Garage Cabinets, Garage Storage, and Garage Organization

Two days ago, my 1999 300E turbodiesel became hard to start.   There was never any hint of a problem before this.   I took the car to the local M-B dealer, who noticed that diesel fuel was leaking under the engine, while it was idling in their service area.   They checked the car and reported to me today that the injector lines are leaking and need replacement.   Their estimate was $800, because they felt all the injector lines need replacement and it was necessary to remove the intake manifold to do this.   They said it might even be possible that later they will find the fuel injector pump (I think they called it) is bad.

I asked him if the failing lines were metal.  He sid no, they are plastic.   I am very concerned that such an expensive failure occurs so quickly.   An independent M-B servicer seems to think this is common.

Anyone else having such problems with their diesel engines?  I am greatly agitated of such a poor design and how this affects reliability and safety.  Also, the thought that I was probably spraying diesel fuel along the roadway while driving it, before the fault was found.   Two days before this, over the weekend, I was on an 800-mile roadtrip with it.

Do I need to replace these every 7 years?   This car has ~98k miles on it and has not been abused, is garaged most of the time, is not driven very much in extreme weather, nor pushed very hard.

Any comments?   BUMMER !!

Hello there, I think....7 years is a normal time to replace ur Injector Fuel. I usually replace some parts in my mercedes every 5 years.

Welcome to M-BenzForum.com CG Broward.

$ 900, every 7 years?    You must be kidding? That's a vehicle and occupant SAFETY issue, giving no warning of a problem.   It's not like it gradually happens, giving a warning that a fuel line will rupture.

Seems to me that extremely high fuel pressures in injector lines require substantial metal tubing, not plastic tubing.   How can you get a good and reliable mechanical connection with plastic tubing?  

I haven't checked my Owner's Manual yet.   Does it suggest replacing these lines periodically?   Seems like the US government's safety department and the car insurance companies have an interest in this.   Or the Consumers Union.  I have not checked these yet, either.

I went to the M-B service dept again this morning, with questions and got clarification.   The leaks are not in the high-pressure injection side.   They are in other lines under the intake manifold and I guess they are apparently lines that supply the injector pump.   The lines are plastic, not metal (Still seems like a bad engineering design to me, in a cold/hot area, subject to vibrations with fuel exposure and hard to replace).

The service dept told me they are starting to see this failure on other diesels.   These lines are not service or suggested routine maintenance replacement items.  There are apparently no service bulletins or recalls on this yet.

The leak is starting to get severe.  While idling, about half a cup of diesel fuel leaks out per minute.  The car is still in a shop, for repair.

CG Broward wrote:

I went to the M-B service dept again this morning, with questions and got clarification.   The leaks are not in the high-pressure injection side.

Glad to heard that, so you don't need to replace ur Injector Fuel

Don't forget to list ur benz in our garage.