Hi everyone - it seems that my trouble free run was short lived and while the car is going like a rocket I have fuel dripping out from underneath the car. I removed the plastic protective panel underneath the car just in front of the fuel tank to reveal all the comnponentry - can any one post a photo of this area to tell me what is what and which rubber lines actually contain fuel. When this car leaked yesterday is was a substantial amount of fuel not just one or two drips- it did it on cold start as I backed out my driveway which is up hill from the gargage. The fuel was pouring out from behind this panel and now I cant get the leak to happen while I'm watching - I cant leave it so I have to persist....I suspect its obviously a fuel line somewhere but just need a bit more info about the components under that panel.....
Fuel Leak 1998 SLK230
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
The blue tape-labeled cylinder in the middle is the fuel pump, above the fuel filter; the black contraption is the charcoal canister. The big hose to the left emerges from the fuel tank, the smaller on the right then feeds into the filter, and from the filter it'll disappear to go forward to the engine compartment. Best is to switch the key into position 2 and and see where the fuel leaks - however, I'd go to a garage nearby and have the car jacked up to avoid accidents.
Attachments
This happened to me once - dropped a quantity of fuel on the garage floor. I had it checked and no leak found and it was never explained. Was the tank full or recently filled? It has been known that fuel accumulates on that plastic panel and when you move the car it spills off onto the floor.
If in doubt, buy some jubilee clips and replace all the old (non reusable) clips
Cut a bit off the hoses and re fit - worked for me - not much of a drama
Leave overnight and the pressure should have leaked out - remove petrol cap also
Too easy to allow the stealer to do it - good opportunity to replace fuel filter (make a note of whether yours has 2 or 4 nozzles)
Bruce
Cut a bit off the hoses and re fit - worked for me - not much of a drama
Leave overnight and the pressure should have leaked out - remove petrol cap also
Too easy to allow the stealer to do it - good opportunity to replace fuel filter (make a note of whether yours has 2 or 4 nozzles)
Bruce
Thanks everyone. I thought I had fixed this but apparently not. The fuel line into the filter was leaking. I assumed the factory hose clip wasn't up to the job so snipped the end off the hose and replaced the clip with a new one. It was fine for a week, and now its leaking again. I suspect I need a better quality stainless steel clip that can be done up tighter, or possibly there is a minute hole in the little pipe that sticks out from the fuel filter. So new filter, and new clip I think. I will report back with my findings.
Joined
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3 Posts
Hi KiwiSlk230,
would you be so kind and let us know what were your final findings on this? I know it has been a while, but still...
To get the leak pbm sorted, I took the SLK to the shop I know well, and the guy told me the filter hose clips were not tightened at all (note that the car had been in Mercedes shop for regular maintenance, and the fuel filter was replaced - sounds like it was the origin of the pbms(!)).
Now, since that was discovered, one of the hoses was replaced, and clips properly tightened. So I merrily came back thinking that's it - just to notice few days later that the fuel smell in the carage did not disappear, but a weak smell remained. Initially I tried to put it to rest with that being just reminders of the old problem already fixed.
After the car had sat in the carage for 1..2 weeks and I drowe it out, there was a pretty big spill of fuel right in front of the carage. As I reversed few more meters, another spill came out. I drove immediately to the shop, expecting the car go up in flames when the fuel hits the exhaust pipe...
When in the shop (5km/3miles drive), looked underneath, and it was still dripping roughly 1 drop/second. Turned off the engine, and 5 minutes later no more drops.
Now it gets interesting. In the shop, the car was jacked up and three persons (myself included) were staring under the removed panel, and no leak to be seen anywhere. Not a drop. The hose replaced last time was a brand new looking, and if I remember right, it was the one leaving the filter, going towards the engine)
The panel of course, as well as all old hoses (not the 2 weeks old one) had drain marks, but no new drop to be seen. Started the engine in hoping that the leak would show up when the pump is going, but nothing. We spent a good 15 minutes in bending hoses and revving the engine. Nothing.
