Hmmmmm?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Completely forgot about that post and replacing the filters last July. So this makes me think the screen may be clogged because both filters are only a year old. And I just replaced the clear filter today which did not help.

The car will not start at all now. At first when I replaced the clear filter today it started fine and ran and revved fine. Then after about two minutes of running time it starved out like it was out of gas; fortunately I was idling in the garage. And not it will not start at all like it is out of fuel.

If I just dump in a biocide will it possibly cure the problem? It has too little fuel in the tank to switch the hoses as one post recommended.

Thx.

Could it be just simply out of fuel? That would account for several of the symptoms.

I would get a couple of gallons of fresh fuel and dump that in before doing anything else.

Do NOT change the spin-on filter until you are sure that the tank has sufficient fuel in it. Also, you have the old style of hand pump. I would suggest replacing that with the new style before you change the spin-on filter. You definitely should change the spin-on filter after you get it running. If you have been running on the bottom of the tank, you may have picked up all sorts of crud, rust flakes, and water.

Another hint: Life will be much easier if you change the filter when the engine is warmed up.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Repeat....."
Changing filters is a good place to start and the easiest way to troubleshoot bad filters. My fuel is yellow. What's in yours? Startron (ask Prof Google where to buy) worked wonders when I had stuff growing in the fuel.

You can consider other things if necessary once you know filters and fuel are good. The pick up screen in the tank can become clogged.

Some air in the clear filter is normal. Mine is nearly fuel filled when running since replacing a couple of leaking hoses. Changing fuel line is maintenance and should be done routinely before problems, rather than after. It is similar to changing radiator hoses before they leak and leave you on the road."

Done that yet?

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

We think alike. I just put a gas can in the other car and will head out to the BP tomorrow morning. Even though the gauge says I am not out of fuel, I am low. Maybe that is the problem. More tomorrow. Battery on the charger tonight.

PS - almost all of the hoses are original.

Well, I dunno. Put in two gallons of fuel and it spun and spun and never started. For 30 years it has always started in about one or two seconds. Maybe it it the screen. How difficult it is to remove and clean the screen?

Thx. Cannot be the main filter because I replaced it a year ago after the other one lasted 30 years.

You are making a potentially bad assumption there. It takes but one bad refueling event to severely clog a secondary filter.

Years ago, I was traveling and stopped at name-brand truck stop that was selling diesel for $0.69/gal when it was $0.89/gal everywhere else. (Yes, I should have known better.) I pulled out of the station after filling up and was unable to accelerate to more than about 40 mph. When I cut open my secondary filter, it was full of a substance that looked like river silt mixed with chocolate pudding. Interestingly, nothing showed in the primary filter.

People do that all the time.

I'd be interested in knowing what it turns out to be. Car forums don't habitually mark threads "solved" as frequently as some computer boards.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Just last week, my neighbor asked me to replace his alternator. I look at the car and tell him that his alternator is fine; the problem is the battery. He says, "It can't be the battery, I just replaced it." "When, exactly?" I asked. "Not that long ago," he replied.

Date on the battery: May, 2006.

Guess I could replace the spin on filter again just for grins. Thanks for the input.

Mark Solved. Replaced the large filter; all good again. First filter lasted about 29 years. Second lasted one year. Go figure. At least I am back in action again.

When I 1st got my SD, it lost power on the interstate, wouldn't go over 40 mph and was getting worse. I had never been responsible for a diesel and didn't have internet access on the road. I ended up renting a tow dolly from U-haul and dropping the drive shaft. No flat beds were available and we had a couple hundred miles to go. I had literally just purchased a diesel ram and was driving it while my wife drove the SD.

So...several hrs screwing around with tow dolly & drive shaft,working in 100* heat, crawling around on the blacktop, cost of dolly (1 way), extra night in hotel - the only problem was fuel filter(s)...I now carry 2 sets of filters and tools to change them in the trunk.

Filters also get changed every other oil change.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Still running great but the price of diesel sure has jumped while it was on sick call.