cleanable prefilter for 300D - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kamil · #16 06-09-2004, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by P.E.Haiges
Kamil,

Why do you change the fuel filter every month and a half? You must be under the mistaken theory that a new fuel filter filters better than one that has been in the fuel system for a while.

As a fuel filter starts to load up with particles, it stop passing particles that are smaller and smaller. Thus it filters better up until it will no longer pass enough fuel for the engine to develope full power. THat's when it time to be changed or cleaned and replaced.

P E H

That makes sense.... thanks

i love learning new things all the time

Palangi · #17 06-12-2004, 10:16 AM

When I bought my 240D, it had about a 4 inch metal filter inline ahead of the prefilter. It also an electric pump in the line. I should have known something was up, but I removed the pump and filter and replaced the prefilter and fuel lines to restore it to the original configuration.

Well, 100 miles later the car would barely run due to the prefilter clogging up with algae. I drained the tank and gave it 2 treatments of Diesel Doctor and a steady diet of Diesel-911. There was a period of time when I was cleaning or replacing the prefilter every 100 miles.

It dawned on me that the reason the original owner installed the extra inline filter was to extend the time between prefilter clogging. I went to Autozoo and found a filter with a sediment bowl design. (Duetch FF-418) I put this inline ahead of the prefilter. Now I have gone about 2000 miles without a prefilter clogging incident. I can see the crud in the bowl, but it settles to the bottom harmlessly.

I will keep up the Diesel-911 treatment and run it this way for a while. Knock on wood, so far it seem to be working.

Here's a picture showing both filters.

kamil · #18 06-12-2004, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Palangi
When I bought my 240D, it had about a 4 inch metal filter inline ahead of the prefilter. It also an electric pump in the line. I should have known something was up, but I removed the pump and filter and replaced the prefilter and fuel lines to restore it to the original configuration.

Well, 100 miles later the car would barely run due to the prefilter clogging up with algae. I drained the tank and gave it 2 treatments of Diesel Doctor and a steady diet of Diesel-911. There was a period of time when I was cleaning or replacing the prefilter every 100 miles.

It dawned on me that the reason the original owner installed the extra inline filter was to extend the time between prefilter clogging. I went to Autozoo and found a filter with a sediment bowl design. (Duetch FF-418) I put this inline ahead of the prefilter. Now I have gone about 2000 miles without a prefilter clogging incident. I can see the crud in the bowl, but it settles to the bottom harmlessly.

I will keep up the Diesel-911 treatment and run it this way for a while. Knock on wood, so far it seem to be working.

Here's a picture showing both filters.

I hear alot of people talking about algae. How do you get that in your tank ? I've never seen it in person nor have I had it.......

dabenz · #19 06-12-2004, 01:58 PM

I have two stock pre-filters. One stays in the trunk for a battle spare. At the fall oil change I pull the prefilter and toss it into an old glass peanut butter jar and fill with diesel so that the filter is covered and work the air bubbles out. The next morning I gently blow the filter the wrong way with air and reinstall. This takes 5min. That pre-filter is 20yr old and probably cost a dollar then. Maybe I'm cheap or wasting my time. But then again my life was paid for before the age of 40 and I now work because I want to, and not because I have to. And I think I see PEH smiling.

Palangi, you've discovered the "secret". Clean fuel = a happy engine.