please help! stranded! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

zoehelga · #1 07-04-2009, 07:38 PM

okay...so i'm in need of some help again.

My fuel filters were totally filled with crap. He put in all new ones and said he cleaned them out. it drove back home and now won't turn on again. it turns over but just sputters and sputters and turns off. there is STILL suction in the tank. i'm thinking that he didnt thoroughly clean the "gunk" out of the tank and now it's been sucked right back into the fuel filters...any ideas?

snookwhaler · #2 07-04-2009, 07:57 PM

You said, "he put in new ones and cleaned them out"? You cannot clean out those filters. You replace them. Did he clean something else out?

What exactly does that mean?

Are you still out of town?

It sounds like you really need to just drain the tank, pull the screen and blow some compressed air through the lines. When you refill use some biocide or BioDiesel to help clean the rest of the crud out of the tank.

You can use a couple pieces of 2x6 or 2x8 stacked 2 pieces high to get the car high enough to get a fuel can or 2 under there. The tank screen is a large 46mm socket. Any Northern Tool or other local tool shop will have it for about $8. Once you drain the fuel out, you can clean the screen with some brake clean and put it back in there. Leave the lines under the car unhooked, go up under the hood and unhook the 2 lines on the drivers fender and blow back through. Hook everything back up and fill her up with fresh fuel. If you have a mighty vac, it helps to pull fuel from the tank through the supply line before you hook the primary filter back up. Then pump the primer until you hear the "fart sound" and you are good to go. This whole procedure only took me about 30 minutes when I did it.

After running the BioDiesel or biocide I would change the filters again after the next tank or carry some with you in case you clog it up one more time.

Edit: A couple more things. If the tank is really nasty you may have to pull it out of the car to clean it. Also, once this is resolved, you should seriously consider where you buy your fuel and stay away from the places you have been going. Try to buy from a source that is known to go through a lot of fuel. IE: truck stops, local stores that cater to heavy equip. or your small town oil company that supplies biodiesel and other fuels and oils. PM me if you need any help. I just flushed and cleaned my tank recently. It was pretty easy.

zoehelga · #3 07-04-2009, 08:52 PM

where do you live!? wanna help me!? i am back from being out of town. he replaced my filters and assumed (wrongly apparently) that he cleaned out my fuel tank. It did drive the two hours home, so do you think the gunk that was in the fuel tank just re-clogged up the filters? i bought the car about a year ago and it seems as though the filters had never been changed in 27 years so i'm sure it's a lot of gunk in there.

snookwhaler · #4 07-04-2009, 09:10 PM

I'm in Florida or I would be right over. Seriously. I have noting to do tonight or tomorrow. Anyway... He cleaned the tank... OK... Did he clean the screen, remove it or cut a hole in it? Did he even remove the screen. When you say "he cleaned the tank", what exactly did he do?

If the car sat for a long time the algae build up might have been substantial. What did he re-fill the tank with. Did he put an additive in the tank to help with the crud?

I'm assuming that you have ruled out any air leaks. Especially between the hose from the hard supply line to the primary filter, then the connection at the bottom of the primary filter, the connection at the top of the primary filter and then the connection to the lift pump. Also, look closely at the primer pump. Is it the older style or new one? If it is the old one, be sure to check that seal at the base where it screws down. That o-ring is known to leak.

Look for a PM.

Diesel911 · #5 07-05-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoehelga

where do you live!? wanna help me!? i am back from being out of town. he replaced my filters and assumed (wrongly apparently) that he cleaned out my fuel tank. It did drive the two hours home, so do you think the gunk that was in the fuel tank just re-clogged up the filters? i bought the car about a year ago and it seems as though the filters had never been changed in 27 years so i'm sure it's a lot of gunk in there.

Until you get the crappy fuel out of the tank and the tank cleaned you will keep plugging up filters.

This could slow down the filter plugging. When the returning fuel gets back to the fuel tank it enter the tank at a higher level then down at the bottom. Assuming that the gunk is heavier than the fuel most of it should also be down on the bottom.
If you swap the positions of your Fuel Inlet Hose with the Fuel Out let hose it will allow you to draw fuel from a higher point inside of the fuel tank and hopefully not pull in so much gunk.
The drawback is that you will need to make sure you tank is kept filled above the 1/2 tank level as because you are pulling fuel from a higher position in the Fuel Tank it would mean you would also run out of Fuel before your Gas/Fuel gauage shows empty.

kerry · #6 07-05-2009, 09:17 AM

As a short term solution, at least carry a number of replacement primary filters. They are cheap and can be replaced in less than 2 minutes. When the primary plugs, replace it. Combine this advice with the the suggestion that you switch outlet and return lines and you could drive the car indefinitely without cleaning out the tank.

tangofox007 · #7 07-05-2009, 09:57 AM

I fail to see how clogged filters can contribute to negative pressure in the fuel tank. The only thing that prevents a negative pressure differential is a vent. Or a leak.

Diesel911 · #8 07-05-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

I fail to see how clogged filters can contribute to negative pressure in the fuel tank. The only thing that prevents a negative pressure differential is a vent. Or a leak.

I do not think the original poster proved his case concerning vacuum in the Fuel Tank.
He gave an assumption based on the symptoms he was having and not focusing on the clogged filters.

Diesel911 · #9 07-05-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

As a short term solution, at least carry a number of replacement primary filters. They are cheap and can be replaced in less than 2 minutes. When the primary plugs, replace it. Combine this advice with the the suggestion that you switch outlet and return lines and you could drive the car indefinitely without cleaning out the tank.

I think if he has something growing in his tank he will continue to have problems.
If he cannot clean the tank or dump out the fuel he needs to use one of those Biocides that has enzymes to kill and break up the dead bodies of what is growing in the tank.
Then, maybe eventually he will not have to keep changing filters.

It would also be nice if for awhile he changed to a larger Primary inline filter. They cost a few dollars more but he would not have to change them as often.

Sbean · #10 07-06-2009, 12:30 AM

When I started using WVO in my '80 300TD, I suffered primary clogging for quite a spell. I took to checking them pre-emptively rather than have to stop along the road. Many times I just shook/blew them out and ran a few hundred more miles. Steve

whunter · #11 07-05-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoehelga

okay...so I'm in need of some help again.

My fuel filters were totally filled with crap. He put in all new ones and said he cleaned them out. it drove back home and now won't turn on again. it turns over but just sputters and sputters and turns off. there is STILL suction in the tank. I'm thinking that he didn't thoroughly clean the "gunk" out of the tank and now it's been sucked right back into the fuel filters...any ideas?

Sounds like the filters are plugged again.
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