I then thought maybe I could get some more pressure into the fuel tank by re-fueling, as the tank was almost empty anyway. So I did. Now the cold fuel from underground storage at the pump would heat up during the day in the shop, expand, and generate some pressure to help to force see the leak for us to see. The car stayed in the shop jacked up all day, but not a drip.
I took the car home the same nite, and it has been sitting in the carage every night on top of large piece of thick cardboard to make sure there will be a mark if anything drops (the panel is still removed) - and it would not evaporate before I see it (like it would on painted concrete floor). The car has been driven to work and back every day this week, and sat on the cardboard every night. Still nothing. No marks in the office parking lot either.
Now I am starting to lean towards "maybe it was just fuel on the panel"... but that is hard to justify as this happened *after* the panel was first time removed and the hose replaced, and new clips tightened. Nothing has been done (other than the panel removed) this time around, yet the leak has mysteriously disappeared - probably coming back as soon as I close the panel and think it is fixed... Next thing I will do is to clean the panel real good, and have the shop fit it back in place next week (as I dont have means of jacking the car up high and safe enough).
*IF* for some reason it could have been 1..2 weeks old fuel on top of the panel which was splashing out, fine. Maybe I was alerted for no reason. However, knowing how quickly gas evaporates in room temperature, that is very hard to believe to be the case.
So, please post your final findings, I will do the same when I get any sort of conclusion on this one...
thanks a lot!
would you be so kind and let us know what were your final findings on this? I know it has been a while, but still...
...for your information, I seem to have the exact same problem with mine - also recurring after it was supposingly fixed (!!). The car is a 1998 SLK230 Kompressor, automatic, closing in on 70.000km mark.
To get the leak pbm sorted, I took the SLK to the shop I know well, and the guy told me the filter hose clips were not tightened at all (note that the car had been in Mercedes shop for regular maintenance, and the fuel filter was replaced - sounds like it was the origin of the pbms(!)).
Now, since that was discovered, one of the hoses was replaced, and clips properly tightened. So I merrily came back thinking that's it - just to notice few days later that the fuel smell in the carage did not disappear, but a weak smell remained. Initially I tried to put it to rest with that being just reminders of the old problem already fixed.
After the car had sat in the carage for 1..2 weeks and I drowe it out, there was a pretty big spill of fuel right in front of the carage. As I reversed few more meters, another spill came out. I drove immediately to the shop, expecting the car go up in flames when the fuel hits the exhaust pipe...
When in the shop (5km/3miles drive), looked underneath, and it was still dripping roughly 1 drop/second. Turned off the engine, and 5 minutes later no more drops.
Now it gets interesting. In the shop, the car was jacked up and three persons (myself included) were staring under the removed panel, and no leak to be seen anywhere. Not a drop. The hose replaced last time was a brand new looking, and if I remember right, it was the one leaving the filter, going towards the engine)
The panel of course, as well as all old hoses (not the 2 weeks old one) had drain marks, but no new drop to be seen. Started the engine in hoping that the leak would show up when the pump is going, but nothing. We spent a good 15 minutes in bending hoses and revving the engine. Nothing.
I then thought maybe I could get some more pressure into the fuel tank by re-fueling, as the tank was almost empty anyway. So I did. Now the cold fuel from underground storage at the pump would heat up during the day in the shop, expand, and generate some pressure to help to force see the leak for us to see. The car stayed in the shop jacked up all day, but not a drip.
I took the car home the same nite, and it has been sitting in the carage every night on top of large piece of thick cardboard to make sure there will be a mark if anything drops (the panel is still removed) - and it would not evaporate before I see it (like it would on painted concrete floor). The car has been driven to work and back every day this week, and sat on the cardboard every night. Still nothing. No marks in the office parking lot either.
Now I am starting to lean towards "maybe it was just fuel on the panel"... but that is hard to justify as this happened *after* the panel was first time removed and the hose replaced, and new clips tightened. Nothing has been done (other than the panel removed) this time around, yet the leak has mysteriously disappeared - probably coming back as soon as I close the panel and think it is fixed... Next thing I will do is to clean the panel real good, and have the shop fit it back in place next week (as I dont have means of jacking the car up high and safe enough).
