Just got the 98 back from my mechanic....got the front springs done. Don't notice any sagging in the rear (new springs vs. 17 year old springs), so I'm happy.

Wondered about some driveway spotting I'd been seeing....wasn't positive which car it was since I'm always playing "musical cars"...so asked him to take a look.

He said he noticed some fuel wetness at the back of the IP...definitely not delivery valve seals.... but didn't investigate beyond that.

Any idea what this could be? And if repair is worth pursuing?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Maybe the SOV? It's right around that area and could be the cause. If that is the case, once it fails, you will have a pool of fuel on the ground.

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

That would make sense....the PO of my 99 had to replace an o-ring in that area at about 60k miles. Ended up doing all the fuel lines and valve seals for good measure.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

That engine has about 50 points that might leak fuel with aging orings.
Wash it or wipe it and stuff paper towels around the pump.
That will help pinpointing.

Yep do an o-ring job on all the fuel lines, fuel pre filter, and shut off valve.

Beware it will be hell getting it restarted with all the air you introduced when breaking the lines...some recommend starting after changing each line to keep it primed.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

It's weird, though....when I stick my hand in between the IM and the oil filter and feel around the area at the back of the IP as best I can, I cannot feel any wetness at all. The oiliness that drips a bit doesn't smell like diesel at all...I'm convinced that's PS fluid my leaking rack (which has largely stopped leaking).

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife