Mercedes W126 300SD - Fuel Tank Rust Removal - Part 2 - Tank Cleaning

#impalamansgarage1
In part 2 of this video series we will clean rust and algae from our 300SD diesel fuel tank. In this series we will take you step by step through the process of removing the diesel fuel tank from a Mercedes W126 300SD, cleaning it, and reinstalling it.
Materials:
Evapo-Rust - 5 Gallons
www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/...
Superclean degreaser:
www.superclean.com/products/s...
Algae killer
91% Isopropyl alcohol
Notes:
1) Other methods of rust removal include:
A) Vinegar
B) Muriatic acid - Safety hazard (This is really just Hydrochloric acid. If you remember high school chemistry, this stuff is dangerous. That's why I did not want to use it.)
2) Making this video was an epic PITA.

[@Q8FAB]

Big HI from Kuwait... Keep it rolling.. Awesome & great job man 👍👍👍

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Thank you sir. Cheers and thanks for watching.

[@rhabdo6630]

I'm in the process of refreshing my entire fuel system on my 1993 Mercedes 190E 2.6L. The easiest and best way to clean out your gas tank is to take it to your local radiator shop. They will boil it out and coat the inside with a thick military spec sealer. I did this to my 1974 BMW 2002tii.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Sounds like a fantastic plan ! That is what I should have done. Honestly did not think that a radiator shop would do gas tanks. Great tip !

[@patrick89109]

Thank you very much for a very informative video... really good👌👌💯

[@lorenreyes2855]

I had some of the goldish is a protective coating that Mercedes put on the car to protect it from rust damage during shipping. Most of mine is gone off the engine but still on my fuel filler area. By the way you remind me of Keith Emerson throwing his Hammand b3 organ on stage!😂😂😂😂😂! Thank you for sharing your knowledge on the dreaded algae and rust issues of I believe in every fuel tank?

[@bobbuilder5362]

Fuel level sender and tank strainer housing are both 63 mm sockets. You can get a low profile socket specifically for this purpose and fairly cheap. Using vice grips will work, but I have seen them break the alloy housing before quite easily.

[@alc11803]

The rubber buffers are still available through your local Mercedes dealership

[@user-id9ce5lw1t]

fuel sender is a 46mm socket. i have done it on mine w123 300D

[@ronnymb67]

That it most likely Cosmoline that wasn't washed off after it's journey from Da Fatherland.

[@mr.celica2288]

First! Haha can’t wait to watch it

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Thanks! Challenging project due to unpredictable results.

[@ronstjohn6780]

Watching your video and enjoying the fact that my MB is a gas burner. Had a 240d at one time but traded it in. Good video. thanks

[@taylorroberto1309]

you probably dont give a damn but does someone know a tool to get back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot my account password. I would love any tricks you can give me

[@alessandrodraven9791]

@Taylor Roberto instablaster :)

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@wernerdanler2742]

I thought sure when I heard that big sigh just after you,went off cam that you,had taken a swig of that alcohol. Lol I think I'd have got another tank. Looks like a lot of trouble. If that burp hose or whatever it's called is good just put a clamp on it at the top. I assume it already,has one at the bottom. See you for the next installment of the continuing saga of the troublesome fuel tank.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

The factory over flow is a hard plastic line. Brings it own challenges. LOL.... We have a plqn though!

[@wernerdanler2742]

@@ImpalamansGarage What's the plan (plqn) man? Lol Maybe mine had been replaced because I remember it being large diameter fuel hose. Or maybe on the 85 300d they used the fuel hose.

[@Anderware]

If you didn't have a boroscope you could be like the rest of us and not even know you needed to worry about evaporust residue!

[@billwilson-es5yn]

That's fuel vapor residue. Leaded gasoline vapors left an orange residue. I had leaded gas vapors exit from motorcycle gas caps that left an orange stain on top of the tanks. I had to use paint polishing compound to take it off.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

The car runs on diesel fuel.

[@jrorellana4865]

Great video, love your attitude , I will need to do this soon on my 91 350SD, but I don't want to spend $400 on Evapo-Rust. Do you think vinegar is as good or is it better to use 5 gallons of Evapo-Rust and flip it every 12 hours and not worry about that yellow residue? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Evapo-Rust is an expensive option. No doubt about that. Vinegar is a good rust remover as well and it is cheap. I've never tried it in a fuel tank though. This is NOT an easy job. Keep that in mind. 5 gallons of Evapo-Rust works but it is a lot of work to rotate the tank every so often. In retrospect the yellow residue left behind does not concern me. That's what fuel filters are for.

[@jrorellana4865]

@@ImpalamansGarage Thanks for the tip, I will try the vinegar first and if it doesn't work then I will go for the Evapo-Rust.

[@victtorciferri4291]

Was it a protective coating from the factory? -Proceeds to scrap Oh man, I cant blame you I would have done exactly the same

[@MrEspokeY]

Next step parking brakes plz;)

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Hello Pawel. Do you have a specific question about parking brakes?

[@MrEspokeY]

Not yet , but it's my next project after front suspension, w126 420sel . I'm doing the same restoration like you ;)

[@Johnathan_Waters]

The gold paint tone could be from years of diesel, or it could be cavity wax. Some rubbing compound should tell the truth. There should be TWO rubber buffers, you are correct. Also, I believe you can still get them NEW from MB. Not too expensive. Same story with the filler neck seal, and cap seal. Should be REALLY nice when done!

[@ImpalamansGarage]

I'll give the rubbing compound a try and see what happens. I think you are correct on the cavity wax. I'll poke around a bit more and see!

[@jackorlando7]

He he he It is made specially from Mercedes to protect the metal parts mostly on the engine and look fancy gold my friend.It is cadmium coat.

[@ace7821]

Where did you get that hand pump that looks like a stick?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Walmart. Runs on D batteries. It was pretty good actually. I killed it trying to pump engine oil with it later on. 😆 works fine for thin fluids.

[@alc11803]

Factory-installed wax

[@alc11803]

How much is that 5 gallon evaporust?

[@ImpalamansGarage]

$110.00

[@tisoy909]

I think its this stuff called cosmoline.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Stuff in the fuel filler area? It does look like cosmoline. I've got an antique military volt meter and it has that stuff in it. Cosmoline really stinks though. LOL..... This stuff on the car has no smell.

[@porcupinepunch6893]

​@@ImpalamansGarageIt seems the stuff Mercedes used was not "cosmoline" which I believe is normally a thick grease, but rather they used a spray-on wax type solution

[@bapcecec4599]

I order new tank for sl450 455$

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Thats the easiest solution but I'm stubborn. Ha ha.

[@forgotten320]

Where did you buy that tank from?

[@user-tk7tt3ll5r]

Don’t waste time ,just concentrate on gas tank

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Hurry up man! We can't wait all day!