*IF* for some reason it could have been 1..2 weeks old fuel on top of the panel which was splashing out, fine. Maybe I was alerted for no reason. However, knowing how quickly gas evaporates in room temperature, that is very hard to believe to be the case.
So, please post your final findings, I will do the same when I get any sort of conclusion on this one...
thanks a lot!
Fuel Leak
Hi Dollar Shopper
I'm still not sure if I have won this battle as the car has not been used for some time. The leak kept reoccuring. I had replaced the fuel filter and adjusted the clips only to find a huge puddle of fuel under the car a few weeks later. I then replaced the fuel lines and bought some good quality stainless steel hose close clips which I tightened up firmly - same problem a few weeks later more fuel on the ground. What I did notice while lying underneath the car was that when I manipulated one of the fuel lines some fuel squirted out at the end of the line behind the fuel filter where the hose clip was - this is while the fuel line was secured firmly in place by the hose clip. This lead me to believe that pressure is building up in the line for some reason and it is forcing fuel past the hose clips. With this in mind I put some bigger and better hose clips in place and tightened them with a ratchet, I then put a second hose clip next to the first one over the lip on the alli tube where the fuel hose slides over - so both clips right next to each other - and both done up really tight. I went over every inch of the system and put double clips on every line and tightened them up extremely tight. There have been no leaks since I did this but having said this with the arrival of our first child the SLK has been gathering dust so I need to do some more road tests. What I do know for sure is that originally I did physically see a leak coming out of one of the hoses by way of fuel forcing itself past the hose clip - so Im convinced its pressure and perhaps inadequate sealing of these hoses in this whole area of the car. Hope this helps. Cheers Jonathan
Hi KiwiSlk230,
would you be so kind and let us know what were your final findings on this? I know it has been a while, but still...
...for your information, I seem to have the exact same problem with mine - also recurring after it was supposingly fixed (!!). The car is a 1998 SLK230 Kompressor, automatic, closing in on 70.000km mark.
To get the leak pbm sorted, I took the SLK to the shop I know well, and the guy told me the filter hose clips were not tightened at all (note that the car had been in Mercedes shop for regular maintenance, and the fuel filter was replaced - sounds like it was the origin of the pbms(!)).
Now, since that was discovered, one of the hoses was replaced, and clips properly tightened. So I merrily came back thinking that's it - just to notice few days later that the fuel smell in the carage did not disappear, but a weak smell remained. Initially I tried to put it to rest with that being just reminders of the old problem already fixed.
After the car had sat in the carage for 1..2 weeks and I drowe it out, there was a pretty big spill of fuel right in front of the carage. As I reversed few more meters, another spill came out. I drove immediately to the shop, expecting the car go up in flames when the fuel hits the exhaust pipe...
When in the shop (5km/3miles drive), looked underneath, and it was still dripping roughly 1 drop/second. Turned off the engine, and 5 minutes later no more drops.
Now it gets interesting. In the shop, the car was jacked up and three persons (myself included) were staring under the removed panel, and no leak to be seen anywhere. Not a drop. The hose replaced last time was a brand new looking, and if I remember right, it was the one leaving the filter, going towards the engine)
The panel of course, as well as all old hoses (not the 2 weeks old one) had drain marks, but no new drop to be seen. Started the engine in hoping that the leak would show up when the pump is going, but nothing. We spent a good 15 minutes in bending hoses and revving the engine. Nothing.
I then thought maybe I could get some more pressure into the fuel tank by re-fueling, as the tank was almost empty anyway. So I did. Now the cold fuel from underground storage at the pump would heat up during the day in the shop, expand, and generate some pressure to help to force see the leak for us to see. The car stayed in the shop jacked up all day, but not a drip.
I took the car home the same nite, and it has been sitting in the carage every night on top of large piece of thick cardboard to make sure there will be a mark if anything drops (the panel is still removed) - and it would not evaporate before I see it (like it would on painted concrete floor). The car has been driven to work and back every day this week, and sat on the cardboard every night. Still nothing. No marks in the office parking lot either.
