Driving with bad fuel distributor

[BenzTragic]

My mechanic recently diagnosed that the fuel distributor in my 450SE needs an overhaul. While I wait to save up my pennies to get the job done, is it safe to drive the vehicle?

[daantjie]

As long as it's not leaking fuel onto a hot engine

[ptashek]

There's a risk if the main piston is sticking, that it'll lock up and flood the cylinders with fuel causing hydro-lock, no? If I remember right, that's what happened to someone here?

[revilla]

Sticking plunger doubtfully. There have been cases however of mounting the FD without the plunger. In that case a fair amount of fuel will enter through the intake causing the fuel-lock syndrome. It must be said though that the engine must be cranked a lot to get to that point. In normal condition the starter will fail before a piston rod is bent.

[revilla]

That's why after repairing/replacing parts in the engine we always crank first with the oil stick and lid removed. The smell of fuel in the oil comes way before there's enough litters to hydro-block the engine.

[BCK1963]

Tragically you didn't say if the Benz is still drivable or not.
I'd say if it starts well and drives fairly well, and there are no leakages on the hot engine, there oesn't seem to be a high risk.

Learning a bit more about the symptoms and why the mech has diagnosed the FD to be in need of an overhaul would be interesting.

[BenzTragic]

Tragically you didn't say if the Benz is still drivable or not.
I'd say if it starts well and drives fairly well, and there are no leakages on the hot engine, there oesn't seem to be a high risk.

Learning a bit more about the symptoms and why the mech has diagnosed the FD to be in need of an overhaul would be interesting.

The car is very drivable. During a scheduled service I mentioned to the mechanic the smell of fumes from the engine bay while driving. I guess they observed the FD leaking when they had the air cover off.

I guess what I'm not sure about is where the fuel that is leaking from the FD is going?

[rumb]

Are you sure it's not the fuel regulator that is located just behind the fuel distributor?  It has a drain line on it for when the diaphragm fails.

[BCK1963]

I think it is more interesting to know where the fuel comes from.
I'd say that if the car starts and drives well there's probably no immediate reason for an overhaul.
There are not too many spots were gas can leak and it should be possible to detect that location. I have never faced the need to do that myself but check the tightness of the 8 gas lines from the FD to the injectors. The hotter candidates are located at the rear of the FD. The gasket of the fuel regulator screw may be done.
If the gas is not flowing to an extent that you can see it or get a paper or cloth stripe wet, there's no other way than sticking your nose deep under the hood and surround the FD unit.

[BenzTragic]

Are you sure it's not the fuel regulator that is located just behind the fuel distributor?  It has a drain line on it for when the diaphragm fails.

I thought that was located at the rear by the pump?? I'm up for one of those too (hard starting when warm) but the smell issue has been diagnosed as a leaking FD.