FUEL TANK

[keesing]

 :x
Awhile back I found an interesting and informative thread on fuel tanks - with numerous photos of a cut-away and cleaning/problems etc. Now I cannot locate it!!

 :evil:  My dilemas keep going - with continuing fuel supply problems plaguing my new 250SL, engine just dying while traveling 70 to 80 MPH, I've tried everything and replaced almost everything! At wits end, I went to the fuel tank... to my aghast, I discovered 5 to 6 inches of sand, mud and rust in the tank! yuk! No wonder she wouldn't stay running! (either done intentionally or sat submerged for months???) I put in a new fuel pump ($700 part), new ignition coil, points, plugs and condenser, new resistor, filters and all new fuel lines - for a total of over $1,500. Tuned it and adjusted everything (many wrong parts used). Drove it for a couple days around town - went out on highway and it died out (10 times in 25 miles), would let it sit for 5 minutes and then able to drive another 2 or 3 miles before it died again - made it back to the garage (barely). They began looking for problem... fuel injectors, electrical, valves etc. - what they finally found was that it needs a NEW FUEL TANK - it has more than 5 inches of mud, sand and rust in the tank - my mechanic says that in 40 years of working on Mercedes he has NEVER seen anything like it! He assures me that it was either intentionally filled with sand and mud, or physically submerged for a long period of time - nothing that could have occurred normally! The tank alone costs $1,000. When the tank is pulled I will have it cut open and photographed! He showed me the mud line and it completely covered the bottom of the tank for 5 inches deep, all the way up to 3 inches on the fuel sending unit, which is in the top of the tank.

1967 250SL Signal Red
1987 260E Charcoal

[JPMOSE]

Fuel Tank Tour:

http://index.php?topic=1712

Fuel Tank Residue:

You may want to have the tank coated...but you must assure that the fuel intake, fuel return and fuel vent lines are kept clear.  Additionally, the drain plug screen must be protected, along with the passage way at the base of the "flower pot".

If you opt for a new one, make sure it is the "Real McCoy".  Look through some old threads and you will see reference to repro. tanks leaking.

Good luck...sorry to hear of problems!

Best Regards,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL

[J. Huber]

Yikes. Hang in there John, I think you are discovering why the guy before you was selling! If it was deliberate, I say get a rope! Horrible stuff. Anyway, best of luck. Personally, I don't think the new tanks are THAT expensive -- and eliminates chances of future rust problems. Be sure to check out all your options.

James
63 230SL

[JPMOSE]

John....the more I think of it, the stranger it seems that your car would actually be able to run with five inches of mud!  :?:  Think how well it will run on pure gas!  

Best Regards,

J. P. Mose
1968 250SL

[mrfatboy]

John,

that is totally bizarre.  When the mechanic said it was possibly "submerged", what did he mean?  Did he think the whole rear end or car was in a lake or something?

Have you talked to the guy who sold it to you?  I would love to hear what he had to say.  Did he tell you of any history about it?

[keesing]

My mechanic says that in 40+ years of working on MB's he has never seen anything even remotely close to this... he thinks that it must have been intentionally filled with sand & dirt, because even if it were submerged, water would enter tank, but not that much dirt unless it wer on the bottom of a river for months, and then there would be other visable signs. Five inches of muck and it still ran - just think how it will run with a new tank and running on gas alone!
[:p]
I've written to the previous owner - too angry to talk! He had told me it was in a museum for the past 12 years... didn't say the museum was in a lake!

1967 250SL Signal Red (runs on mud)
1987 260E Charcoal

[mrfatboy]

John,

Did you check for bullet holes or any dead bodies?  Was the last owner a Kennedy?  

Just kidding. I feel your pain.  Nobody likes to find out that your new car has "problems".  Where did you buy this car?  I remember that you said you had it delivered to you.  How long did you test drive it?  Do you think the previous owner did this or he was a victim also?  This is an amazing story. What type of person would put mud and sand in a gas tank?  Did the previous owner just get divorced?  

At least it sounds fixable.  Hang in there.

[J. Huber]

Well, I read in my tech manual that the very fine fuel filter keeps particles out of the IP. Good thing! And for all you out there that don't have a locking gascap -- get one soon just to be safe...

James
63 230SL

[dwilli3038]

I only had 1/4 inch of gunk in the bottom of mine. I cannot imagine 5 inchs. I guess the $700 I spent a a new tak 2 years ago was cheap.


Daryl
'64 230 SL
Serial # 508

[Ben]

The good news is that you found your problem !

Cant the tank be cut, cleaned and resealed ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by keesing

I put in a new fuel pump ($700 part), new ignition coil, points, plugs and condenser, new resistor, filters and all new fuel lines...

When replacing the fuel filter and fuel lines, did the mechanics not find excessive residue that might lead them to looking at the fuel tank?  Do you trust your mechanic?  I don't see how this car could run with 5 inches of any foreign material in the fuel tank.  It should have clogged the in-tank filter and "flower pot" and not allowed any fuel flow, right?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420