This sounds like my clogged vent tube incident that I had on my 85 300CD. I ran out of fuel before my normal distance and the fuel gage was stuck. Not sure why I looked at the tank, but it had been succed in when driving and fuel is drain from the tank by the pump and the vent line was rusted shut. The clogged vent created a vacuum as fuel was drawn out and the external air preasure crushed the tank. I carefully pressurized the tank to get it back to it's normal shape and painted where the the paint had chipped. I also had to buy a new fuel gage sensor the original was bent in the tank. I then had to try and unplug the vent line, ended up using a small diameter control cable from my RC plane to break thru the rust in the vent tube. Apperantly there was a low spot in the line where water could collect and caused it to rust.
A tell tale sign is if you hear a woush as the vacuum is release when you remove the fuel fill cap. The sound you hear is the air pressure equalizing inside to outside of the tank. Robert Massmann 87 190D 2.5 Turbo 85 300CD 82 300D 81 Rabbit Diesel Caddy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kaleb C. Striplin, work" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 1:13 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Here's a new one... > sounds like you need a new tank. > > --- > Kaleb C. Striplin > Cox Auto Trader > 730-Tulsa FSBO Supervisor > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Timothy Robinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 9:19 AM > Subject: [MBZ] Here's a new one... > > >>I bought a 300D from a guy this summer. The car had 323K miles, 100k more >> than the other two but I was impressed in how it ran. I mean, it seems to >> be >> waiting for the key to be inserted so it can start. A little worse for >> wear, >> it's my favorite daily driver. Vac, a/c... everything works like a top >> 'cept >> for the cruise. >> >> The problem was the fuel gauge seemed to be stuck on 1/2. I topped off >> the >> tank and it still registered 1/2. About 230 miles later it seemed to run >> out >> of fuel but I happened to have some in a container in the trunk, added, >> primed and ran to the station to fill the tank... only about eight >> gallons >> to fill? >> >> A week later, about 190 miles on trip odometer it seems to run out of >> fuel >> again. I'm assuming that there's algae in the tank and the strainer is >> clogged. Is it possible that a full tank is enough weight that fuel can >> get >> through a clogged stainer but 1/2 a tank and flow stops? At any rate, >> until >> I have time to see what's going on I just manage to keep the tank filled. >> Highway miles computing close to 30mpg/city 26mpg or there about, I don't >> let it get more than about seven gallons down. >> >> It was "her time" to get into the shop so I asked trusted indie, Todd to >> "make a list" which would include addressing the fuel situation. >> >> He calls this morning with the strangest news. Seems the tank looks like >> it's been beaten down to 1/2 it's size, about 1/2 capacity. It's like >> someone needed that compartment to store something. >> >> ...then it registered. I was impressed by the condition of the car when I >> bought it, yet I did buy it for a "steal." When I asked the previous >> owner >> if he knew much of the car's history he said, "I think someone used it to >> haul drugs" as he signed over the clear title. >> >> Course, now I'm paranoid should I ever go through a security check point >> and >> the "drug dogs" start sniffin'... >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ >> For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
