1967 250 SL cold start valve

[zakkkk]

I took the old girl out of winter hibernation on Saturday. It's been in a heated garage since Thanksgiving.
Anyway she fires right up ( that battery has to be 10+ years old) and ran great but during my easy drive I smelled raw fuel so I go back home and pop the hood to take a look around.
Fuel was leaking from the clod start value. It wasn't much at all so I put a rag underneath and toured the neighborhood to fully warm up the engine.
When I got back home I checked the rag and it was merely damp.
I removed the rag and checked again and there was no fuel leaking so I went on a nice 10 mile spirited run on local mountain 45 mph roads.
No odor and no fuel leak.
Did the engine heat warm the cold start valve which expanded a bit and self sealed the leak?
I guess it's time to replace the cold start valve.
Any thoughts are welcomed.
thanks

jz

[JPMOSE]

I have a 250SL as well. I think there are seals in the Cold Start Valve that can be replaced. Let me check and I'll get back to you.

[JPMOSE]

There is a seal/gasket for the solenoid, which connects to the cold start valve (CSV). There is also an o-ring where the CSV connects to the intake. In Home - Mercedes Benz 230SL, 250SL, 280SL Pagoda Group there's a lot of information! Here are some posts to get you started:

those ol' csv blues (long)

How Do I Fix A Leaking CSV

cold start valve and relay

cold start valve leaking

[meltedpanda]

best to fix that leak, it could have stopped due to expansion from heat , but your engine will cool again. Gas floating about on top of a hot engine is not a good thing