there is a smell of fuel in my 1981 380 sl just developed the past 2 months can't see any fuel leak in engine or on ground but the gas mileage has dropped a lot it really sucks up fuel it starts and runs fine i need help to figure this out i don't have much auto repair experience so i need all the help i can get thanks

I had a fuel leak at the fuel pump connection (alum washer) that smelled bad in the car but did not leak on the ground. I would crawl under the car for a look. I have heard that a gas cap leak also causes odors in the cabin.

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85 300 SD ~ 115K
82 500 SEC Euro ??K
78 450SL 164K

Another possibility is a failing O2 sensor. Smell is most noticeable outside the car when first started in the morning and the engine is cold. O2 sensor failure results in a too rich mixture which reduces gas mileage.

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon