I ran out of fuel this morning on the way to work -- serious lack of power, etc -- on a low but no low fuel light tank. Put in a gallon or two from my brother's bulldozer supply jerrycan and then put in 16.5 gal at the station. Makes me think I have a bad screen, as the tank should hold 17 or so when the low fuel lamp comes on, 20 when completely empty.
Also check your hoses between the metal suction line and the lift pump, including the thermostat and fuel heater (its in the heater hose line by the oil filter). Leaks in those lines will permit air into the suction side of the lift pump and let the fuel siphon back down the steel line into the tank. Quite likely to be intermittant at first. Will also cause hard starts. I will be looking at mine tonight or tomorrow, and plan a filter change soon. The PO put some unearthly concoction of diesel fuel, biodiesel, and veg oil in it, and I suspect I'll need to remove the tank from the wrecked car and swap soon. Peter -----Original Message----- >From: andrew strasfogel <astrasfo...@gmail.com> >Sent: Nov 4, 2009 11:11 AM >To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >Subject: Re: [MBZ] Had another low-power episode, '87 300TD > >I had nearly identical symptoms with mine. Check the tank screen - mine was >completely coated with a brittle and impenetrable layer of 25 year old >diesel lacquer! > >On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 12:04 PM, Dillon, Meade M CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-ATLANTIC, >53310 <meade.m.dil...@navy.mil> wrote: > >> Dieselvolk, >> >> Well it happened again on my way to work this a.m., repeat of episode a >> few weeks ago. On my way to work with about 3/4 tank, outside temps >> around 55 deg F, and right after I passed the last off-ramp before a >> very steep bridge crossing, my baby started losing steam. My choices >> were to stop on the side of the road and call for help, and risk being >> very late for work, or try to limp over the bridge which has a VERY >> narrow emergency lane in heavy traffic. I decided to make a run at >> getting over the bridge and got lucky, my speed had dropped to about 30 >> mph at the top, at the next off-ramp I pulled into a station and >> refueled. >> >> I shut off and popped the hood and looked at the clear in-line filter; >> it was nearly empty but had some foam and bubbling action going on. >> Fuel was being sucked into the filter from the injection pump. I >> figured a plugged tank vent so I opened the fuel cap, but no "whoosh" at >> all. Filled the tank and started the car and took another look at the >> clear filter, and it was almost empty of fuel again. Low engine power >> condition was solved however, so I drove to work with no problem. >> >> So, I suspect that there is a vacuum forming inside the clear filter >> either because that filter is plugged or the tank screen is plugged. >> I'll be changing one or both shortly... >> >> Very respectfully, >> /s/ >> LCDR Max Dillon >> '87 300TD 316k miles >> '95 E300 274k miles >> Charleston SC >> >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >_______________________________________ >http://www.okiebenz.com >For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
