Running out of fuel too soon
 

Seems like I'm full of questions today, this one is stumping me and I can't really find an answer that satisfies my issue.

Today my 84 300td started running bad, stumbling at idle and loss of power. Opened the hood and there was almost no fuel in the pre-filter and there were little bubbles going through the clear fuel hoses to and from the IP. Weird.... Drove to the gas station and it only took 16 gallons. The owner's manual says it has ~22 gallon tank. After filling up all the bubbles went away and the car runs as awesome as ever.

The lift pump is connected to the bottom hardline and the fuel return is connected to the top hard line, which I think is correct. The previous owner said he'd pulled the tank screen and cleaned it a year or so before I bought the car and it was very clean, however I haven't verified that.

What could be the issue here? Even if the tank screen is partially clogged at the bottom, I don't think it extends 6 gallons up into the tank.

What's the prefilter look like?

I put new pre-filter and main filter on the car about 2000 miles ago. The pre-filter looks very clear; no debris in it at all. Once the tank was full the pre-filter filled up with fuel like normal.

Most likely a clogged tank strain filter. You filled it up and gave the fuel more head pressure to pass the clogged filter. May be the lower part is clogged, they usually do.

What year/model car is this? Chances are you have the a 17.17 gal tank...

If it's never done this, and you truly ran out of fuel, your tank may have imploded. Remove the trunk lining and verify the tank is not crushed.

This sounds like it to me. My car "suddenly" began running out of fuel at a little less than 1/4 tank. I say suddenly because I am not in the habit of running lower than that and the first time I did, it died.

Pulled the tank strainer and it was full of a black substance with the consistency of pudding. Cleaned it up, ran a couple tanks of Star-Tron and the problem never returned.

He says in the OP that it's a 1984 300TD. Not sure if he eans a wagon or is using the 300TD designation incorrectly to specify a turbo.

84 300td (station wagon), I have the original owner's manual, and it says ~22 gallons. It's 18.something + 3.something reserve. I don't have the manual in front of me right now, but that's the ballpark. I should also note, when I remove the fuel cap it isn't stuck via vacuum or make a HISSSS. It comes off normally.

Is it possible to hook a vacuum to the filler cap and plug the vents, then remove the strainer without the tank draining? This is a trick that's worked for me on boat water tanks when I had to change out hoses or whatever. Certainly won't try anything until the tank is more empty and I have a catch bucket sufficiently large... What size is the MASSIVE internal hex on the strainer?


EDIT: I just had the car on the lift today applying fluid film, the tank didn't seem deformed, although it's impossible to see the top. I kinda sorta don't wanna pull the jump seats to get at the bottom of the trunk...

Imploded tank:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/314457-imploded-fuel-tank-so-sad.html

Everything I can find about the tank imploding applies to the sedans, and I've never had a pressure release when I pulled the fuel cap off. The bottom of my tank is fine, how does one view the top of the tank on a station wagon?

I highly doubt, your tank or any diesel tank in that mater can "impolde"...If the vent is clogged they can collapse...

Chances are one or two or all the hoses may be bad in the rear, causing an air leak...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...01-medium-.jpg

I've also heard that the plastic expansion tank can develope leaks.

Yes, you can attach a vacuum to the filler neck and use it to hold some of the diesel in. I'd plug the vent line and don't turn the vacuum on until you pull the strainer out. It's easier to pull a TD strainer.

I'm not sure how you'd get a good look at the tank. When you pull the strainer you can measure the diesel you take out and fill it full. If it takes much less it had to have imploded.

Hmmm, yea. Sadly I won't be back to the lift for probably 2 weeks, so I'll try to get there as empty as possible. I'll scrounge up some 5 gallon buckets and clean them out really well to drain into. Shouldn't take more than 2. What a pain. heh