I think I have a fuel leak. It doesn't matter where I drive it or how I drive it, my 1993 300D 2.5 always smells like diesel fuel. Here are some pictures of fuel pooled where one of the fuel injectors sits (At least, I think it's a fuel injector. I'm not really a car expert, but I do well at following directions ) I'm not sure if this is the only place it's leaking, but I'd like to fix this first. For some reference, I'm trying to diagnose and fix the reason the car doesn't have much power at highway speeds (Vacuum system question)



The metal line and the braided lines are not wet, so I think the leak is at the injector itself. Should I just replace it? Tighten it somehow?

For the costs involved, I'd call Phil (Buy Parts link at the top of the page) and order a yard/meter of Diesel injector return line. Cut new lines to the lengths of the old lines and clean the injector wells with something like brake parts cleaner. See if that helps with the smell. If not, dig into it further.

On beside and under the injectiop pump is a series of fuel hoses. Fuel comes through a hard line from the fuel tank to a rubber hose to a plastic fuel filter to another hose to a fuel thermostat. The fuel thermostat has a hose to the lift pump attached to the injection pump as well as outbound and return lines to the fuel heater in the cylinder head. Lots of rubber hoses that degrade over time. Check for fuel leaks or dampness in that entire circuit or just replace all the rubber hose segments. Good time to upgrade to Viton hoses if you plan to run biodiesel.

There are lots of other fuel leak sources to check in and around the injection pump. I'd make sure it's not anything else before buying new injectors you might not need.

Sixto
87 300D

I don't know, those hoses look a damp to me close to the injector nipples. Here's a simple test, pinch the return hoses close to where they attach to the injector then smell your fingers.

Sixto
87 300D

Thanks for the suggestions!

I pinched the lines like you suggested and didn't feel wetness or smell diesel. I soaked the fuel up with a paper towel and started the car and fuel came out where the text is engraved on the injector, shown below.




It appears like the fuel is coming out where I marked it orange (click to enlarge it), but I can't really see it well. Is this something that I can adjust? The return lines seem cheap enough to replace anyway, so I'll definitely do that.

I like to spray things off with brake cleaner and get everthing nice and dry. Afterwhich I let the vehicle idle while I observe with a strong Flash Lignt and run my fingers around the suspected area. You will find where the leak is comming from.
Where they leak with the most likely at the top of the list.

Fuel Injector Return Hoses (There is several threads on where to get it)

Fuel Injection Line Cracked or has a pin hole (mostly on the newer Engines)

Leaking between the 2 halves of the Fuel Injector; where the upper body and the Injetcor Nut that holds the Spray Nozzle together. (most ofte seen right after Injectors have been apart and re-assembled but "ounce in a blue Moon the halves loosen")

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel