Hello all,

It's been a while since I have posted...thanks for looking.

I was driving the car and noticed that it needed some fuel. I pulled into a truck stop and fueled up. But after fueling, I noticed that the diesel fuel that I put in was for "off-road" vehicles only. Only later did I noticed that it was dyed red in color. (Please don't call the authorities, I can't afford the fine.)

I then drove the car 35 miles, played a four hour gig and then returned home about 3:00am.

The next morning (this past Sunday), I went to start the car and all it would do was crank and sputter...it would not start.

I cracked the fuel line from the lift pump to the large filter (that's when I noticed the fuel was red) cranked the engine, and it did pump, but no big spray.

I removed the large filter and emptied it, put it back on and cranked the engine again...still the sputtering.

The only clue that I have is that it made a strange noise when I first cranked it...not normal but no clunking...

I cranked it for another few minutes until the battery died...just a bit of sputtering...it never started...

Your thoughts would be appreciated....

__________________
Currently Driving.....
1987 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo - Daily Driver.
2004 Buick Rendezvous...Smaller than it looks!
2005 Mitsubishi Galant - Not bad for a tin box...Lousey Seats
Past Vehicles.....
1994 Dodge B-250 Van- GAS HOG..Succumbed to rust!
1989 Mercedes Benz 260E - Totaled but no one injured.
1977 Mercedes Benz 240D - Loved it, but SLOWWW! - Succumbed to RUST!
1976 Mercedes Benz 240D - Same as above! -
1975 Mercedes Benz 240D - Same as above!

You'll have a heck of a time starting and stabilizing an engine with an empty filter. Either fill it and reinstall or use the bleed-by-starter procedure.

Generally sounds like a fuel problem like a clogged tank strainer, clogged tank vent, clogged filter, stuck shut-off actuator or open return check valve. Could also be a clogged cat.

Sixto
87 300D

Initial problem could have been bad glow plugs, then you introduced air into the system by emptying the fuel filter. I'd bleed the fuel system and check the glowplugs.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

My first thought that it might be the dyed diesel fuel, but I think I have ruled that out.

It would not start even before I pulled off the filter to see if there was any fuel in it. I thought maybe something was plugged and that would inhibit fuel from reaching the large filter. Admittedly, it hasn't been changes in years.

I read in another post that the lift pump should "spray" diesel when the line was removed...it did pump the fuel, but it was hardly a "spray".

My thoughts are that it is something mechanical due to the strange noise I heard when trying to start it for the first time that morning....

I may pull the lift pump to double-check that it hasn't failed...

Keep those cards and letters coming in....and many thanks!

__________________
Currently Driving.....
1987 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo - Daily Driver.
2004 Buick Rendezvous...Smaller than it looks!
2005 Mitsubishi Galant - Not bad for a tin box...Lousey Seats
Past Vehicles.....
1994 Dodge B-250 Van- GAS HOG..Succumbed to rust!
1989 Mercedes Benz 260E - Totaled but no one injured.
1977 Mercedes Benz 240D - Loved it, but SLOWWW! - Succumbed to RUST!
1976 Mercedes Benz 240D - Same as above! -
1975 Mercedes Benz 240D - Same as above!

It can take quite a bit of cranking to get the air out of the system, ask me how I know....

I don't know if it's bad or not, but I spray a little carb cleaner in the air intake to help it kick over and suck the air out faster when cranking.

And check your fuel supply all the way from the tank - put a mityvac on the system, directly to the line from the tank, moving 1 piece at a time towards the IP i.e. through the filter, prefilter, etc until you find the restriction (if there is one).

replace the filter, don't just drain it.

__________________
1983 240D Silver/Blue "Sadie", unknown miles. 100k miles on WVO single tank, converted to 2 tank about 10k miles ago, FPHE, Injector Heaters, Aux Fuel pump. Alcohol/Water injection. Frantz oil bypass filter
1992 300D 2.5 Turbo Green/Tan "Jade" 267K miles Stock.
1992 300D 2.5 tan/tan "Rocky" on 2 tank WVO. Pressure actuated Turbo "rat's nest" surgery completed. 197k miles

Fuel filters should be changed, fill the main filter with fresh clean fuel or diesel purge or diesel 911 prior to installation. Check your glow plugs. Start with simple stuff, work toward complicated.

You may have gotten some water in your tank with the off-road fuel.

__________________
Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

only difference w/ off road diesel is that it isn't taxed, and is dyed red neither of which should hinder vehicle performance.

__________________
0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

It sounds like your feed pump kicked the bucket.

__________________
600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.