Destroyed 1986 SEL

[porschesam]

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.

[Jorn]

One of the few things I don't do myself is changing the fuel filter. And this is why.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by Jorn

One of the few things I don't do myself is changing the fuel filter. And this is why.

Those 560 SEL/SEC models have TWO fuel filters, not far from the right rear wheel.

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.

[gerryvz]

No one was injured, correct? This is sad to see (it could honestly happen to anyone - when working around fuel one must be EXTREMELY cautious) and I hope the owner of the property is able to recover their losses. It is a good lesson to all of us work work on our own cars, to be careful when working around gasoline.

Have my own gas story, thankfully not nearly as bad as this one. A couple of summers ago I was doing the same job (changing the SINGLE fuel filter on my 560SEC) in my own garage shop, with my head tilted to the side, when I got a nice shot of gas straight from a fuel line down into my ear canal. Immediate pain. Intense pain.

I was so unhinged & incapacitated that I could not walk, but I managed to crawl the 40 feet from the garage to my backyard swimming pool, where I laid down on the pool deck with my head under water for a full 10 minutes to flush it out. Then went into the kitchen (stumbling, but now on my feet at least) to flush it out more. Ear was in decreasing pain for the next 5-6 days. It's similar-level pain as getting kicked in the 'nads.

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Those 560 SEL/SEC models have TWO fuel filters, not far from the right rear wheel.

I must correct this misinformation, despite the regrettable content of this thread.

The late gasoline W126 models with M116 and M117 engines only have a single fuel filter, located directly above the dual fuel pumps in the rear. There is also a separate, cylindrical fuel accumulator also as part of the bundle of fuel-related equipment in this area of the car.

Please post CORRECT technical information in the future.

Cheers,
Gerry

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Those 560 SEL/SEC models have TWO fuel filters, not far from the right rear wheel.

Minor correction, they have two fuel pumps, but one filter. That's a horrible freak accident.

[ruchase]

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.

[Jim B.]

My god that was a holocaust.

Looks just like the aftermath of the daily car bomb in Iraq.

[gsxr]

Originally Posted by ruchase

Working with fuel is always scary. What caused the static?

Talking on the ol' cell phone while working?

[gatorblue92]

I'm shocked at the heat that fire put off. He is very lucky the house didn't go up.

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by porschesam

Static electricity ignited some fuel vapors and the rest is history.. . . . This all happened during an intense rainstorm.

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.

[rscurtis]

Damp weather isn't concussive to static build up.

I would have to agree.

[spdrun]

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.

[barry12345]

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.

[sloride]

Originally Posted by spdrun

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.

(7) No beer.

[INSIDIOUS]

Most battery powered things are not explosion proof.