Diesel smell in trunk

[chiwanga]

I just purchased a really nice looking 240D 4-speed this morning. Old man, garage kept, run-around-car. The only thing strange that I noticed was that the trunk area had a strong diesel smell that he claimed was "very common with these cars". I have yet to smell diesel in the trunk of any of my merc. diesels even though the fuel tank is right up against the trunk. I saw no visible leaks on the garage floor, and he claimed that it didnt leak. What do ya'll think?

[rmmagow]

Might be nothing more than a loose fuel-filler neck connection. I don't know how they work on these cars but on of my gassers caused a trunk smell due to a crack in the rubber tube. It didn't drip either.

[RayG]

Slide up under the car and look at the braided rubber hoses that connect the rigid lines leading forward. Those flex lines weep fuel when they start to fail.

[jim16671836]

These 123's do not have a filler neck connection...It can be weeping out the bottom hose connections, the smell can be coming from the the cap and going down the outside of the filler tube into the trunk...a long shot would be the fuel float device...if anything is leaking you should find some diesel fuel because diesel doesn't evaporate the same as gasoline...I would change the cap first and drive and see...Jim

[lrg]

The 300s have a plastic expansion tank that can sometimes crack and leak fumes (or diesel if the tanks been over filled.) I'm not sure if your car has one or where it is but if you have one there will be at least one vent line coming off the top of the main fuel tank leading into the expansion tank. If it's leaking it should be obvious as mine had leaked and the tank and surrounding area were greasy with fuel.

[SHARK1007]

For what it's worth, I just fixed my 79 300SD with the same problem and also water puddling passenger side of trunk.

Turned out the fuel filler overflow vent was toast and was draining directly into the well of the trunk. I just got a fuel line, heated it in boiling water and hooked her up to the old nipple and routed it out the bottom.

Pull the carpet/liner out and nose around a bit!

[Stevo]

My wife & daughter complained about a diesel smell in the trunk. I replaced the rubber grommet around the filler neck in the fuel fill compartment and that fixed the problem, easy fix

[RalphinSL]

Originally Posted by chiwanga

I just purchased a really nice looking 240D 4-speed this morning. Old man, garage kept, run-around-car. The only thing strange that I noticed was that the trunk area had a strong diesel smell that he claimed was "very common with these cars". I have yet to smell diesel in the trunk of any of my merc. diesels even though the fuel tank is right up against the trunk. I saw no visible leaks on the garage floor, and he claimed that it didnt leak. What do ya'll think?

Did you ever fix the diesel smell in the trunk of your 240D? I also have a 4 speed 240D, 1982, that I've owned two years. It's a great car but the diesel smell in the trunk makes one afraid to put clothing and suitcases inside. I just today took off the covering hiding the fuel tank in the trunk and didn't see any diesel wetness. Could all that smell be coming from a loose gasket around the filler cap?

[Johnhef]

Originally Posted by RalphinSL

It's a great car but the diesel smell in the trunk makes one afraid to put clothing and suitcases inside.

what?!

I was thinking about marketing a diesel smell cologne. anyone interested?

[nhdoc]

Originally Posted by RalphinSL

Did you ever fix the diesel smell in the trunk of your 240D? I also have a 4 speed 240D, 1982, that I've owned two years. It's a great car but the diesel smell in the trunk makes one afraid to put clothing and suitcases inside. I just today took off the covering hiding the fuel tank in the trunk and didn't see any diesel wetness. Could all that smell be coming from a loose gasket around the filler cap?

Check the drain hose which runs from the fuel cap compartment to the underside of the chassis. This is usually the source of the smell. These can either shrink and come off at the top connector or become saturated with fuel oil and be the source of the odor themselves. You can buy some 5/8" clear vinyl tubing at Home Depot and replace it with this but you have to heat and stretch it open a bit to get it to fit over the tube at the back of the fuel cap compartment. I used a heat gun and inserted a pair of needle nose pliers into it to stretch it about 25%, then it fit perfectly and shrank down as it cooled for a nice snug fit. Good luck!

[Big J]

As well, my wife complained of the diesel smell in the trunk of my '81 240D. Honestly, I really didn't notice much of a smell .

The gromit around the filler was not sealing tightly. I went out on Fastlane and ordered a new gromit also ordered a new rubber gasket for the fuel filler cap ( about a $6 investment). After about a week the smell is almost completely gone.

If you have the fuel smell in the trunk, I would suggest replacing the gromit and filler cap gasket.

Now what will my wife have to complain about . . .

[iceman3876]

I'll tell you guys, I love that diesel smell. Hell I splash inside my car just to remind me how much i save in gas..plus it keeps ppl from wanted to hitch a ride. Hell after a thousand mile road trip..my eyes look like this

[d.delano]

************** offers a 123 Diesel Fuel Trunk Smell Fix Kit
Item # DSL-123TSF
Look at what's offered in the kit and buy it from Fastlane instead.

[Big J]

The kit at ************** shows the 2 rubber pieces that I purchased from FastLane. I did not purchase a new MB Filler Cap.

Info from FastLane:
E2022-44961 -> Fuel Filler Neck Seal -> $3.35
E2060-124896 -> Fuel Tank Cap Seal -> $2.65