PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

JimSmith · #5 02-28-2002, 01:07 AM

Midas,

My 1982 240D has one of the knobs I was talking about and I thought 300D Turbo's had them too. I could be wrong, but someone else pipe up here. On the 240D it is very close to the steering wheel and is kind of awkward to get your fingers on to twist it.

Yes, I think you need to find the fuel leak. I am pretty sure it is in your fuel filter assembly. Try drying the entire thing with paper towels and then start the car and look for wetness. You most likely do not have a gushing artery type of leak, so I doubt it is a mechanical connection that is loose or has a gasket missing. It is most likely a degraded rubber tube, as they leak by kind of oozing fuel through the wall of the tubing, which will wet the surface but not necessarily make a visible dripping. Fuel will accumulate more in the cold, as when the outside temps are hotter, under the hood it gets hot enough to evaporate the Diesel shortly after a weeping leak. But the stink is still there.

So, be very suspicious of shiny metal, or clean surfaces as they are probably being wetted with fuel. The next best places to look are the connections to the pump and in-line filter. Again, wipe it all down with a rag or paper towel and run the car, then look for signs of wetting with a dry paper towel. And, wipe down the area near the hand pump and see if that is oozing. The fact that the "handle" on the pump was overflowed with liquid fuel is an indication the leak is coming from above that surface.

Changing the glow plugs without removing the fuel injector lines will earn you a free pass to skip the air purging steps. It will also get you some war wounds, so you may want to wear gloves. Good Luck, Jim