inspect fuel lines near wheel well?

[adamkat22]

how do you get at any fuel lines that would be near the rear passenger side wheel well on a 240D? i have diesel dripping from the rear of that wheel well. assuming its a leak in a hose or something?

*one other note is that i have been driving with gas cap cracked. thought it was a harmless solution to clogged fuel vent that i didn't know how to unclog... until today, when i noticed that at some point in a 1 mile drive the car had ejected quite a bit of diesel out the cap and all over the rear of the car. gross. next project is testing to make sure i cleared vent properly so i can fasten gas cap on and feel safe about it. don't think that problem is related but thought i'd toss it in there in case you did!

[Biodiesel300TD]

There is a drain hole in the recess for the fuel neck. If you're cap is leaking the fuel can go down that drain and into the wheel well. If the big rubber seal around the fuel neck is rotten you'll get diesel in the trunk. There is also a short breather hose on the fuel neck. If that has started leaking, it could be dripping fuel.

[adamkat22]

so sounds like putting my gas cap on is the first step to trouble shoot it...which means now i gotta know how to clear the clogged vent. i read some posts about people blowing air (100psi ?) into the vent line. to me thats confusing cause wouldn't that just put whatever your clogged item was back into your fuel? but, if that is indeed what i should do, whats the best method for pressurizing a line like that, ie what attachment do i use to go from an air compressor to the vent line?

[rrgrassi]

How do you know the vent is clogged? IIRC the fuel cap is a one way vent, meaning allows air in to allow fuel to flow to the lift pump, not out.

Did you hear a "whoosh" when you removed a good and properly sealed fuel cap?

There is another vent on the driver's side, under the car, near the supply and return fuel lines, that is bell shaped.

[adamkat22]

yeah, i was having fuel delivery problems and then when i opened the fuel filter to check it there was the 'whoosh'. i see the bell shaped vent, but don't see any check valve. unclear on the best method to unclog...