gas smell after driving- no leaks

[anodyne]

Great info, thanks for the help. Now, is it that straightforward with a 98 R AWD? Do I have to mess with the sub-frame?

[toolmanjsp]

Don't know, I've never worked on or seen the bottom of an AWD. But I imagine that the gas tank is behind the rear wheels and suspension parts so I doubt that there is a tremendous amount of difference.

[anodyne]

Thanks toolmanjsp, going on the lift tomorrow and will take closer look.

[toolmanjsp]

What did you find? Get the problem fixed?

[anodyne]

I felt like a jack ass for hijacking thread so I didn't respond.
But since you ask...leakage coming from cap on overflow side. Seal probably gone. Tightened the nut as much as I felt comfortable as I didn't have the seal. Looked again the other night and still some leaking, but not much. I was able to get
a good look at the problem because PO hacked an opening through the floor board when he installed a used overflow pump.
And, to drop the tank will require dropping the rear end, but everything can be done through the "custom" fuel tank service port. The fuel lines appear to be OK. I was getting major gas fume hits from opening in floor-put duct tape over hacked seams for very short term fix and that has eliminated smell for now.

[correllkp]

I had this same problem. Turned out to be that the short (fat) vent hose from tank to filler was cracked just above the hose clamp. Note, after the garage replaced the hose I couldn't fill up the tank...gas hose would almost immediately shut off. I opened up the inspection plate above the tank (in the trunk) and found that the garage had replaced the vent hose with a hose a bit too long...when they put the tank back in the hose crimped. Cut off about an inch and was good to go.

[correllkp]

I had this happen. Turned out to be a crack in one of the lines going into the tank.

[loveMy850]

did you check your feul pump?

[Sandy603]

Gas Smell or Odor – Smoke Test From The Front

We have a 2003 XC70 which I purchased brand new in Jan. 2003 and which now has 170,000 miles. Lately, there has been a gas smell or odor, both inside the vehicle and outside the vehicle when it is parked. My very experienced mechanic, who only works on European vehicles, checked out my XC70 several times. He never found any gasoline leak. Others have had this problem according to their posts in this forum and other Volvo forums.

He did a smoke test at the gas gap and found a very small leak in the evaporation / re- circulation system, and replaced a section of the tube. However, I still had the gas smell from time to time, but not all of the time. Also, sometimes, although the battery is strong and the starter works fine, the engine turns over but does not start for a several seconds, and lately, even with a brand new Volvo fuel filler cap, I get the dashboard message: “Fuel Filler Cap Loose - Open.” The computer does not display any codes.

Today my mechanic did a smoke test from the front at the purge valve, keeping the fuel filler cap on (which helps to pressurize the system). He found a leak in a metal fuel line which is covered with a plastic material; this leak did not show in the prior smoke tests done at the gas cap. He repaired the fuel line.

So if, you have this gas smell / odor and it cannot be easily traced or found, do or have your mechanic do a smoke test from the front with the fuel filler cap on.

If this repair has not solvedmy gas smell / odor problem, I will report back here in a few days.

Sandy