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#1
02-01-2014, 02:06 AM
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Destroyed 1986 SEL
A friend of a friend was changing a fuel filter on his SEL. Static electricity ignited some fuel vapors and the rest is history. Fire was so intense it melted the sheetmetal and the outer edges of the wheels. Luckily the fire department was able to stop the fire before the house went up. This all happened during an intense rainstorm.
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#2
02-01-2014, 02:41 AM
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One of the few things I don't do myself is changing the fuel filter. And this is why.
__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).
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#3
02-01-2014, 03:35 AM
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Working with fuel is always scary. What caused the static?
It's always a good idea to have a chemical fire extinguisher handy when doing anything fuel related.
__________________
"Time's never wasted when you're wasted all the time"
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#4
02-01-2014, 04:41 AM
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My god that was a holocaust.
 Looks just like the aftermath of the daily car bomb in Iraq.
__________________
 1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive  (sold)
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#5
02-01-2014, 04:49 AM
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Quote:
I wouldn't even THINK of trying to change them out, or fix a leak. A bad washer or something at the fuel filters caused a slow leak on my SEC a couple of years ago. You could even SMELL the fuel vapor in the garage! The car was INSIDE the garage too when it happened. The entire house is attached to the garage too. Everything could have gone up. "Good night nurse". Got that car out of there QUICK and taken to an Independent MB specialist who put it up on a two-post lift and fixed it. That is scary stuff.
__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)
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#6
02-01-2014, 09:44 AM
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I'm shocked at the heat that fire put off. He is very lucky the house didn't go up.
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#7
02-01-2014, 11:34 AM
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Quote:
I'll contest this. Damp weather isn't conducive to static build up. Fuel dripping on a incandescent trouble light? Given it was in a wood garage, I'd suspect that is where most of the house heat damage came from. Also I don't see that the car was on jack stands (however they could of collapsed.) Given the lack of information, this is one for the fire martial. Last edited by 97 SL320; 02-01-2014 at 03:08 PM. Reason: fixed spelling
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#9
02-01-2014, 01:19 PM
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I've changed fuel filters on gasoline vehicles before. No big deal if you follow some basic precautions --
(1) Depressurize the fuel system with the nipple on the fuel rail (2) Work outside, ideally on a windy day. Was your friend working in the garage or in front of it? (3) No 120V tools -- battery-powered flashlight (4) Keep a fire extinguisher rated for fuel fires at hand. And maybe a garden hose for anything that's not fuel that ignites. (5) Work with the fuel tank nearly empty to minimize siphon effect, and keep unpainted (gasoline dissolves yellow pencil-paint and makes a mess, ask me how I know) pencils or similar handy to plug the lines when disconnecting the fuel filters. (6) Wear gloves. Fuel spilled on my skin gives me migraines  Sorry for your friend's disaster and glad he didn't lose the house, but this should not be a deterrent to doing your own work on the fuel system.
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#10
02-01-2014, 02:23 PM
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I would think of this as very unusual unless he did something he should not have that is unknown. Possibly thousands if not hundreds of fuel filters a day get changed out in garages across north America.
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#11
02-01-2014, 02:56 PM
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Holy crap!!! I am so sorry for your friend. That is just horrible!
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#12
02-01-2014, 05:16 PM
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its a shame he lost the car, but hopefully nobody got hurt.
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#13
02-01-2014, 06:24 PM
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RTFM! You de-pressurize, and then you crimp the fuel lines as per manual! I did the same job a month or so ago, in my garage/workshop (I actually redid the entire rear unit, i.e. pump check valves, fuel line connecting the two pumps, accumulator, and fuel filter). Be ready to capture a tiny amount.
__________________
Henry Bofinger 1989 560 SEL (black/black) 2001 Audi TT Roadster (silver/grey)
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#14
02-01-2014, 07:38 PM
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That is certainly outside of the norm. Let us know what the fire marshal says.
__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. 99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.
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#15
02-01-2014, 08:16 PM
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OK got it, looks like a plastic ramp that melted. I should probably rethink hanging out on this list, I can't remember a list that has had more cars crash and burn ( or get backed into or munched with a garage door. .. ) than this one. Including some auto racing lists.
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