Now I am starting to lean towards "maybe it was just fuel on the panel"... but that is hard to justify as this happened *after* the panel was first time removed and the hose replaced, and new clips tightened. Nothing has been done (other than the panel removed) this time around, yet the leak has mysteriously disappeared - probably coming back as soon as I close the panel and think it is fixed... Next thing I will do is to clean the panel real good, and have the shop fit it back in place next week (as I dont have means of jacking the car up high and safe enough).
*IF* for some reason it could have been 1..2 weeks old fuel on top of the panel which was splashing out, fine. Maybe I was alerted for no reason. However, knowing how quickly gas evaporates in room temperature, that is very hard to believe to be the case.
So, please post your final findings, I will do the same when I get any sort of conclusion on this one...
thanks a lot![/QUOTE]
Hi Dollar Shopper
I'm still not sure if I have won this battle as the car has not been used for some time. The leak kept reoccuring. I had replaced the fuel filter and adjusted the clips only to find a huge puddle of fuel under the car a few weeks later. I then replaced the fuel lines and bought some good quality stainless steel hose close clips which I tightened up firmly - same problem a few weeks later more fuel on the ground. What I did notice while lying underneath the car was that when I manipulated one of the fuel lines some fuel squirted out at the end of the line behind the fuel filter where the hose clip was - this is while the fuel line was secured firmly in place by the hose clip. This lead me to believe that pressure is building up in the line for some reason and it is forcing fuel past the hose clips. With this in mind I put some bigger and better hose clips in place and tightened them with a ratchet, I then put a second hose clip next to the first one over the lip on the alli tube where the fuel hose slides over - so both clips right next to each other - and both done up really tight. I went over every inch of the system and put double clips on every line and tightened them up extremely tight. There have been no leaks since I did this but having said this with the arrival of our first child the SLK has been gathering dust so I need to do some more road tests. What I do know for sure is that originally I did physically see a leak coming out of one of the hoses by way of fuel forcing itself past the hose clip - so Im convinced its pressure and perhaps inadequate sealing of these hoses in this whole area of the car. Hope this helps. Cheers Jonathan
Hi KiwiSlk230,
would you be so kind and let us know what were your final findings on this? I know it has been a while, but still...
...for your information, I seem to have the exact same problem with mine - also recurring after it was supposingly fixed (!!). The car is a 1998 SLK230 Kompressor, automatic, closing in on 70.000km mark.
To get the leak pbm sorted, I took the SLK to the shop I know well, and the guy told me the filter hose clips were not tightened at all (note that the car had been in Mercedes shop for regular maintenance, and the fuel filter was replaced - sounds like it was the origin of the pbms(!)).
Now, since that was discovered, one of the hoses was replaced, and clips properly tightened. So I merrily came back thinking that's it - just to notice few days later that the fuel smell in the carage did not disappear, but a weak smell remained. Initially I tried to put it to rest with that being just reminders of the old problem already fixed.
After the car had sat in the carage for 1..2 weeks and I drowe it out, there was a pretty big spill of fuel right in front of the carage. As I reversed few more meters, another spill came out. I drove immediately to the shop, expecting the car go up in flames when the fuel hits the exhaust pipe...
When in the shop (5km/3miles drive), looked underneath, and it was still dripping roughly 1 drop/second. Turned off the engine, and 5 minutes later no more drops.
Now it gets interesting. In the shop, the car was jacked up and three persons (myself included) were staring under the removed panel, and no leak to be seen anywhere. Not a drop. The hose replaced last time was a brand new looking, and if I remember right, it was the one leaving the filter, going towards the engine)
The panel of course, as well as all old hoses (not the 2 weeks old one) had drain marks, but no new drop to be seen. Started the engine in hoping that the leak would show up when the pump is going, but nothing. We spent a good 15 minutes in bending hoses and revving the engine. Nothing.
I then thought maybe I could get some more pressure into the fuel tank by re-fueling, as the tank was almost empty anyway. So I did. Now the cold fuel from underground storage at the pump would heat up during the day in the shop, expand, and generate some pressure to help to force see the leak for us to see. The car stayed in the shop jacked up all day, but not a drip.
