Correct Gas cap? Leaking? Fumes Etc?

[k]

Wondering if anyone has a source for the correct gas cap.  Mine is clearly not the right one as it appears brass in color on the inside and does not fit tight; and leaks if topped of beyonf 3/4's.

Doug Kim has a sweet chrome one w/star logo in center w/out lock, that cost him $135.

Millers has four types

-lock vented
-lock w/out vent

-no lock vented
-no lock no vent

-plastic

wondering if non-vented will stop leak or create pressure problems

[Douglas]

(Mine is locking.)

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[k]

Is it with key or ratchet type

[Douglas]

It's a key-type. Here is a link to Richard Madison's juicy expose on this topic where he tells all and names names.

Link: http://index.php?topic=566,cap

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[n/a]

Original MB gas cap, small key version, 000-471-20-30 $91.02 . The 1970-71 type can be ordered, with great difficulty, to the original key code.
tom in CA

tom in CA

[JamesL]

I had a leaky filler cap so forked out for a nice new one. Genyouwine from Georgia. A very light brass colour on the inside and a cork gasket - just like the original (only with a 2nd key)

And I now have 2 leaky fuel caps

anything much above 3/4 of a tank and it leaks - on acceleration and on the rampof my garage

I'm going to try a rubber gasket in the old cap and see if that improves matters.

With gas at $9 a gallon, you really don't want to be pouring out the back of your car!

[Naj ✝︎]

Tosh,
You sure its leaking from the cap and not the three little breathers behind the cowl in the trunk?
naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[k]

yes, my trunk was dry' and right bumper and body under cas cap were coated with gas.

[k]

Still unclear; do these gas cap provide a hermetic seal that prevents leakage?

Is leakage from a faulty backflow flap or valve in tank or to do all 60s era caps have some leakage?

I assume the "vented" do leak?

[JamesL]

Naj

Definitely the cap - over the bumper (mainly) and I can wipe fuel off the cap(s!)

[k]

Tosh,

Is your from Buds Bens (Georgia?) is it the $135 or $85; vented, non-vented? lockable? star MB logo?

MB Part#? or aftermarket?

[blairwag]

I bought my replacement locking vented gas cap from Tom Hansen at Calliber Motors. Bandy-new, Genuine MB parts. It  was easy, fast delivery, and cost $86.00 + S&H.  It was cheaper than buying it from SLTech and eBay! The cap IS vented, and does NOT leak fuel on the back of the car. It is totally chromed on the outside, and a black rubber seal that meets the gas tank's filler hole.  However, I don't STOMP on the throttle that often, full take on not.

Those of you with leaks, just MIGHT have a gas tank filler hole that is out of round!


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[JamesL]

k

MB part 000 471 20 30 - so the "Small Key" version that halfviking referred to. The gasket is cork. It was certainly shipped from Georgia so I guess Bud's

A friend gave me some gasket material so I'll give that a stab over the weekend

[peterm]

Bought the new and found it leaked, took the seal from my old aftermarket cap and added it to the cork one on my new cap and voila problem solved.  It does take a little more effort to open, but I only visit a station once in a blue moon (second full moon in a calender month)

[Dick M]

Is the cap for 280SL suppose to be vented or unvented?
Dick
1970 280SL

[Tom]

Dick,

Later models with US emissions were un-vented.  Tom Hanson can get you one keyed to your existing key if you give him your lock number off of the data card.

Best,

Tom

____________________________________

Tom
1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown
1994 E320 Cabriolet, Smoke Silver
1999 E320 Wagon 4 matic, Brilliant Silver
____________________________________

[Cees Klumper]

I suppose that on cars without the heavy-duty US emission controls, either vented or non-vented would work equally well. That is, these have the overflow canister in the trunk which will allow excess pressure to escape that way, rather than through the gas cap? I don't have the emission controls on my 1969 280 SL, and I do have the small canister in the trunk, and no leaks from the (non-venting) cap. When I bought the car, it did have a gas leak over the rear bumper etc., and I replaced the cap with a new, locking non-venting one. End of leak (at least from the cap - there was another leak from the fuel pump, which was then also replaced).

