1986 R107 SL - Smelly or is it just me?
Discussion
Thanks for the advice all. There are a couple of others in my area which I have driven behind in the past, I can’t ever remember smelling anything from them.
It goes in Monday so I will report back then!
At the end of the day it’s my wife’s car and it does not bother her, I have my Mercedes thug wagon to keep me happy. What annoys me is that the SL is a beautiful car and the smell is taking something away from it.
Fingers crossed it is simple.
It goes in Monday so I will report back then!
At the end of the day it’s my wife’s car and it does not bother her, I have my Mercedes thug wagon to keep me happy. What annoys me is that the SL is a beautiful car and the smell is taking something away from it.
Fingers crossed it is simple.
You might have a solution in hand by now, but it's worth getting the specialist to check the fuel lines. They are all old and prone to splitting now. I recently had mine replaced and they were close to bursting in one spot.
Old cars have a distinctive 'old car' smell, and often run rich by today's standards, but a petrol smell shouldn't be obvious once it's going.
Old cars have a distinctive 'old car' smell, and often run rich by today's standards, but a petrol smell shouldn't be obvious once it's going.
Pretty straightforward to get the emissions checked, though as previously stated Colin Ferns has a pretty good rep in MB circles so I'd reckon on them being ok. Mine's a V8 so not exactly the same comparison but it does smell a bit, old style fuel injection isn't as efficient at getting it all burnt all the time 
It will smell a LOT more than your multi catted emission controlled daily though, that's a guarantee.
It will smell a LOT more than your multi catted emission controlled daily though, that's a guarantee. Some possible causes (I've been there with my SL)
1) The fuel cap might not have been correctly seated at some point when you've been using the car. When cornering this can allow fuel to spill out the neck, and the smell will linger in the boot/ rear of the car.
2) Issues with the fuel return system.
3) Tired seal for the fuel tank sender.
4) and this is the biggie knackered fuel lines. If they burst you might end up with a very well built german barbecue.
Worth noting, however, that old cars do often run richer/ emit unburnt fuel, and will inevitably smell a little bit of petrol.
1) The fuel cap might not have been correctly seated at some point when you've been using the car. When cornering this can allow fuel to spill out the neck, and the smell will linger in the boot/ rear of the car.
2) Issues with the fuel return system.
3) Tired seal for the fuel tank sender.
4) and this is the biggie knackered fuel lines. If they burst you might end up with a very well built german barbecue.
Worth noting, however, that old cars do often run richer/ emit unburnt fuel, and will inevitably smell a little bit of petrol.
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