I took the car home the same nite, and it has been sitting in the carage every night on top of large piece of thick cardboard to make sure there will be a mark if anything drops (the panel is still removed) - and it would not evaporate before I see it (like it would on painted concrete floor). The car has been driven to work and back every day this week, and sat on the cardboard every night. Still nothing. No marks in the office parking lot either.
Now I am starting to lean towards "maybe it was just fuel on the panel"... but that is hard to justify as this happened *after* the panel was first time removed and the hose replaced, and new clips tightened. Nothing has been done (other than the panel removed) this time around, yet the leak has mysteriously disappeared - probably coming back as soon as I close the panel and think it is fixed... Next thing I will do is to clean the panel real good, and have the shop fit it back in place next week (as I dont have means of jacking the car up high and safe enough).
*IF* for some reason it could have been 1..2 weeks old fuel on top of the panel which was splashing out, fine. Maybe I was alerted for no reason. However, knowing how quickly gas evaporates in room temperature, that is very hard to believe to be the case.
So, please post your final findings, I will do the same when I get any sort of conclusion on this one...
thanks a lot![/QUOTE]
Joined
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3 Posts
Hi again,
...the fuel leak is back
- after hiding for ~week, and the car was left to the shop this morning.
Few observations about behavior:
1) when the car was ran daily (last week until friday) - not a drop of fuel
2) after not been used for 3.5 days, sitting in carage - spray of fuel (~1dl?) after starting
Since the protecting bottom cover was left removed last time in the shop (in hoping I would see the actual leak whenever that might occur), I quickly rushed under the car to see what was happening. This time I managed to see the fuel dripping from the pressure side of the pump, i.e. the short hose from the pump to the filter was wet, and dripping. Other hoses and ends of pump and filter seemed to be dry.
Now going back to your "pressure building" in the line is a good thought. It seems to me that at least the pump inlet hose, neither the pump itself is to blame. It could be the hose out of the pump, but why did it not leak when I was running the car daily?
Is there something that can get stuck when not used for a while - which could cause excessive pressure in the pressure side of the pump? And thus replacing hoses and double clipping those could help (treating the symptom, not cause), but might not be the root cause as the manufacturer original setup with single, normally tightened clip should work, right?
Maybe someone more knowledgeable on the topic can shed some more light in details of the SLK fuel system...? Here's my current thinking for starters. I assume the system has the following parts:
Fuel tank - pump - filter - fuel pressure regulator(?) - rail(?) - injectors(?).
I assume the operation is that:
1) pump builds up pressure, which can vary quite a bit depending on many things, including the battery voltage (10..15V some 50% variation possible), and fuel flows towards the engine with varying pressure...
2) At the end of the fuel line there is the regulator which is supposed to keep the fuel pressure in certain narrow range no matter what the pump does.
Now how about the regulator, can it get stuck? After the car not being used for some time, requires excessive pressure to open and start functioning normally? Sounds logical but does anyone know if it is possible for the fuel pressure regulator to be completely shut? (well, maybe not completely as the engine would not run without fuel, but to the point where the line pressure goes way up)
I called the local Mercedes dealer and they have the part in stock for 140+ euro, and the guy on the phone said it seems to be a part which is moving, i.e. replacements are being done all the time - yet of course he could not say what might be the reasons.
I will let you know once again as the saga continues, but meanwhile, anyone more informed on SLK fuel system would be welcome to comment/correct on the speculation above...
thanks again!!
...the fuel leak is back
- after hiding for ~week, and the car was left to the shop this morning. Few observations about behavior:
1) when the car was ran daily (last week until friday) - not a drop of fuel
2) after not been used for 3.5 days, sitting in carage - spray of fuel (~1dl?) after starting
Since the protecting bottom cover was left removed last time in the shop (in hoping I would see the actual leak whenever that might occur), I quickly rushed under the car to see what was happening. This time I managed to see the fuel dripping from the pressure side of the pump, i.e. the short hose from the pump to the filter was wet, and dripping. Other hoses and ends of pump and filter seemed to be dry.
