“Every injector in the jet aircraft engines I worked on had a “bell tube” covering it with a small drain tube and a sensor to detect a leak.”
31 years in US Navy aviation maintenance here, (turbine engines and main fuel controls)......the difference is the turbine engine application is by design.....this one is a cheap bandaid because ford doesn’t want to spend the money on parts and labor to repair it correctly.
Also, I’m sure by now Mercedes Benz has improved design to alleviate the need for a fuel drain pan.
Nope. Throughout the production of the 404 gas engine model, 1955-1980 they all had drain pans.
There are perhaps 2 reasons for it.
Most of these sat, waiting for war without being driven and the gaskets would shrink as they dried out. Mine did, the second thing I had to do was rebuild the leaking carb.
The first thing was bypassing, then replacing the leaking fuel tank selector.
The other possible reason is those carbs have an unusual float allowing the engine to get fuel at a 45 degree angle in any direction.
When the vehicle is tilted all the way and you hit a bump, a little fuel can slosh out.
Of course the drain pan is then at such an angle, it doesn't do much, but at least it helps keep the fuel from contacting the hot exhaust manifold, then drains away any residual fuel when you come back down.
“...ford doesn’t want to spend the money on parts and labor to repair it correctly....”
Sounds like they need to find a much better injector design.