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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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Eric Boyles 1980 450SL |
#2
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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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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!! |
#3
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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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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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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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"Dangerous with a wrench...and not smart enough to know it" 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 |
#6
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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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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES) ASE Master Technician Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times) 44 years foreign automotive repair 27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer) MB technical information Specialist (15 years) 190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold) 1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold) Retired Moderator |
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Quote:
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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!! |
#8
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Quote:
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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len497111
Did you check what I said in my previous reply
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Quote:
John Roncallo |
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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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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES) ASE Master Technician Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times) 44 years foreign automotive repair 27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer) MB technical information Specialist (15 years) 190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold) 1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold) Retired Moderator |
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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 |
#13
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I have to agree there are copper gaskets, and they after time
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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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Al Lueb 1999 C280 54K miles 1979 450 SLC 144K miles |
#14
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A gas cap did it!!
A new gas cap solved the problem...............
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Eric Boyles 1980 450SL |
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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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Al Lueb 1999 C280 54K miles 1979 450 SLC 144K miles |
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