What is this gas tank hose for that's broken?
 

So I got underneath the 300E again to really scope everything out, it's always had a problem of a gas smell lingering from somewhere, was never able to pinpoint it until now. What is this hose for? Called? It's located directly below the gas tank.

[IMG]http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/L1090682.jpg[/IMG]

Also, it's safe to say that this air filter has failed? LOL Which really sucks because we've had a few dust storms and here I am thinking everything is peechy keen with the air filter :(

[IMG]http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/L1090673.jpg[/IMG]

Ouch!! I'd change it asap...last thing you'd want is something like a nail having a jolly old time in the combustion chamber!

It does look clean though other than that. Although I hope that is not a negative!

That air filter is in backwards....

I thought in the back of my head something was wrong, but kinda glanced over it! You are right. OP please don't tell me you installed this :D

Yeah, I want to get that filter out asap probably go by autozone and get one today, haha naw that wasn't me, it was in there from the previous owner that we got it from back in November. I thought I give it a look and see how it's doing and low and behold that's what I find.

So does anyone know what that gas tank line is for? What it does?

dam it, you beat me to it:D

Wow, I am impressed at the backwards installed air filter....that is amazing. :eek:

The broken piece by the fuel tank is the breather line most likely.

Yeah I question MANY things the PO did to the car, check out my "this poor 300E" thread and so on, it doesn't really surprise me he put it in backwards!

Actually what is missing there in that vent line is a vent valve..it appears it has broken and fallen out. The missing piece is a two way poppet valve that fits in the space between the open line you see and the spiggot coming out of the tank. Those old plastic bits will need to be removed to install the new valve. The line you see goes up to the carbon cannister under the driver's side fender. It allows fumes to be drawn up into the carbon cannister, or conversely allows fresh air(through another valve) back into the tank to replenish the volume as needed. No surprise you are having fume problems.

You might get away with just an elbow instead of the vent valve...I have done this while tracing the cause of fumes in a different car with the same basic fuel system.

Boy, this sent me scurrying for the old Meriam Webster Collegiate edition. One fume... many fumes. :)

Except in the first case "fume" is being used as an adjective, and in the second case as a noun in the plural....maybe grab a grammar book while digging out the old Meriam.