Fuel Problem

[gong17]

hi, have a 230SL Pagoda running 98 Octane. just in the last 3 months when the fuel reaches a level in the tank of roughly 60%, it starts coughing and spluttering, stalling etc until the tank is filled again and then it operates as per normal.

any thoughts

thanks 

[Cees Klumper]

Welcome to the forum. It may have something to do with the quality of fuel where you live  . If you do a search, I think you will find the likely cause is dirt in the fuel tank.

[rgafitanu@gmail.com]

If you do a search for "flower pot" in this forum you will find the most likely culprit. There are a lot of posts with this problem.

Radu

[gong17]

Many thanks for your suggestions, had printed out all the fuel tank information complete with pictures and saw the "flower pot".

Will get onto that and see if it resolves the issue

Cheers

Gordon

[Pinder]

there is a small hole at the bottom of the flower pot below one of the lines. it is likely that hole is blocked as when the fuel level falls below the pot the fuel in the rest of the tank is not flowing through the hole into the flower pot which is what the fuel line draws from. you may be able to get at it by taking out the fuel level sender unit and using wires etc to clear out the hole.

[Benz Dr.]

The hole in the '' flower pot* '' is more than just a hole as there is a baffle and channel on the inside edge of the flower pot wall where the fuel has to flow through. If there is crud in this channel you may not get any fuel to enter. I've been there before - maybe you will too......

 * The term '' flower pot '' is used with permission of the Benz Dr.

[gong17]

Thank you to all who made suggestions on this issue, it is now all resolved after removing the tank, full drain and clean, clearing all internal pipes and most importantly removing all the crud, silt and multitude of sins from the tank. hopefully it may be ok for the next 51 years  and for whoever enjoys it after us