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[113gray]

My gas cap is unlike any other I've seen in that it is unchromed & is a dark lead gray color. It is keyed (w/ lost key), unvented I think, exactly the same shape as chromed ones, doesn't leak & has a small star logo. Actually, to me it looks appropriate for this model given it's somewhat more primative nature compared to later cars. But in my new copy of Fazination, all of the rear views of early models appear to have chrome gas caps. I had earlier assumed mine to be original but now wonder if it is a replacement or possibly correct for for a '66 230SL  (Italian). This is clearly nitpicking at nothing very important, but has anybody seen one like this ?         -JP-

[Douglas]

I have that exact cap on my 1973 W114 280 sedan. Since the W114 has a gas cap that's covered with a "door" that flips open and it's less pricey that a Pagoda, it  makes sense that the gas cap is less fancy.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #018260

[Cees Klumper]

The leaky cap that was on my car when I bought it was the "dark lead-gray" color you describe JP. I much preferred the chrome once I saw that on.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[J. Huber]

Hello.

I too have the (anodized?) grey MBZ cap. Not dark but medium matte grey. It is locking and uses the large Ymos 2-sided key. I cannot be sure if it was taken from a 114 or is a 113 variety. I have had it since '79. I think I have seen other grey ones that were not locking and had the raised center for a good grip.

Chrome is nice but the anodized grey works fine for me (until I really run out of other things to do!)

PS It does not leak!
James
63 230SL

[Dick M]

Tom..
Do you know if your cap is vented or unvented?

Dick

quote:Originally posted by Tom

Dick,

Later models with US emissions were un-vented.  Tom Hanson can get you one keyed to your existing key if you give him your lock number off of the data card.

Best,

Tom

____________________________________

Tom
1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown
1994 E320 Cabriolet, Smoke Silver
1999 E320 Wagon 4 matic, Brilliant Silver
____________________________________

Dick M
1970 280SL

[k]

OK, now I am thoroughly confused about gas caps

-Numerous pots recommend the $85 MB part 000 471 20 30; however, once person who has it says it leaks; and with a cork seal I can't imagine how this would seal any leaks??

-There seems to be mass confusion about venting; again; my sense is if it vents it leaks; unless this a presure actyivated valve that only relase with psi pressure and not backwash splash from tank

-the grey metal version appears to be a generic 113 cap; and not a chromed new MB part curretly available.

-The $135 cap seems to be the only one that does not leak, as it lock and is non-vented.

-Calls the Budds, Millers, Star all revealled a $125 price, with no confirmation as to MB part #.

So, now I am more confused than when this started


?'s

-Who has the $85 cap that doesn't leak
-Anyone have photos of cap, seal, keys
-Can an expert diagnose leaks: ie, cap, air line under trunk cover, pressure canister?
-Define vented?
-Do these caps provide a hermetic seal; ie, put it one twist down rubber seal and NOTHING comes out ever?

[Cees Klumper]

OK let me try. My new cap (1969 280 SL, no US emission controls) is unvented. I'm almost positive that it has a rubber (rather than cork) seal, and it is chromed. Not sure what the cost was, or the part number. It came with two smallish keys, non-plasticized, round/oval head.
I would imagine vented caps do not leak. I mean, what would be the point of making and selling caps that leak gas. There is the possibility that a good cap still leaks, but that would then be due to the filler neck being distorted, as one poster noted, so the cap cannot seal properly.

What we need to end this kind of confusion is one document that is THE definitive, quality-controlled collection of all of these facts, tribal knowledge, wisdom etc that we can consult. We're working on it ...

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[n/a]

All W113 gas caps are non-vented from MB. 1963-1969 cars all use the 000-471-20-30 with the small key. it will also work on the 71-71. The later cap is a 000-471-47-30. The only difference is the key. I can order any of them keyed to the original key code, but this is a major headache. The "matte finish" caps were used on sedans, covered by a gas filler door. These are all now black. That's it.


tom in CA