Now going back to your "pressure building" in the line is a good thought. It seems to me that at least the pump inlet hose, neither the pump itself is to blame. It could be the hose out of the pump, but why did it not leak when I was running the car daily?
Is there something that can get stuck when not used for a while - which could cause excessive pressure in the pressure side of the pump? And thus replacing hoses and double clipping those could help (treating the symptom, not cause), but might not be the root cause as the manufacturer original setup with single, normally tightened clip should work, right?
Maybe someone more knowledgeable on the topic can shed some more light in details of the SLK fuel system...? Here's my current thinking for starters. I assume the system has the following parts:
Fuel tank - pump - filter - fuel pressure regulator(?) - rail(?) - injectors(?).
I assume the operation is that:
1) pump builds up pressure, which can vary quite a bit depending on many things, including the battery voltage (10..15V some 50% variation possible), and fuel flows towards the engine with varying pressure...
2) At the end of the fuel line there is the regulator which is supposed to keep the fuel pressure in certain narrow range no matter what the pump does.
Now how about the regulator, can it get stuck? After the car not being used for some time, requires excessive pressure to open and start functioning normally? Sounds logical but does anyone know if it is possible for the fuel pressure regulator to be completely shut? (well, maybe not completely as the engine would not run without fuel, but to the point where the line pressure goes way up)
I called the local Mercedes dealer and they have the part in stock for 140+ euro, and the guy on the phone said it seems to be a part which is moving, i.e. replacements are being done all the time - yet of course he could not say what might be the reasons.
I will let you know once again as the saga continues, but meanwhile, anyone more informed on SLK fuel system would be welcome to comment/correct on the speculation above...
thanks again!!
Just to say I have the same problem - I'm replacing the filter next week (along with a few other things like getting codes read etc.) - After the car has been idle for a week I'll start up & see where it leaks - the cover is now off. (same symptoms - fine if used daily, left for a weeek & a fair bit pours out for a couple of minutes only. Regulator an interesting point though.) I'll post where the leak is if I can spot it for info.
Any history of the actual fuel pump leaking ?
Any history of the actual fuel pump leaking ?
Just want to add that I too have leaking fuel issues. There was once (about a couple of years ago) when one of the hose tore. Due to wear and tear. When the mechanic showed me the ruber hose, I can tell, it is dry and cracking. About a year ago, I start having faint petrol smell coming from the fuel filter area. Fuel consumption is kind of high but I thought it was probably that I am heavy footed. Recently the smell sort of disappeared. I meant to send it in to the workshop for a proper evaluation.
Aha, problem spotted - after 5 days none use jacked her up, off with the fuel pump cover & then started her up. Drips spotted coming from the pipe connection out from the Fuel Pump -the one thats hardest to get at, just by the electrical connectors (gulp) Solution - New pipe twixt pump & filter, plus 2 new clips.
Hope that helps.
(ps - the clip on the pump is the original crimped affair, after 30 seconds dripping it sealed itself).
Hope that helps.
(ps - the clip on the pump is the original crimped affair, after 30 seconds dripping it sealed itself).
Joined
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3 Posts
pbm seems to be gone...
just wanted to update you on my side. The latest attempt to fix the issue was in June, more than month ago. The changes at that time were to replace the hose out of the pump, normal single clips, normal tightening. In addition to that I replaced the fuel pressure regulator at the end of the line, on top of the injector rail (very easy access, right on top of the engine), just in case it was to blame. So far it seems to have done the trick, we have not seen the fuel spots since. I keep my fingers crossed while thinking of declaring victory and celebrating... :beerchugr:
just wanted to update you on my side. The latest attempt to fix the issue was in June, more than month ago. The changes at that time were to replace the hose out of the pump, normal single clips, normal tightening. In addition to that I replaced the fuel pressure regulator at the end of the line, on top of the injector rail (very easy access, right on top of the engine), just in case it was to blame. So far it seems to have done the trick, we have not seen the fuel spots since. I keep my fingers crossed while thinking of declaring victory and celebrating... :beerchugr:
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