I run out of diesel as soon as my reserve waring light comes on (E300).

[Niel18]

I bought a 1997 E 300 Turbo Diesel 7 seater estate two weeks ago and ran out of diesel unexpectedly on the way home.

I had just joined a motorway and was accererating and the car seems starved of juice so I coasted to the hard shoulder. Only when I tried to start it I noticed the reserve light had come on.

We couldn't start it then until I added 20 litres of diesel and we wound it over for some time. I put it down to being new to me and I hadn't noticed the light.

I've been watching the gauge like a hawk as I have been getting used to the car and having never having had a diesel before I wanted to compare my MPG and get an idea of my range before the light comes on, I've checked my handbook and it suggests I have 9 litres when the reserve light comes on. The gauge seems to be pretty accurate and I was quite pleased, however...

I got to 340 miles and on Wednesday night I went out and the light on the gauge was still not showing, but I knew it was due. I returned to car, started the engine and the light came on for the first time. I set off and within 100 yards went up a steep hill, turned left onto another hill, accerated and the car died just like the first time.

I couldn't start it so we sent out for fuel cans. Again it took me 3 cans (15 litres) and lots of winding the engine (obviously the self bleeding takes a while) before it started.

When I took it to the filling station I only got 49 litres in which, including the 15 I had added, proved that there was actually the 9 litres of fuel left in the tank when the light came on and I "ran out of diesel".

A couple of questions from a Mercedes novice please...

Is it usual for a Mercedes E300 (1997) to run out of diesel as soon as the light comes on?

Should it take the addition of all that fuel to restart it?

Is there some physical reserve tank/switch involved which might not be working?

Any ideas please? I bought this to be a luxury bomb proof and more ecomonical 7 seat estate than my existing legacy estate, although its actually older, ready for when our 4th child is born and I'm getting worried that I can't rely on it. Niel

 

[citroennut]

rely on it to run out when light comes on and refill at 1/4 tank . seriously you could check the sender unit, drop the tank to see where pipe is located in relation to fuel level o or just go with the first option for ease some cars have foibles you learn to live with.
simon