My 1988 300tdturbo is getting water into the fuel system. First noticed problem 10 days ago, with hard starting, white smoke, rough idling. Then saw milky fuel in the transparent primary filter.

I only buy diesel from one station and have confirmed their fuel is clean. I also eliminated mischief, no one poured water into my tank. Thus I drained my tank and replaced both fuel fiters.

A few days later, my primary filter was milky again! This time I thoroughly drained and blew out my tank and fuel lines w/ compressed air (thinking I may have done a poor job the first time). Of course, I replaced both filters again. Refilled my tank, engine was hummimg fine and fuel was clear.

That was yesterday. Today, after some use, my filter is MILKY AGAIN!

I was told that the fuel goes through a pre-heating system that uses hot radiator water. Is there a way for water from the cooling system to enter my fuel system?
I had noticed my water level needing refilling a few times lately, but I did'nt think much of it. Till now!!

What country are you in and what body style is your car? (123, 124, 126??) There are no 1988 diesels in North America, so it's hard for us to know what you have.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Sorry for not mentioning, palangi.
My problem car is a 124 300tdturbo, bought in Germany and shipped to the Philippines (where I live) in 1989. I bought it in excellent shape from the original owner 4 years ago.
Hope you can help?
Thanks, Manolet

hope you get this fixed. Water can destroy your Inection pump QUICKLY!

"If you have the 5cyl engine" here is a manuel to help you search out your problems. I'm thinkng you have the 6cyl though.

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"If anyone knows other lessons I need to learn, please tell me. I'm tired of learning them the hard way".
by JerryBro

The Glow Plug Wait: This waiting period is a moment of silence to pay honor to Rudolph Diesel. The longer you own your diesel the more honor you will give him". by SD Blue

My normal daily life; either SNAFUed- Situation Normal... All Fouled Up, or FUBARed- Fouled Up Beyond All Repair

62 UNIMOG Camper w/617 Turbo, 85 300SD daily driver- both powered by blended UCO fuels

There aren't very many potential sources of water in the fuel tank. Leaks into the system from OBVIOUS holes in the filler pipe or tank are possible, but VERY unlikely.

Water WILL condense naturally from the air within any less completely filled tank whenever ambient temperature drops below the dew point of the air. The water that condenses drops to the bottom of the tank as it's heavier than fuel and it doesn't evaporate when the air warms back up because it's COVERED by fuel. Over a year or so more than a pint can accunmulate so it's prudent to sequester water once or twice a year to keep it free from water. The use of any fuel anti-freeze or anti-gel/fuel system cleaner will usually do the trick. Another advantage of keeping the water content under control is that algea can't grow unless there is SOME water in the tank (the bugs LIVE in the water and eat the fuel).

I rather doubt that water accumulated from air in the tank is your problem and the possibility of a damaged fuel heater seems MUCH more likely. It can simply be by-passed. If that corrects the problem you may need to do NOTHING miore unless you anticipate below freezing temperatures, then the heater should be replaced. If water is getting into the fuel, then you will be loosing coolant and that requires that the cooling system element of the fuel heater be isolated from the the cooling system unless it's replaced.

There were 190D 2.5 diesels sold in the US every year from 1986 thru 1989 according to the 1988 TDM dated 12/88.

Marshall