So, the manual says the tank in my 1980 w116 300SD is 82L with 14L reserve. Now is that reserve included in the 82L?

I drove it until my needle fell dead and then filled it with 80L of fuel. My low fuel light never came on, but is the tank really 96L? Perhaps I just never hit the reserve.

My fuel gauge needle is off by about 1/8 of a tank. Shows less then there really is, but it still works. I was hoping the light would still work.

Does anybody know if the tank capacity quotes in the FSM include the reserve or not?

Yes. The 82 litres is total capacity, including reserve.

The reserve light should illuminate with the other dashboard warning lights when you turn the key to the preglow position.

Behaviour of the reserve warning - when and if it seemed to work - has varied with different MB diesels I have owned. The accuracy of the fuel gauges has varied a fair amount too.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Oh ok, thanks. I've never seen the light come on. I did check the bulb, but maybe I'll double check it.

So if the needle is at the half tank mark is that at the 41L mark or the 34L mark?
It seems to me that it would be the 40L mark since the last 1/4 tank is only really 1/8 in size on the gauage and then I assume the light is supposed to come on when it lands on E.

The fuel gauges in these cars aren't exactly the most accurate thing ever to come out of Germany.

In my w123s, for example, the gauge meanders its way down to just under 1/2 -- then drops like a stone from one minute to the next, so it seems, to around 1/4.

I don't remember my w116 being that bad, however, maybe it was. Been a while.

In my experience you can drive on E for a while, before the light comes on.

Unless you have pulled the tank and cleaned it, I think the consensus would be that letting it get to E isn't a good idea anyway. I try not to go below 1/4 tank.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I usually don't get that low either either. I was trying to get rid of some bad fuel, and I also wanted to test if that light would even come on. Thanks for the info!

Sounds like your fuel sender units are dirty. Its very simple to clean, and if its never been done, there will be a significant amount of muck that needs to cleaned. Soap and water does the trick.

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Nosce Te Ipsum "Know thyself"