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  #1  
Old 12-11-2005, 05:12 PM
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Gas smell?? 1980 450SL

I've noticed that there is now a gas smell in the garage and I have narrowed it down to the 1980-450SL. Today, I crawled underneath and can smell gas around the fuel pump and filter area ( underneath near the rear end) although I can not find any evidence of a leak. Nothing was wet to the touch but you can still smell gas.

Any suggestions of what to try?
Thanks, Eric

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1980 450SL
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  #2  
Old 12-12-2005, 08:54 AM
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It sounds like you have a very slow leak of some sort. Get back under there with a good flashlight and look for signs of areas that are soaked, as opposed to "wet." It's a subtle difference, I know...but it's all I can think of!
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  #3  
Old 12-12-2005, 08:59 PM
88Black560SL
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I just had a similare problem with my 560SL. I belive I fixed it with a gas cap. The gas cap overflow drains just infront of the right rear wheel. I did only notice wetness after filling the tank and taking a hard left turn. Other than that it was just fumes.

John Roncallo
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  #4  
Old 12-16-2005, 04:38 PM
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len497111

Gas smell?? 1980 450SL Had the same problem the copper washers or the rubber hoses under your car at the fuel pumps are seeping a little fuel check it out
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  #5  
Old 12-16-2005, 04:50 PM
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Don't Light No cigars!...

... silly me. Didn't tighten gas cap completely after fill up (all the way to the tippy-top aka, "topping off").

I suspect I'm going to have the gas smell in the trunk for a while, especially since I keep it covered and inside the garage (no space in the living room, that's where I keep the 560SEL - see related post RE: the $97000 ebay listing for a '91 NEW! Only 37K Miles! SEL).

Gas caps can go bad as well as the venting - search within for those solutions.

Ho Ho Ho!
Kevin
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Stable (in order of acqusition):
'84 500SL, 280SEL (Euros)
'77 280SE. '90 560SEL
'79 450SEL 6.9,
'95 C280 (totalled by daughter 8/07)
'81 280SL (rescued) '88 300CE
'86 560SEC '95 C36
'01 CL55

DD's: '04 S500 4Matic (SWMBO)
'04 F150 Crew
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  #6  
Old 12-16-2005, 05:14 PM
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Exclamation

The R107 SL's are unique in the fact they have a "fuel vapor" storage tank just above the fuel tank. EARLY ones were plastic. IF that turns out to be the problem then the replacements are metal!
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  #7  
Old 12-16-2005, 05:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by halman2228
... silly me. Didn't tighten gas cap completely after fill up (all the way to the tippy-top aka, "topping off").
It's best not to tippy-top fill these cars. The same is true even for the newer cars, like my C320...it has the potential to mess up the vapor recovery system.
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  #8  
Old 12-16-2005, 09:27 PM
88Black560SL
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M.B.DOC
The R107 SL's are unique in the fact they have a "fuel vapor" storage tank just above the fuel tank. EARLY ones were plastic. IF that turns out to be the problem then the replacements are metal!
MB DOC

Do you know what is inside these expansion tanks. I have a steel one in my 88 560SL. I had the same problem of fuel oder in the trunk. A few days ago fuel actually blew out of the gas cap with a full tank after making a left turn. I replaced the cap. I now have no leakage but still have fumes. I belive presure is building inside the tank. I dont have the proper low pressure tool to check the vent valve but it is definately poping somewhere below 2 PSI, which should never allow enough pressure to vent through the cap. I have a new vent valve on order anyway but I doubt that is the problem. I do belive that I will be pulling the expansion tank and fuel tank next if I dont find the problem. I am also suspecting the charcoal canister.

John Roncallo
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  #9  
Old 12-17-2005, 07:59 AM
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len497111

Did you check what I said in my previous reply
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  #10  
Old 12-17-2005, 10:00 AM
88Black560SL
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by len497111
Did you check what I said in my previous reply
Yes the copper washers have all been replaced along with all hard and soft lines in the fuel pump area. I have since been under the car with the engine running, no signes of wettness.

John Roncallo
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  #11  
Old 12-19-2005, 08:51 AM
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AS posted earlier, that is an expansion tank! Nothing but fumes, again that tank is a UNIQUE part to the R107 chassis cars. MB didn't use them on other cars.
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  #12  
Old 12-19-2005, 12:34 PM
88Black560SL
 
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Thanks MB DOC

I will pull the expansion tank and pressure test it. Hopefully I wont have to pull the fuel tank.

John Roncallo
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  #13  
Old 12-19-2005, 09:06 PM
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Wink I have to agree there are copper gaskets, and they after time

Quote:
Originally Posted by len497111
Gas smell?? 1980 450SL Had the same problem the copper washers or the rubber hoses under your car at the fuel pumps are seeping a little fuel check it out
will leak, there is a recall back in the mid 80s on these gaskets, also on the copper gasket for the shift lever, some late 79s and 80s are effective. I called MB in NJ about this old recalls and they told me to take it to my local dealer and if they give me a hard time, to have them call a number and a case worker, sounds like welfare, case worker. Anyway, according to the law if you turn up with a old car that had a recall, even at this late day the manufactuer is obliged to fix ti for free.

I would look at the hoses first, the person I spoke to about the copper gaskets, said they were "lifetime" replacement, but what exactly is lifetime.
Oh, one clarification about recalls, if the car has been damaged in or near the area or the recalled part has been worked on and done incorrectly they could reject your request. This is very important.

I have a 79, 450SLC and get a gas smell but mine is from the engine and is the smell of an over rich mixture, and disappears when the engine's temp needle starts to move. I've had it adjusted a couple of times and know it only seems to happen on a really cold day. So I let it go as a nature of the beast thing.
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1999 C280 54K miles
1979 450 SLC 144K miles
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  #14  
Old 12-29-2005, 04:46 PM
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A gas cap did it!!

A new gas cap solved the problem...............
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1980 450SL
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  #15  
Old 12-29-2005, 05:21 PM
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I haven't had a problem with the gas smell but

the shifter was very loose. I did take it to the local dealer, they replaced the rubber gasket with the metal gasket as a recall. According to the service manager, a auto manufactuer has to honor recalls if the car is in good running order and no damage is found that could have caused a failure at or near whatever the recall is for. He added if a car is falling off it frame, they won't honor a recall. But as I said if the car is in decent to good shape, they are oblighed by law to honor a recall even if it is 26 years old.

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