark, not clear. Exactly like the pictures in post #1.

lupin..the..3rd · #18 09-29-2009, 10:07 PM

I don't know about your particular model, but don't most of these cars have a transparent pre-filter in the engine bay that allows you to visually see the color of the fuel? Even on my 606, there are transparent fuel lines where I can visibly see the golden color of the fuel.

Just wondering why it's a surprise that this nasty black "fuel" came out of the tank since it should be visible in some hose or filter in the engine bay.

tbomachines · #19 09-29-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemass1221

Good to know for future reference. But the dirty, dark fuel I am talking about hasn't even been introduced to the vehicle yet. This is just old sludgy crap that came out of a guy's home heating tank. Once i let all the sludge settle, the fuel on top is very liquidy. Sludgy thickness is not the problem, it's just very dark, not clear. Exactly like the pictures in post #1.

Well your scheme would work in theory, just make sure you filter it the absolute best you can. That gunk came out of my second tank of fuel since I got the car, and I treated it heavily with Soltron (similar to biobor). Before treatment it was kind of dark-ish, but afterwards it was so bad that I had to change fuel filters every 50 miles or so until I could get the tank down to where it was manageable to drain.

tbomachines · #20 09-29-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupin..the..3rd

I don't know about your particular model, but don't most of these cars have a transparent pre-filter in the engine bay that allows you to visually see the color of the fuel? Even on my 606, there are transparent fuel lines where I can visibly see the golden color of the fuel.

Just wondering why it's a surprise that this nasty black "fuel" came out of the tank since it should be visible in some hose or filter in the engine bay.

Yes, I could see it in the (frequently changed) transparent filter. It wasn't that bad (pics) until I added the treatment and killed the fungus to where the car was so sluggish and the fuel was so bad that it required a drain.

gradyg3 · #21 09-30-2009, 12:13 AM

I have had algae problems before and after having to drain the tank a second time after 4 yrs of ownership decided to get rid of the stupid tank screen. If I have a problem again ti is easily identified based on transparent filters and much easier/cheaper to replace than drain and clean the stupid screen. If you have to remove the tank screen once, no point in doing it again, get rid of it and install a clear filter either right below the tank or right after the metal main fuel line in the engine bay. If you're trying to determine fuel instability based on over heating can always install a clear filter before teh finel metal return line to examine accordingly. To tell teh truth I run about 4 clear fuel filters in the engine bay due to my duel tank WVO system and to helop diagnose and catch any fuel issues accordingly.

mikemass1221 · #22 09-30-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Well your scheme would work in theory, just make sure you filter it the absolute best you can. That gunk came out of my second tank of fuel since I got the car, and I treated it heavily with Soltron (similar to biobor). Before treatment it was kind of dark-ish, but afterwards it was so bad that I had to change fuel filters every 50 miles or so until I could get the tank down to where it was manageable to drain.

You like Soltrol the best? Any opinion on the Pri-Products which I provided a link for? I want to get this fuel as clean and stable as posible before I pump it into my car.

Necrosavant · #23 09-30-2009, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

That is why I think it is important to run a 2 micron fuel filter just in case of issues like this. The stock fuel filter is like 10 microns. That will pass a lot of grime through comparably.

Here is a 2 micron fuel filter upgrade thread.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=225004

stock fuel prefilter is 4 micron

tbomachines · #24 09-30-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrosavant

stock fuel prefilter is 4 micron

Incorrect. The stock inline filter is 20 microns and the spin on is 10 micron nominal, meaning it only filters out all 10 micron particles on second pass.

http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/ResultsPart.asp?PartNo=3006

mikemass1221 · #25 10-09-2009, 12:09 PM

Is there any real difference between: Biobor, Startron, or Soltron.? I seem to have heard the best out of Soltron, but local places by me more readily sell the first 2. Should I just pick up what is more convienent?

Codifex Maximus · #26 10-11-2009, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemass1221

Is there any real difference between: Biobor, Startron, or Soltron.? I seem to have heard the best out of Soltron, but local places by me more readily sell the first 2. Should I just pick up what is more convienent?

If you want to use questionable fuel, get yourself a cheap microscope (20bux?) and put a drop of dirty fuel on the slide. You should be able to see the algae as well as any other particulates that would clog your filters. No algae? Save money on the treatment.

That said, I'm not as adventurous as you are... I'll stick to mineral diesel from the pump for now. :/

Codifex
1981 240D SkyBlue
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof

tbomachines · #27 10-11-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemass1221

Is there any real difference between: Biobor, Startron, or Soltron.? I seem to have heard the best out of Soltron, but local places by me more readily sell the first 2. Should I just pick up what is more convienent?

Biobor kills the stuff in your tank and kinda just leaves it. Soltron and Startron kill the stuff and then break it down so you can get it through your fuel system. Either one will do the trick, depends on what is available to you. I got Soltron at Napa (not cheap though, $20+), whereas Biobor can be sourced at just about any marine shop. From what I have heard and experienced, both work well but you need to keep an eye on your fuel filters.

compress ignite · #28 10-12-2009, 01:50 AM

'Ere we go again...
American shade tree experts out thinking the engineers @ Mercedes...

HiJack my Own Reply:

Startron !

mikemass1221 · #29 10-12-2009, 12:23 PM

Codi.. not as adventurous as you think. I've been burning people's old home heating oil for as long as I've been driving these cars. Never had a problem. was just a little concerned with the one batch I got. I think I pumped off too close to the bottom and picked up a lot of sludge. so want to take precaution.

Broke student.... I like the idea of breaking it down to the point where the filter will catch it. This way I know the crap isn't sitting at the bottom of the tank. That being said, i can drain off the bottom of my tank periodically, which I do as general up-keep. (remember, I'm talking about my 275 holding tank, not my car's tank). Everything I pump out of my holding tank passes thru a filter first. And then for even extra good measure, I pump that into a clean 55 gallon barrel and then pass that through yet another transfer pump and filter. So by the time that fuel hits the car filter, it should be spotless. One of these days I'll post a picture of my "at home" fueling station.

Compress.... I don't get the "shade tree" reference?

I found a guy over the weekend that had 800 gallons of fresh fuel which he had delivered at the end of last winter. He just converted to natural gas. I picked up 450 gallons over the weekend from him at .85/gal. I should be good for a while.

tobybul · #30 10-12-2009, 12:38 PM

the last time I replaced the primary filter of my 84D I noticed the inside was black. this article on ulsd may be on to something.