Author Topic: Fuel Problem  (Read 3252 times)

gong17

  • Guest
Fuel Problem
« on: November 03, 2016, 01:49:54 »
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  8)

Cees Klumper

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Fallbrook
  • Posts: 5721
    • http://SL113.org
Re: Fuel Problem
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2016, 05:53:57 »
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.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2016, 06:18:07 by Cees Klumper »
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

rgafitanu@gmail.com

  • Guest
Re: Fuel Problem
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2016, 12:07:30 »
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

  • Guest
Re: Fuel Problem
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2016, 21:23:02 »
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

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NJ, Edison
  • Posts: 1032
Re: Fuel Problem
« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2016, 15:52:32 »
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.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.
1997 Corvette C5 Silver. automatic
2015 BMW 320i xdrive
2021 Mercedes GLS450 Silver

Benz Dr.

  • Associate Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Port Lambton
  • Posts: 7220
  • Benz Dr.
Re: Fuel Problem
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2016, 01:02:39 »
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.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

gong17

  • Guest
Re: Fuel Problem
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2016, 21:31:07 »
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  :D and for whoever enjoys it after us