Filled up the 98 E300 with diesel, parked on street with nose pointing down. Next day I noticed evidence of fuel leak (drippings down below). It looks as though the highest point is near the bottom of the shutoff valve (although it's a little hard to see). Cleaned things up and ran the engine but can't for the life of me see any new leaking.

I'm sure I have a leak that I need to address. But could the full tank and nose downward combination somehow have made the leak more pronounced?

BTW at 17 years and 96k miles I believe everything in and around there (o-rings, fuel lines, etc.) is original....so I'm sure I'm due.

Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

It leaks if there is any head pressure, i.e. liquid above the leak point, period. So a full tank would more likely give it a head pressure. Was it a sunny day when you parked the car in the street? The air in the tank will expand and pressurized the tank and hence more prone to leakage.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Evening when I parked the car in the street....then a cloudy day, cool temperatures.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Running the engine will make the leak stop as the lift pump sucks fuel. If the hoses and o rings are original, replace all of them. No use even trying to find the leak if everything needs to be brought up to speed anyway.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

Looks like you discovered a good diagnostic technique.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Point it nose up and your fuel might recede to the tank, leaving the air leak between your engine and your fuel, ... a small leak might be the better option until you get it fixed.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff