Blocked diesel filter, drained battery

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Blocked diesel filter, drained battery; Easiest way to start
Topic Started: Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:36 am (152 Views)
pwbadi	Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:36 am Post #1
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	My car which is currently on 100%WVO stopped on the A406 due to a fuel block. It happened once the before ( Same night) and I emptied the contents of the fuel filter and added fresh veg oil and with the help of the RAC man it started. On my way home it stopped again and I once again cleaned the fuel filter, this time with brake fluid (Adviced by RAC man) and the battery drained completely. Towed the car home and now I ve bought a filter and pre filter. Question are 1. What is the easiest way to start. Shall I add diesel and a bit of petrol to the new fuel filter, charge the battery and try ? 2. or empty the tank and fill with 90% diesel and 10% petrol ( Dont really wanna) 3. Is there any other easy way???.



Rich27	Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:40 am Post #2
If it has tits or an engine it will be trouble Posts: 13,226 Group: Members Member #348 Joined: June 15, 2006	I would change all the filters for new ones, charge the battery and check the glow plugs. (though it should start easly if the engine is hot) Also try priming the fuel filters with diesel to get it started. Let us know how you get on. Edited by Rich27, Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:42 am.



pwbadi	Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:44 am Post #3
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	Rich- Is it just 2 filters (Canister and pre filter) or is there a 3rd filter



Rich27	Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:48 am Post #4
If it has tits or an engine it will be trouble Posts: 13,226 Group: Members Member #348 Joined: June 15, 2006	I think there is one at the bottom of the tank. Kenny knows where, >>> Mentioned HERE<<< in the last few posts, aparently its above the diff, or a tank out jobby. Edited by Rich27, Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:50 am.



190D 2.5	Fri Oct 2, 2009 6:59 am Post #5
Member Posts: 1,942 Group: Members Member #231 Joined: March 30, 2006	Filters... Three. Main tank filter (a bugger to change). Pre filter. Main fuel filter. Sorry to hear about your probs. Do you know if the main tank filter has ever been changed. If you're running on veg it might be an idea to take this out completely and perhaps add another pre-filter in the engine bay. A lot easier to remove/change. Edited by 190D 2.5, Fri Oct 2, 2009 7:00 am.



kentronix	Fri Oct 2, 2009 7:27 am Post #6
Admin Posts: 16,340 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	When running on veg ALWAYS carry a spare canister filter and prefilter in the car. I really cant stress this enough. Plus the tools (actually just 1 screwdriver and adjustable spanner or mole wrench) and knowledge to change at the side of the road. Its pretty easy. Oh yeh, and a cloth I carry a bag for the old filter too, dont want to mess up your car. There is a third 'strainer' in the bottom of the tank but its nowhere near as common to clog s the others. The prefilter and canister will need changing in less than year I would say and the tank strainer in less than 15 years. The merc system is self priming so although it will mean less turning over its not actually vital to prime the system. Any air at the top of the new filter will be sent back to your tank and not recirculate causing it not to start like on many cars. A good charge, check the glow plugs operate as they should as rich says (light comes on for 10-30 secs when you have the key in ACC), and perhaps give it 2 cycles of the glow plugs. IE turn to acc until the light goes out and then off, and do it again. Thats all she should need.



shrekky	Fri Oct 2, 2009 8:37 am Post #7
Member Posts: 3,909 Group: Members Member #223 Joined: March 23, 2006	change the filters and tow start it ......................tow starting it will prime the fuel system quickly,you'll only to drag it about a 1/4 of a mile..........................this has happened to me a couple of times and i found out the hard way that 190 starter motors dont like being used heavily,melts the soldered joints inside



pwbadi	Sat Oct 3, 2009 7:19 am Post #8
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	Thanks for all the replies. Yeah it started after priming the new filters with 80% diesel and 20% petrol. Drove like a dream for 20 miles until the problems started again. It was 2 O clock again last night. Had to call RAC. Guy came checked both pre and canister filter and they were OK. Then he decided to send some compressed air to the tank. It worked and I drove home . However my problem is to get the tank cleaned. Might attempt it this weekend or take it to a garage



190D 2.5	Sat Oct 3, 2009 7:26 am Post #9
Member Posts: 1,942 Group: Members Member #231 Joined: March 30, 2006	If you can't face it yourself Chris and Tendai at Morning Lane Autos are very familiar with this job... They're near you. Morning Lane Auto Centre 198 - 199 Morning Lane Hackney London E9 6LG Telephone: 020 8533 7524



kentronix	Sat Oct 3, 2009 10:40 am Post #10
Admin Posts: 16,340 Group: Admin Member #147 Joined: January 20, 2006	Could be an air leak ? Air getting in at a joint. I would replace your diesel return line with clear and look for bubbles. If you have them then you have a leak somewhere. Move that clear line nearer the tank in a fwd direction, against the flow of the fuel one step at a time but replacing the next line along until you are no longer getting air. Its quite likely to be the fuel thermostat, its a weak point. You can just bypass it. Could of course be the tank strainer.



pwbadi	Sat Oct 3, 2009 6:10 pm Post #11
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	Kentronix- You could be right. There's air bubbles in my return line. The car's been given off for bodywork/painting. Will get it only after a week.



pwbadi	Sun Oct 4, 2009 6:49 pm Post #12
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	Adrian- How much did they charge you to clean the tank



nezamr	Sun Oct 4, 2009 8:15 pm Post #13
Member Posts: 798 Group: Members Member #2,484 Joined: April 4, 2008	cleaning the tank really isn't too important! Let the veg break it down and when your fuel strainer eventually gets blocked (in 6 months time) you can replace it with a new one and have a nice clean tank!



pwbadi	Mon Oct 5, 2009 4:48 am Post #14
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	I think its blocked already. Now I have problems when the tank is 1/2 full. It used to give problems when it was below 1/4.



pwbadi	Tue Oct 6, 2009 9:47 am Post #15
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	It started again this morning and stopped after driving 10 miles Back to square one. I think its definitely the tank strainer. Can I just remove the strainer out without removing the tank.



nezamr	Tue Oct 6, 2009 9:54 am Post #16
Member Posts: 798 Group: Members Member #2,484 Joined: April 4, 2008	if you get under the car, you will see it! It can be removed and replaced without draining the tank as the amount of fuel that comes out is quite slow. But be aware that it is very messy, so try and do it on your neighbours drive!



pwbadi	Tue Oct 6, 2009 10:11 am Post #17
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	What about the muck that is already inside the tank How can I get rid of that. Should I just let it come out slowly



nezamr	Tue Oct 6, 2009 10:39 am Post #18
Member Posts: 798 Group: Members Member #2,484 Joined: April 4, 2008	you can let it drain, but it is right under a pole (i think this is the diff!!) and doesnt come out as a nice stream but splashes all over the place! 1/2 tank of fuel will be around 30 litres, so you need to have buckets to hold it all in! This might be of interest to you: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/55663-how-replacing-fuel-tank-strainer-w124-w210-estate-diesel.html



pwbadi	Tue Oct 6, 2009 11:18 am Post #19
Member Posts: 117 Group: Members Member #4,272 Joined: June 13, 2009	Thanks nez- I am still puzzled with the operation of the strainer. I thought its at the outlet of the tank. It is obviously not. Anyway I will attempt it on saturday and hopefully bring it to adrians on sunday



nezamr	Tue Oct 6, 2009 11:22 am Post #20
Member Posts: 798 Group: Members Member #2,484 Joined: April 4, 2008	that guide was for a 300td. The 190d's are at the outlet, but once you have a look you will see!



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