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1998 E320 petrol leak from fuel filter area

3K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Musikmann  
#1 ·
My E320 has a mysterious petrol leak - it only seems to occur when the car is started and driven after not being used for a week or two - yesterday, after being unused for a couple of weeks, I took the car out of the garage and just drove it a few yards up the driveway - when I got out (with the engine still running) I noticed a strong smell of petrol and a large fuel leak dripping from under the car in front of the left rear wheel. After switching off the engine the leak continued for some minutes until it stopped. Looking under the vehicle the leak was coming from around the plastic cover beneath the fuel pump and fuel filter- looks like the cover was filling with petrol - the only things above the cover are the fuel pump and fuel filter, the latter having 4 hoses connected to it. Today I removed the plastic cover but no sign of any leaks - I started the engine - still no leaks - drove the car for a few miles but still no leaks! Car has done the same thing a few times now after not being driven for some days/weeks. I did replace the petrol filler cap but no difference. Can anyone offer any explanation please. Ian.
 
#2 ·
Welcome aboard.

Please click user cp and edit details to add your vehicle and location information to your profile, it sometimes proves useful when you're seeking assistance.

If you haven't changed the fuel filter before, this would be an ideal time to do so. And given the age of your chassis, I would also change out those little rubber lines that connect all that spaghetti together. My suspicion is that one or more of those is brittle and moves just right against the pipe nipple enough to allow the fuel to get by. Clearly it's not a safe or sane condition, so please attend to it promptly.

Good luck.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the advice - you are correct - it was one of the hoses on to the filter which had deteriorated at the connection - I've replaced the filter, hoses and clamps - simple job - everything now OK. Ian.
 
#4 ·
Lets' hear it for Greg's crystal ball. :D