BHPian Jeroen recently shared this with other enthusiasts: Last time I used the Mercedes W123, I could smell a distinct petrol smell!. Not a lot, but definitely a petrol smell. So I decided to investigate. It appeared the smell was most prominent in the boot of the car. Of course, that’s also where the petrol tank is. Nevertheless, I checked the petrol cap first. The rubber seal looked ok to me, so I concentrated on the boot first. Notice the vacuum tank underneath the parcel shelf. Sometimes referred to as the egg box because of its shape! Getting access to the tank is very easy. You simply take out the large piece of plastic trim in the right rear wing. Next, undo four screws that hold the panel together in front of the tank. I could not spot any evidence of leakage. Of course, petrol vaporises over time, but it tends to leave a sort of yellowish stain behind. But the tank has all metal connections. The filler neck is clearly visible, but also the two pipes underneath the tank are all welded. There is just one other connection, on the left, you see the top of the level indicating sensor. That does rely on a rubber gasket. Without removing the whole tank, you can’t inspect it properly. But as far as I could see, everything was fine. I did check all underneath the car, nothing. In the end, I called my friendly W123 expert Cor and explained the problem. He immediately said; Gasket in your fuel cap! Before doing anything, replace it. So this morning I drove over to Cor to pick up a new gasket. The colour of my W123 is pretty rare, thistle green. Look what another customer of Cor brought! The station version, or T-version as MB calls it, is a much sought-after classic. This one is in very good condition, too! I showed Cor my fuel cap, and he took out the gasket. Trying to ply it, it was evident it had some tiny tears in, and it was very hard too. Put a new gasket in. Let’s see if this is the end of the petrol smell! On the way home, I also picked up a new brake booster for my Alfa Spider. During our trip to Ireland, I noticed it was not working properly now and then. Very annoying to say the least. The brakes will still work, but you have to press the pedal really hard! In a couple of weeks, spanner mate Peter will bring his latest acquisition, his gorgeous 1998 Daimler. We have various little jobs to do and if we have enough time, we will also replace the Spider brake booster Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
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