Fuel Tank problem???

[ann]

Having recently "inherited" my c250td 1998 model and having only drove approx 100 miles since I got it, the car lost its power, if I hadnt known better I would have said it was out of diesel, It was towed into the garage who said they could find no fault i.e. "it is working" ! It did for about 10 miles and again lost power, fuel filter has been changed twice and it goes for about 10 or 15 miles then loses power again. Any suggestions?

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi, Welcome to the forum
I had a similar problem with an old BMW where a sealing disc from the lid of a bottle of petrol treatment had gotten into the fuel tank this use to float and drift in the tank until eventually it would get sucked to the fuel outlet blocking the fuel stopping the car. It would then drift away few minutes later and it would start again.
Took ages to suss out the problem, but this "shouldnt" be impossible on your car as you have an anti syphon device fitted. Unless something has broken free inside the tank.
Try your fuel tank breathers as they could be blocked, next time it cuts out remove the fuel cap if there is a hiss of air i would say that your breathers were blocked even better remove the cap and run the car if it doesnt cut out the fault lies in your tank breathers.
Give it a try nothing to lose.
Anybody else have any ideas?

 

[television]

Maybe Ann lived next door to someone like me who would drop cotton wool balls into the fuel tank.

Apart from what bigasotonuk says it does sound fuel related,the most common being air in the system, and this includes the return to tank part.

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Does it have a prefilter next to the main fuel filter? Pull that out, check it isn't full of algae.

 

[Hibbo]

There should also be a strainer on the tank outlet. A right biatch to change but can be blown clean with compressed air.

 

[ann]

Thanks

Thanks for your replies. I have noted them all and will be going into the Garage with this information in the morning. I think my local merc garage are "taking me for a bit of a ride" something along the lines of "silly woman" doesnt know what shes on about. They told me today that there must be dirt in the tank and it would need to be renewed, other than dirt in the tank possibly introduced when last at fuel station ? there is nothing wrong with the tank surely the tank can be cleaned?

 

[television]

nothing wrong with the tank surely the tank can be cleaned?

In answer to that Yes they can.

Malcolm