My '88 260E gives off raw gasoline odor now and then. Any hints where this could be coming from? Some time ago (a year or more) I replaced several fuel injectors and was careful when handling the small metal injection fuel lines. I have looked around under the air cleaner and all around the intake system but I'm not seeing anything obvious...

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Dale

Canister purge valve hosing may be loose or the charcoal canister maybe rotten. I think its inside the left fender well close to the drivers door.

Hmmmm, I didn't consider that but that's a good suggestion. Thanks.

Dale

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Dale

Welp, I can't see it! Spent a few minutes looking and looking but I cannot see anything that even remotely looks like a charcoal canister.

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Dale

A pic I found online. Its a rectangular box mounted where those two open bolt holes show in the pic

Thread sealant on fuel fittings such as Loctite 5400...





...is particularly useful stuff on CIS fuel systems


My fuel pump and filter assy at the back of my W201 used to smell a bit wiffy - after using the sealant it even helped reduce the time the engine cranked before firing problem I'd had since I bought the car (one of those little niggles solved!)

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Run a finger under the EHA (electro-hydraulic actuator) on the side of the fuel distributor to check for fuel leakage. This is a very common source of odour.

This appears to be on driver's side (US) front wheel well?? I'm unable to zoom in on it for a closer look but I'll try to poke around on mine in that area. Thanks...

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Dale

There is definitely 'damp-ness' around the throttle body area and lower. The underbelly pan is wet looking on the driver's side especially. Nothing that is reaching the ground...

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Dale

Is there actually a 'purge valve' that is visible from the engine bay? If yes, where am I to locate it? Thanks for your help..


Dale

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Dale

Is the odor stronger in the trunk?

No. It's definitely in the engine bay and noticeable in the interior sometimes...

I'm going to remove the air cleaner and check under the EHA maybe tonight but surely I'll get a chance tomorrow....I hope... Thanks

Dale

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Dale

I had a chance yesterday to remove the air cleaner and find that the EHA was indeed leaking. A simple running my fingers underneath the valve revealed this. I'm going to try the 'used' route to see if it will correct the problem. Found one on eBay and asked the seller of he'd warrant it for any length of time and said he'd give me a couple weeks to be sure it was good. I suppose that's all I could ask considering I'm purchasing a part that could be as much as 30 years old...

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Dale

You will need 2 new orings as well. You could try changing the orings on your original to see if it still leaks but most of the time it is the valve itself.

Yes, I ordered a couple of these as well - forgot to mention it. Thanks

Definitely be glad to get rid of the raw fuel smell. It smells up the garage, which has a door that opens into the kitchen/family room area of the house and I get an earfull from wifey

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Dale