oil leak from fuel pump solenoid

[georgem]

I have a leak from the fuel pump starter solenoid ( at the back of he fuel pump). The leak is coming from the end where the elect wires attach. Sourcing a new one doesn`t seem to be possible as it seems they don`t make them anymore.

So how do I stop the leak
                                                                                   

[ja17]

I assume you are referring to the injection pump solenoid? If you have the early IP, then you will have a fluid level dip stick. In this case your oil level is too high and is probably contaminated with gasoline. Extract the oil out of the IP. and refill the IP to the correct level. If your solenoid still leaks, you may have to source a good used one.

[wwheeler]

Joe is probably right although I had a fuel shut off solenoid on a later 280SE pump that leaked at the plastic cap where the wires attach. Not common but happens as I was told by Pacific Fuel. Does your pump have one or two solenoids on the back of the pump? If it is just one solenoid and is mounted high on the back of the pump, then the solenoid you are talking about is a starting solenoid not the fuel shut off. I am pretty sure you can find those new but if not, should tons around used. Check with Pacific fuel or Fairchild injection and see if they have one.

[georgem]

Jo  and Wallace- thanks for the replies - and I think, as you say Wallace, Joe is the winner
I checked the pump - only one solenoid mounted high up with the dip stick below. I took out the dip stick and it was full to the brim with oil. I shall suck that out and refill -thanks Joe.  Couldn`t smell any petrol on the dip stick but it might be evident in the oil when I remove it

My follow on questions are therefore: what does that single starter solenoid do? and what regulates the volume of oil in the IP and how does it circulate? ( is it a closed system or does it receive oil from the motor under pressure?. 

Thanks again

George

[wwheeler]

Not surprising Joe is the winner and I learned everything I know from his knowledge here over the years. The starting solenoid puts the IP into full rich position and typically only during starting. There are three different versions of the fuel injection starting systems that were incorporated during W113 production. Because of that, I am not sure exactly which version you have and the specifics of that. The different starting systems and descriptions how they work are the tech manual.

With the early pumps, the rear compartment has its own oil reservoir and why the dipstick is there. It also has pressurized oil from the engine, but that is only on the front portion where the pistons are. The later pumps are fully fed by engine oil and do not have the separate reservoir in the rear. The early pumps do require occasional oil changes for the rear reservoir. 

[georgem]

Just to finish this post off - I sucked about 200ml of oil out of the dip stick hole - no petrol smell. Next time I took her for a run I checked afterwards - dry - yahoo. One down, two leaks to go.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

[ja17]

George, use the dip stick on the IP to refill the IP oil to the correct level.

[georgem]

George, use the dip stick on the IP to refill the IP oil to the correct level.

Thanks Joe for the reminder - although I sucked a lot of oil out, there was still some in there. BTW is the level checked with the dip stick before it is screwed in or after - makes a big difference as its a long thread.