'01 C320 - Draining Fuel
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Joined: Mar 2012
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2001 C320
'01 C320 - Draining Fuel
Hey Guys. Longtime lurker here. I've searched the forums trying to piece together the information I need to no avail, so I thought I'd start a new thread.
2001 C320 - A few weeks ago, I purchased fuel from a local station, drove my car home and parked it over the weekend. On Monday, I was driving home from work when the car stalled. Towed it home and started diagnosing the problem. While testing fuel pressure, I drained a small amount of fuel into a glass bottle and inadvertently left it outside overnight. The next day, I discovered the fuel had a distinct diesel smell. I burned a small sample to confirm my suspicions: slow ignition & lots of black smoke... diesel contamination.
Using the fuel pump (cycling key off-and-on), I removed about 3/4 of the fuel and replaced it with new fuel. The car starts and runs now, albeit very roughly. I drove it for a little while, then it fouled out the spark plugs. Just replaced the plugs and I want to drain the tank and replace it with new fuel again. Any ideas on the easiest way to drain the tank? I don't really want to sit in the driver seat for hours turning the key off and on again with a hose on the schrader valve if there is another better method out there.
(BTW, not looking for answers that say "the station should pay for repairs." I've chased after them for a month now and they're basically saying that I'll have to sue them before they'll pay anything. If I can get it fixed relatively cheap, it's not worth the time and stress of a lawsuit. I'll just never buy gas from them again.)
2001 C320 - A few weeks ago, I purchased fuel from a local station, drove my car home and parked it over the weekend. On Monday, I was driving home from work when the car stalled. Towed it home and started diagnosing the problem. While testing fuel pressure, I drained a small amount of fuel into a glass bottle and inadvertently left it outside overnight. The next day, I discovered the fuel had a distinct diesel smell. I burned a small sample to confirm my suspicions: slow ignition & lots of black smoke... diesel contamination.
Using the fuel pump (cycling key off-and-on), I removed about 3/4 of the fuel and replaced it with new fuel. The car starts and runs now, albeit very roughly. I drove it for a little while, then it fouled out the spark plugs. Just replaced the plugs and I want to drain the tank and replace it with new fuel again. Any ideas on the easiest way to drain the tank? I don't really want to sit in the driver seat for hours turning the key off and on again with a hose on the schrader valve if there is another better method out there.
(BTW, not looking for answers that say "the station should pay for repairs." I've chased after them for a month now and they're basically saying that I'll have to sue them before they'll pay anything. If I can get it fixed relatively cheap, it's not worth the time and stress of a lawsuit. I'll just never buy gas from them again.)
Last edited by aerobat; Mar 9, 2015 at 09:48 AM. Reason: Grammar
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Austin, TX
2005 C230K(sold), Mk7 Jetta
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html
Afaik, the thickest hose comes from the tank.
Might as well replace the filter while you are in there.
Good luck!
Afaik, the thickest hose comes from the tank.
Might as well replace the filter while you are in there.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
2001 C320
Thanks
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...placement.html
Afaik, the thickest hose comes from the tank.
Might as well replace the filter while you are in there.
Good luck!
Afaik, the thickest hose comes from the tank.
Might as well replace the filter while you are in there.
Good luck!
Last edited by aerobat; Mar 9, 2015 at 10:12 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
2001 C320
Is there a way to drain it through the schrader valve on the fuel rail (i.e. jumper the fuel pump relay)? Sounds like that might be easier if so. The car is currently at my in-law's and I'm not looking forward to trying to jack it up while sitting on gravel.
Last edited by aerobat; Mar 9, 2015 at 10:55 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2015
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From: Surrey UK
S124 1995 300d and W203 2006 estate
Lift the rear seats.
unclip the carpet.
Remove two round metal plates held with 6 screws. use an 8mm AF socket. plates are sealed in place so a big flat blade scredriver to gently pry off.
Inside you find a large black plastic locking ring holding either the pump or the level sensor.
Carefully (I used a wood mallet and my biggest flat blade screwdriver) tap the black ring anti clockwise .Mine were both only a little more than hand tight. On a warm day with stronger hands may not need tools.
carefully lift the pump away enough to get a pipe of plastic syphon pipe into the tank. Its not neccesary to break any of the hose joints. I used 10mm pvc but it needed something to keep it straight so I taped a bit of rigid plastic so it went straight to the bottom of the tank.
I jacked the car up 6 inches which helped the syphon.
The tank saddles the prop shaft so it was nessesary to drain both sides.
Reassembly reverse of removal .
Note getting the black locking ring back on was fiddly. with care it was easy to achieve. Dont be tempted to force it back on. Once lined up it turned twice by hand before snuging it with the hammer as in removal.
I got 30 litres out in an hour start to finish.
I didnt get it all out, the level sender was still suggesting 40 miles range left.
Last edited by bigshineybike; Dec 4, 2024 at 04:35 AM. Reason: better reading
