Petrol leak after filling up the tank

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
Hello All,

I have just filled up the tank today and after filling when i was driving home i noticed some petrol smell but thought it must just be from my hands but since then i have parked the car and only just now noticed some spillage at the back behind the back driverside wheel. I have checked for any leaks but cn't see any active dripping and only just got the car MOT's which would indicate that the fuel lines werent damaged or rusted either.

Also checked the fuel capacity and its showing that i have full tank at 13.6 gallon which is what i always have after filling up to the brim.

Can anyone think of any obvious reasons why there may be spillage? Can this is be as simple as filling too much, but that should have meant that it leaked from the fuel cap after filled to the top or is there an inner valve inside the fuel neck which let fuel out if you have too much in the tanks?

I hope its not an issue with the tank or the filler neck.

Thanks in advance
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #2
I have just started the car and can see a drop coming from under the back spring. Has anyone had this or know what it may be? I dnt want to be driving it as its obviously a fire hazzard
 

Xtractorfan

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
6,085
Reaction score
159
Your Mercedes
S class
I think you may have overfilled, never a good idea as there will always be some spillage / wasteage, driving a few miles to bring the level down wont cause any problems, almost empty tanks are more dangerous than full tanks.. check again after you have gone a few miles when you get the car parked up..
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Thanks, I have just called out AA and surprisingly enough it stopped and he also said it may be overfilling and also taught me a rule of physics that petrol expands in heat which means it may have come out from somewhere. anyway i cnt see any drips now and it seems to be ok now
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Your car is too new to have a few tank problem, never had one on here yet
 

Bybuys

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
44
Reaction score
8
Location
Denton, Northants
I had exactly the same problem on a 2001 CLK convertible which I sorted last week. Part of the fuel filling system has a return pipe which is about 6 inches long and mine had perished. As it doesn't normally store fuel witin the pipe I just used some normal hose and replaced it. to do so you just removed the rear wheel and remove the wheelarch plastic liner. Its simple to do and took me about 30 minutes total. You'll need a couple of circular clips to secure it once you replace it.
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
but mine wasnt actually leaking, i am told it was a simple over filling. I will be carefull and stop when the noozle clicks first time as i normaly try to get as much as i can
 

Bybuys

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
44
Reaction score
8
Location
Denton, Northants
Thars fair enough Amo but I had an Indy check mine when on a hoist and he could see no signs of leaks and advised me only to fill to the first click. i did this and it still spilled out as you describe. Not necessarily the same problem but worth checking for 30 minutes effort. dangerous thing this old petrol stuff, specially if there are smokers about!!
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Agreed, I will do it over the weekend, this tank should keep me going till them and I have checked today everytime i parked up but there is no visible signs of leak. Also yesterday i could smell the petrol while driving it which hasnt come back since.

thanks for the advise though, i will get it checked
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
Thars fair enough Amo but I had an Indy check mine when on a hoist and he could see no signs of leaks and advised me only to fill to the first click. i did this and it still spilled out as you describe. Not necessarily the same problem but worth checking for 30 minutes effort. dangerous thing this old petrol stuff, specially if there are smokers about!!

You were right, It happened again today. I went to MMT today and was told that it would be the return pipe. I will give it a bash tommorow. How easy is it to remove the inner liner under the wheel arch?
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
. I will give it a bash tommorow. How easy is it to remove the inner liner under the wheel arch?

Don't bash it too hard.;):D

I can give you info on taking off the liner if you would like it
 

Cole@MBS

Forum Supporter
Authorised Forum Supporter
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
13,702
Reaction score
950
Age
54
Location
Southampton
Website
www.mbssouthampton.co.uk
Your Mercedes
124 300 CE 24 Coupe, C220CDI, Porsche 911 4s, Dolomite sprint,
You were right, It happened again today. I went to MMT today and was told that it would be the return pipe. I will give it a bash tommorow. How easy is it to remove the inner liner under the wheel arch?

