Filling Fueltank

[big daddy]

I have a C220 cdi estate and have great difficulty when fuelling up ,as soon as I start the pump it cuts out Turning the nozzle upside down does allow some filling to take place but takes ages and is very awkward. . I had this problem with my previous car a C180 petrol saloon and the upside down method did work with it Is there a problem with the design of the filling pipe to the tank. The attendant at the garage commented that he had a great deal of problems with Mercedes Models sufferering from this.
Would appreciate any helpful comments. I am aware that Diesel fuel froths a bit and modern dispensing pumps do discharge at a pretty high rate however Mercedes would surely design their fuelling system to cope.
Hoping some one can help Cheers Big daddy

 

[JimmyTD]

I had the same problem with my previous C180 Estate and my current C250TD Estate. I find if I just insert the nozzle a liitle way then it works OK. Lots of people have told me they have the same problem too.

 

[big daddy]

I have a C220 cdi estate and have great difficulty when fuelling up ,as soon as I start the pump it cuts out Turning the nozzle upside down does allow some filling to take place but takes ages and is very awkward. . I had this problem with my previous car a C180 petrol saloon and the upside down method did work with it Is there a problem with the design of the filling pipe to the tank. The attendant at the garage commented that he had a great deal of problems with Mercedes Models sufferering from this.
Would appreciate any helpful comments. I am aware that Diesel fuel froths a bit and modern dispensing pumps do discharge at a pretty high rate however Mercedes would surely design their fuelling system to cope.
Hoping some one can help Cheers Big daddy

Thaks JIMMY Ihave tried that, Still no joy :cry: BD

 

[DrData]

Filling fuel tank

Also having same problem with C220 CDi Estate (2 months old). At one Shell station, using nozzle right way up, increasing pressure in very small increments resulted in a reasonable flow. Would be interested to know if your can get this to work elsewhere as it does not work at all sites and am still experimenting.

 

[DaveS]

I have an E class diesel and have a similar difficulty in filling her up. By accident I found that if I parked on the wrong side of the pump, i.e. the pump on the other side of the filler, stretched the pump hose over the boot and inserted the nozzle in upside down, it fills away quite happily. Mind you, I'm exhausted from struggling with the hose and pulling it so it doesn't scuff the boot lid!

 

[TimN]

I suggest that you speak to an American. Over there they would not tolerate having to stand and hold the pump handle. It is still premissible for pumps to be automatic. If Mercs sold in America suffer in the same way as yours then they just would not sell any cars over there. You may recall scenes of people setting the pump and then getting back into the car when the sniper was on the lose.

 

[Arnie]

... not sure I'd want to be inside the car with an open fuel tank with someone shooting at me...

 

[Arnie]

I find that it's OK with some pumps and not with others. Also with some of the dodgy ones, particularyly Shell for some reason, increasing the flow very gradually (as Dr Date mentioned) gets round the problem.

I think that it's mostly to do with how UK pumps are set up, being too sensitive. Most probably they have not been readjusted to acount for the smaller openings on new cars, which leaves little clearance between the nozzel and the filler neck. Hence as you fill, the pressure builds up slightly in the tank causing the nozzel to trip.

 

[jimsinessex]

I have a 1999 CLK230K which fills fine EXCEPT at Shell garages, there no amount of fiddling nozzle position woks, just have to trickle the petrol in at a slow feed rate. Now I just avoid Shell unless desperate. Does anyone know what is different about the Shell pumps?

 

[p902]

I have this problem too with my C Class but only at one ESSO service station. I actually thought it waas their pumps till I read this. I get round this by increasing the flow gradually and not squeezing the pump lever to the full.

 

[steveperry]

I find that there are two solutions to this problem that have worked for me.

1.) As jimmy stated above, don't fully insert the nozzle instead only partially insert the nozzle and then you can fill at the full delivery rate.

2.) I used to use the above method until I found this method. When inserting the petrol nozzle into the tank rotate it clockwise through 90 degrees, again then you can fill the tank at the full delivery rate of the pump. I prefer this method as there is less chance of fuel spillage.

I had exactly the same problem on my previous car, a 1986 190E and my current car also suffers unless 1 or 2 above is performed.

S.