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  #1  
Old 11-17-2009, 10:44 AM
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Proper diesel color...

This may sound stupid, but I've never actually seen clean diesel fuel in a clear container so I'm not sure what the color should be...

When I pumped out some of the fuel out of my 300SDL's tank it looked clear in the draining hose, but when it accumulated in the clear plastic bottle container it was almost dark blue - not transparent at all... I've suspected that there may be fungus/algee in the fuel because of the primary (clear) filter, so does this sound like a confirmation!? I'll try to post a pic later today -

James

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Old 11-17-2009, 11:08 AM
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To me it looks like it has a greenish hue to it...but I'm colorblind and shades of green/blue are where I struggle the most. It is definitely transparent.

If you can't see through to the other side of the bottle (I'm thinking clear 20 oz pop bottle) then there is something up. When you drained the tank, how did you do it? Siphoned it out or pulled the fuel hose off the tank? If you pulled the fuel hose off take out the tank strainer and inspect it. You should be able to tell if you have a fungus problem by doing that.
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  #3  
Old 11-17-2009, 11:14 AM
92 300D 2.5L OBK #59
 
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clear with a tinge of blue.. but not red!!!!!
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  #4  
Old 11-17-2009, 11:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Graplr View Post
When you drained the tank, how did you do it? Siphoned it out or pulled the fuel hose off the tank?
I pulled the Fuel Sending unit out of the top of the tank, since I had to service it anyway. I siphoned some fuel out of the top just to inspect it - mine is definitely NOT transparent in a clear 1L plastic water bottle, only the edges are rest of it is opaque.

I did that test because I'm trying to decide if I should pull the fuel filter screen out of the bottom - it's a messy job so I'm doing some due diligence to make sure it's not for naught, but it sounds more and more like it's in order.

Next decision will be: should I pull the tank out and clean it or just use something like Startron in the tank and hope it will get cleaned out in time... any advice on that?! Maybe I'll pull the strainer out first and see how bad it is first - then decide the next steps.
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Old 11-17-2009, 11:43 AM
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The diesel I get is a greenish blue color, and is not fully transparent.
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  #6  
Old 11-17-2009, 11:50 AM
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Kool-Aid fruit punch red.














Turquoise is the color diesel should be. Under different color temperatures it changes however. Blue/green is ok. Algae looks like coffee grounds.
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Old 11-17-2009, 12:01 PM
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Pic

Here is the photo of the mystery diesel fuel from my tank -
Attached Thumbnails
Proper diesel color...-mystery-diesel-fuel.jpg  
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Old 11-17-2009, 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by okyoureabeast View Post
Turquoise is the color diesel should be. Under different color temperatures it changes however. Blue/green is ok. Algae looks like coffee grounds.
There in lies the problem for me...turquoise looks green to me. To the rest of the world it looks blue.


James, the pic looks like dirty fuel to me. Mine I can definitely see through. Have you changed out the fuel filters yet?

There are two ways to look at cleaning the tank.
1- Add cleaners. This will loosed/remove junk but it will get caught in your filters requiring changes, perhaps multiple changes.

2- Drop the tank and clean it.

I've heard a few people say they went route #1 but in hindsight they wish they had gone route #2.

I would think the first step would be to pull the tank screen and check it out. It works best when your tank is near empty (so you don't have to drain as much fuel obvioulsy).
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  #9  
Old 11-17-2009, 12:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Graplr View Post
Have you changed out the fuel filters yet?...

I would think the first step would be to pull the tank screen and check it out...
I have all the filters on order from Phil - they should be here by tomorrow - so that's an urgent to do for me. Meanwhile I'm prepping to pull the tank screen out, clean that out - I know it will be a mess and then decide what to do next - most likely pull the tank and clean it all out.

With winter in full swing around here it won't be easy to do but it looks like a must.

Thx for all the advice -
James
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  #10  
Old 11-17-2009, 12:38 PM
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Consider a new tank screen, bottom o-ring, sending unit o-ring, feed and return hoses. Everyone says the screen lasts forever. I found the bottom 1/4 inch rotted away when I did the same job. Had a radiator shop clean the trank.
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  #11  
Old 11-17-2009, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by NJ300sdl View Post
Consider a new tank screen, bottom o-ring, sending unit o-ring, feed and return hoses. Everyone says the screen lasts forever. I found the bottom 1/4 inch rotted away when I did the same job. Had a radiator shop clean the trank.
Yep - all in consideration. I have all the hoses, clamps - need to source the rest if need be - will decide upon physical removal and inspection. Thx
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  #12  
Old 11-17-2009, 12:50 PM
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That diesel looks a little dark to me, like it has some oil in it.
Might be pesky tiny creatures too.
But a few members have posted about getting oil in the fuel through an internal leak in the IP, if I'm not mistaken. Not many other places engine oil can get into the fuel.
If it isn't gone with a few biocide treatments, I'd look into getting your oil tested for diesel contamination- old seals work both ways.
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  #13  
Old 11-17-2009, 12:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NJ300sdl View Post
Had a radiator shop clean the trank.
Just called a couple of radiator shops locally and they both said that they don't do that anymore because they have no clean way of disposing the waste... How the heck am I going to dispose of it myself?! Can't just dump it down the drain - it won't burn with water in it - sheesh...
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  #14  
Old 11-17-2009, 01:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UriahT View Post
That diesel looks a little dark to me, like it has some oil in it. Might be pesky tiny creatures too. But a few members have posted about getting oil in the fuel through an internal leak in the IP...
The PO said that the car had some Biodiesel in it some time ago... I assumed that this was some fungus resulting from that...

I hope it's not the IP - that's a little scary to me. He did have the IP re-sealed about 3 months back according to the receipts, but I don't know if that's the 'internal seals' that you're talking about. Is this a complicated/expensive job, if indeed necessary?!

Edit: The receipt from June 09 reads: "R&R (6) Injector standard pressure valves and re-seal with listed parts." The listed parts are: 6 Injector standard "O" rings and Brass gaskets plus 1 crossover gasket"..
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Last edited by MercFan; 11-17-2009 at 01:29 PM. Reason: more info
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  #15  
Old 11-17-2009, 01:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MercFan View Post
Just called a couple of radiator shops locally and they both said that they don't do that anymore because they have no clean way of disposing the waste... How the heck am I going to dispose of it myself?! Can't just dump it down the drain - it won't burn with water in it - sheesh...
I have heard of some people steam cleaning it themselves. You won't have much water left over from steam cleaning, just a bunch of crud. I would put the crud in the trash.

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