When came the bigger gas tank and lying spare wheel?

[Jaru]

Anybody know approximately what chassis number?

[66andBlue]

Spare wheel position changed starting with chassis number 7205 (23 October 1964) but tank volume (65/9 liter) did not change.

[Jaru]

Ok, thanks

[Lars G]

Hi guys,

Well, the tank volume did change to 80 liter at that time, have a look in the technical manual.

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Fuel/Tank

Br
Lars

[scoot]

Spare wheel position changed starting with chassis number 7205 (23 October 1964) but tank volume (65/9 liter) did not change.

EPC says that the tank part number changes at 042 000203 and that starting then it is a 65 L tank.  It doesn't say what the volume is of the earlier tank but I think you are correct, that the volume is the same.

EPC agrees with you regarding the spare tire well going away at 042 7205.  

But then the technical manual says "Two sizes of fuel tanks are used on the Pagodas. 230 SLs have a 65 liter tank. Early 230 SLs have a vertically mounted spare wheel on the left side of the trunk with its well sticking out under the trunk floor. Later, (after chassis # 007205) the spare wheel mounting was changed to a horizontal position on the right side of the trunk. This allowed for a flat trunk floor and a bigger 80 liter tank could be fitted from November 1965 to the 230 and then to 250 and 280 SLs. The 80 liter can also be fitted to the flat trunk floor 230 SLs but the electric fuel pump has be relocated."

And EPC says that the tank on a 250 SL is 85 L.  So why would MB change the floor and switch tanks on a 230 SL and not move the fuel pump to accommodate the larger tank at the same time as moving the spare tire?  Why move the spare tire at all for that matter if not to increase the tank capacity...  

I don't disagree, I just don't understand the logic behind it.

[scoot]

Well, the tank volume did change to 80 liter at that time, have a look in the technical manual.

Actually that's not what the technical manual says.  It says that the trunk floor will accommodate the later larger tank if you move the fuel pump.   Again, this makes no sense to me (moving the spare) _unless_ you also switch to the larger tank, but EPC says otherwise...

[Lars G]

Hi Scoot
Yes you are right! I was too fast. The picture even shows a 230SL with flat trunk and the small tank!
I definitely agree with you that it makes no sence to make all these changes and not enlage the tank immediately.
Br
Lars

[66andBlue]

Also take a look at this table: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Maintenance/Start#FillingCapacities

[scoot]

I definitely agree with you that it makes no sence to make all these changes and not enlage the tank immediately.

Maybe they had already manufactured 20,000 65 L tanks to use up...?

[KipF]

I have a '66 230sl with the "lay flat" spare but it has the smaller, 230sl tank.  The car had been sitting for quite some time when I got it and the tank had an enormous amount of crud in it.  I decided it was better to replace the tank than to try to have it cleaned out and refinished.  The larger tank is not an easy task without making modifications.  I'm not saying it can't be done, but it's not easy.  We tried, but it wan't going to fit without some modifications - it's not a simple "bolt on" process.  I ended up waiting for the next round of new (and smaller) tanks from MB so that it would just bolt back on, plus I really wanted to keep the car as original as possible.  I'm the third owner and just now beginning the process of getting its first repaint.
My understanding, and members please correct me if I am wrong, is that the later model 230's were built alongside the 250's in '66.  The 250's came with the larger tank, but I don't think any of the 230's had it.

[garymand]

I love this:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W113
1) " 09/1964: Spare tire well removed, tire mounted horizontally."
2) "The 250 SL was introduced at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show.[10] Production had already commenced in December 1966 and ended in January 1968. The short one-year production run makes the 250 SL the rarest of the W 113 series cars. The 250 SL retained the stiffer suspension and sportier feel of the early SLs, but provided improved agility with a new engine and rear disc brakes. Range also improved with increased fuel tank capacity from 65 L (17.2 US gal) to 82 L (21.7 US gal)."

Has any body with an analytical mind checked the Wikipeidia facts for accuracy?

[Markbhai]

I have a 230 SL which came off the production line in October 66 and is registered in the UK in January 67.  Judging from my own experience I would concur that the capacity of the tank in my car is the smaller tank.

I say this as it takes about 45 ltd when on 1/4 full on the fuel gauge.

M.

[66andBlue]

...  Has any body with an analytical mind checked the Wikipeidia facts for accuracy?

Gary,
are you trying to tell us that you don't have an 'analytical mind' ?? 
You can find all of the information in the Wikipedia link also on our web site here. And yes, the Wikipedia facts are facts.

[jpinet]

My 230sl is # 9086 and I can assure you it has a small tank with the spare lying flat. I can put around 65 litres in an empty tank and about 15 more on the ground to make 80!

[Norm]

Logic would suggest that Mercedes engineers waited to tweak the suspension with the 250 to accommodate the weight of the larger (and heavier when full of fuel) tank.  Having just replaced my smaller tank with a new larger tank and having to modify the position of the fuel pump.  I can understand that the changes were probably best addressed with the model change.

Norm

[andyburns]

I think with all the rust that was in the bottom of my tank the capacity has increased at least another 10l from new 

[Benz Dr.]

I have a 82 liter tank in my 230SL. It wasn't hard to install but I did have to move the fuel pump. All 230SL's use a 65 liter tank.