Fuel filter canister disaster

[mbzse]

List,
Here are a couple of pictures showing a problem which caused a 280SL, belonging to a friend of mine, to stop dead! The SL had to return to its garage on a flatbed... :?

As you can see, the mount (lid) on the fuel filter canister broke right off while the car was being driven, and pressurized fuel squirted all over the engine compartment...
As you may know the filter part is attached to the left engine support arm.

Now, has anyone seen a case like this before? I certainly haven't. Comments welcome!
.

/Hans in Sweden
PS The SL is back on the road already, I had a spare filter canister on my shelf   DS

Download Attachment: Fuel filter can1.jpg
27.53 KB

Download Attachment: Fuel filter can2.jpg
24.33 KB

[Jonny B]

Wow! Possibly a combination of vibration and stress from mis-alignment(fuel line mounting)

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[TheEngineer]

Thank you! Good reason to inspect mine for cracking!

[rwmastel]

I have heard of oil filter housings cracking from having a second rubber seal washer left in the groove at the top of the canister.  That was too much pressure and cracked the top of the canister.  This is different as the mount itself broke.  Interesting!

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[114015]

Thanks, Hans,
for sharing this rare problem with us.

I am afraid with the increasing age of our cars the most weird parts disintegrate which should normally never happen throughout a car's life expectation...

Best,

Achim
(Magdeburg, Germany)

[Benz Dr.]

The only way that could happen is through some previous unrelated damage. It's pretty hard to tell but it doesn't look like a fresh crack in the housing.
 
I had a car in that was leaking oil around the pan. Looked it over and tightened all the pan screws but it was still leaking. I eventually found that the oil pan was cracked yet there was no signs of it hitting anything. I found out at a much later date that the engine had been dropped about 2 feet during installation by a former owner.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
  1 877 661 6061