Sorry to correct you Amo, i said beather pipe, no fuel stains anywhere on your car!
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Sorry to correct you Amo, i said beather pipe, no fuel stains anywhere on your car!

Breather pipe? Ermmm.... I am confused now. so that's why you said it would be a long job? I am just not keen on having a puddle every time i fill up so just wanted to check if there is anything that can be done.
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Does anyone know where this Breather pipe is? Is this something i can attempt to fix myself?
 

RiceBurner

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
61
Reaction score
0
Your Mercedes
1991 230TE
Thanks, I have just called out AA and surprisingly enough it stopped and he also said it may be overfilling and also taught me a rule of physics that petrol expands in heat which means it may have come out from somewhere. anyway i cnt see any drips now and it seems to be ok now


but mine wasnt actually leaking, i am told it was a simple over filling. I will be carefull and stop when the noozle clicks first time as i normaly try to get as much as i can

Always stop at the first cut-off. Modern filler-necks are designed to give you a full tank at the first cut-off.

And yes - fuel will expand quite considerably when it warms to the temperature of your car. Remember its been stored in a deep tank, underground. Even ambient air temperature is about 10 degrees higher than the temperature at which it's stored - especially in warm weather.
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #16
Always stop at the first cut-off. Modern filler-necks are designed to give you a full tank at the first cut-off.

And yes - fuel will expand quite considerably when it warms to the temperature of your car. Remember its been stored in a deep tank, underground. Even ambient air temperature is about 10 degrees higher than the temperature at which it's stored - especially in warm weather.

when i filled up yesterday, i didnt even allow it to cut off, only filled upto what i thought would be full tank. It still leaked fair amount. I have at the filler neck checked which didnt have any stains so its clear that its not leaking from the filler neck. I was advsied it could be the breather pipe but not sure how i can go about checking that.
 
OP
SQ_W211

SQ_W211

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
2,140
Reaction score
1
Location
UK
Your Mercedes
W219 CLS55 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #17
Don't bash it too hard.;):D

I can give you info on taking off the liner if you would like it

Malc, Can you provide me with this info? I am going to check this as first instinct and see if i can locate where the leak is coming from.
 

shane10010

Active Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Location
Northampton, United Kingdom
Your Mercedes
Mercedes S500 Coupe (current), CLK320, Vectra SRI, Jaguar X-Type, Audi 200T, Mercedes 280SE
Hi,

Same smell with mine, most noticable when on the drive (decline)
Is it definately the return hose? If it is, I will order a replacement and do next weekend.

Great advice, thanks!
Shane
 

Coupe

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
152
Reaction score
8
Location
Esher, Surrey
Your Mercedes
2002 CLK 2.3K Convertible
I'm getting a smell after filling up. I'm sure I've posted something on this in the past but don't seem to get any forum posts on a search for my name? Does anyone know the correct bore size of the pipes I need to order.
 

Coupe

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
152
Reaction score
8
Location
Esher, Surrey
Your Mercedes
2002 CLK 2.3K Convertible
Ok the pipe is 16mm Petrol Quality BUT you might as well get the original parts. From the photos the split pipe (other fractures as well elsewhere). New parts out and in the car. Parts cost with VAT £17.58 from Guildford Mercedes. Reasonable I thought and they had them in stock. Careful if looking at EPC as the parts do not show the bends but they do have them. Hope this helps someone. Hopefully when I fill up again it won't smell, taking precaution to not overfill. Should add pipe that goes into overflow tank (top left in car picture) has a wider diameter at end so it's difficult to use a single bore pipe. Hope this makes sense. You can just make it out on picture of new pipes out of car, top pipe left end.

Fuel Lines In Car sm.jpg Fuel Lines Out sm.jpg Fuel Lines Split.JPG
 
Last edited:

Stop looking for the Best Garage!! We are here and have the best advanced solutions for you, at Competitive prices. Put us to test with any issue you may have.
Top Bottom