BoZo.E55

-2005 E55 (Stock) 55K Miles

Guys I need your input on this one....I've searched the forums, but can not find a post with my exact issue. Here it goes.... Only when the out side temps are above 100 degrees and lots of stop/go driving I begin to smell fuel in side the cabin. As well, the tank can be at any level. It seems to be strongest on the passenger rear (near the rear headrest). I checked the pumps under the rear seats (removed covers) while the smell of gas was very strong in the cabin....but not a whiff of gas smell coming from either pump units. As well each was bone dry, and no sign of past leakage. The car did have the recall completed in '08. As well, I can smell fuel form the outside of the passenger/rear wheel well. I did a quick look underneath the car and again no signs of anything leaking. Is there anything else I can look at, possibly behind the rear seats? Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!

Recap:
- Gas smell is present only when the temp outside is 100 or above and lots of stop and go driving

- Smell can happen when the gas tank is full or almost empty this does not matter

- Checked both pumps under the rear seat, no smell or sign of fuel leaking

- Can smell outside of the car as well, from rear passenger wheel well.

-2005 E55 (Stock) 55K Miles

moosejaw

so i take it you have already read the "our cars are bombs" thread?

BoZo.E55

Yep, but most were around seeing fuel around the pumps, where I'm not seeing any.....Looking into what/where else I could look for a leak.

grantwoodtx

Filler tube all sealed? No puddles under the car?
There has been a number of cases where the whole tank had to be replaced.

BoZo.E55

No sign of gas anywhere.....

isellbenz

Been super hot here in Cincy too. I recently starting smelling gas outside the car in the drivers side rear wheel well. It goes away when the tank gets lower. Thank GOD I dont smell it IN the car. No puddles, no runs or drips under the car. Drivers side rules out the filler neck????

nra21

Hi BoZo.E55,

Any luck in solving the gas smell on your car.
I'm having similar intermittent petrol smell at the rear wheel well on my 2009 W211 E200K.

The local dealership had replaced the seals on sender unit and seals on fuel pump, tank cap, filler neck, regeneration line fuel evaporation and even replace the charcoal canister with CLS version.

Some time after spritted driving I can immediately smell the petrol when I get out of the car.

BoZo.E55

Dealer noted it was the charcoal canister valve not shutting. Picking it up today, seeif this fixes it.

cag

I'm getting the same thing except that a puddle happens if i fill it up. its coming from somewhere on the gas tank but haven't found it yet.

BoZo.E55

Update.... Smell is back!!!!! Recap of what's been done so far (see below)... As well, the dealer is now stumped. The only thing they can come up with is the type of fuel I use (Costco) may have additives that are causing excess pressure to build in conjunction with the Arizona heat???? MB noted to use Shell and or Chevron. Just filled up with Chevron, I'll see how this goes. Any HELP would be greatly appricated!!!


- Pressure test, both via Star and smoke test (both negative)
- Both fuel pumps are great, no leaks or signs of leaking
- New charcoal canister via MB dealer (free as this was not the problem), canister was "soaked" with fuel per tech.
- No puddles or any sign of fuel anywhere only the smell of it

pp05073n

I have an 05 E55 and i have the same problem ive only had it for a couple months but the only time i smelt the gas was 2 weeks where it was over 95 degrees and its been cooler where i live now and no smell im puzzeled

saltydizzle

+1...Ive had this as well when the temp in chicago reached 105 a few weeks back. No leaks, no puddles, nothing. I have yet to smell the gas since.

check out posts 15-17 & 22 on this thread

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...all-bombs.html

nra21

The type of fuel used should not be the reason. No petrol smell should escape the system if every thing is working perfectly. That is why MB put in the charcoal canister to absorb the smell.

BTW my car is still with the dealership and they are still trying to figure out the problem.

I was told a German Technical Consultant assigned to them from MB was looking at it with consultation from MB Germany.

This is the 6th time my car in their workshop and it has been 5 weeks already now.

Luckily they loan me their demo car (W212 E200 CGI) for me to get around.

joaa

The same issue with me. First time went to dealer which check the fuel pump seal leaking, and than I still smell the gas when I top of the tank. Second time the dealer replaced whole tank for warranty, also take money back for seal.

kelwilliams08

The whole tank needs to be replaced. There is a 90 degree elbow for the fuel return dead center of the tank between fuel sender units. They are notorious for leaking. I replace them all the time at my dealership

BoZo.E55

Is there a way to view the leak at the 90?

Hellzno

leaking injector, maybe?

kelwilliams08

only way to view the 90 degree elbow is to drop the tank. its a plastic weld and it seems as if all the higher mileage cars are starting to do so

azheman

As of right now I have the exact issues being described in this thread.

It started off that I would smell fuel when I topped off, no signs of leakage.

The first time it happened, I thought the fuel was that I drove through a puddle of gas (it was by driver rear tire).

After the third time, I stopped filling it up. Took it to independent, he replaced the two fuel sending unit seals.

Today I filled it up for the first time since that, as soon as I got home (about 5 miles), I immediately smelled a strong sense of fuel when I got out. I backed the car out of the garage and parked in the driveway. 20 minutes later, I go out and fuel is leaking in my driveway from right next to the rear driver tire.

This is not on an E55 though, this is on a 2006 CLK500. Did they use the same setup or what? This is ridiculous, and I'm not happy about this. I just bought the car 3 weeks ago (the dealer doesn't want anything to do with it).

cag

I must have done something right. My dealer is replacing the tank and everything attached to it. They agreed to cover all the parts if I paid the $650.00 labor bill. And they paid the rental car. No warranty.

BoZo.E55

Update.... Per MB USA, they do not know what the problem is. Still get fuel smell on hot days 100+ degrees. No leaks what so ever anywhere, and the smell can come on with any amount of fuel in tank. They did replace the charcoal filter in the rear passenger wheel whell (no cost). MB usa is blaming gas "additives" at this point. Something about the expantion rate of the new additives within the fuel. Checked tank again this weekend, no leaks around fuel pumps or any visible fuel anywhere.....

fly2nite

My understanding is the charcoal canister traps the vapors until the engine is started again, at which time the purge valve opens to allow the vapors to be combusted instead of vented. According to my MB Tech and logic, it sounds like a stuck purge valve... but if they already tried that and the problem still exists...

Here's a video of my "trickle" after a full tank.

2007 E63 fuel leak

Jim's500E

Is this also a problem on the W211 wagons?

I'm looking to get into an 2005-2006 E55 or E500 4-matic wagon like next week !

I have an 05' E55 wagon in my driveway as a loaner/tester right now...should I fill the tank up and see if it smells/leaks?

novae500

fill the tank full and park in a garage to see if you can smell the vapors (or you can pull the back seats and get to the fuel sending units. If so, then you have the leaky fuel sending unit.

mikekuriger

my c55 is having this gas smell only after a fillup. ever since I drove to AZ last summer. smell goes away once i drive enough to get the fuel level down. I have not been able to identify any leaks or puddles. smell is from the rear.