1998 v70r - gas smells - should I be worried?

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 05 Nov 2015, 21:21

Ok so I filled up the car with gas for the first time since purchasing - I had never smelt gas before but I've never had it over half a tank or so...this time, I was smelling gas from a couple spots

1 - behind the front drivers side wheel by the front door hinges - I've been searching and it sounds like this is the charcoal box thing right? I took a look and couldn't see/feel any cracked or wet hoses connecting to the box...is a smell normal there?

2 - drivers side rear of the car - I took a look and realize the tank goes all the way across the car to that side - I actually see some wetness on that side of the tank - does that side of the tank only fill up when a certain amount of gas is in the tank? I had it into a very reputable Volvo shop recently and they didn't see any fuel leaks - but again, the tank hasn't been past half or so before now...

I don't want to mess around with fuel related stuff - I'm wondering if these things are dangerous and does it need to go in to get looked at?

Post by **scot850** » 05 Nov 2015, 22:59

Being a 98, I believe you are correct that the carbon filter is at the front LH side. Not sure if you have the round can or the rectangular. If you have the rectangular one the roll-over valve is also there.

There is a fair amount of pipe work there, and so a good chance at this age that some of the pipes are cracked. You will have to go through them and check them carefully. If you have any 'U' bends these are common areas for cracks.

At the back, there is not a whole lot of things to leak on the RH side of the tank. There are some vent pipes that run on the top of the tank with rubber sections, and these could have failed allowing the tank to leak when full. Unfortunately, that is a major job unless someone else has found an easy way to access that area without dropping the fuel tank which requires dropping the whole rear sub-frame.
I am currently re-building my 2000 V70R rear sub-frame, and once you are in there it becomes a can of worms.

You can read my blog on that on MVS which will give you an idea of what you could be in for.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=69287

Neil.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Nov 2015, 17:03

Drivers side (left hand side) at the front of the rear tank area is a bad seal on the crossover pipe or a bad pipe itself. On an AWD car it is pretty much a nightmare unless you cut a hole in the rear floorboard.

...Lee

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 06 Nov 2015, 17:45

How high can I fill up the tank before it starts crossing over into the other tank via this pipe?

If I keep it under half or so will it be ok?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Nov 2015, 20:11

At about 1/2 tank, maybe a bit less, is where the fuel starts to get even with the pump sealing rings. That of course is on flat terrain and if you park on a hill it changes. Avoid parking nose down.

...Lee

Post by **scot850** » 06 Nov 2015, 21:30

Hi Lee, I am trying to picture what pipe you are talking about. The 98 is a little different to my 00, but looking at Vida the tank is a saddle like mine and the fuel flows over the saddle top from RH to LH side. What is more likely I would have thought is one of the vent pipes on the top of the tank has rotted. Depending on which version it is, there are 2 vent pipes on the top rear of the LH side of the tank.

Not a great link, but does the system look like this?

http://www.volvopartswebstore.com/showA ... evel=24667

If either of the vent pipes have failed Lee is right. The only way to fix it is to either cut through the floor (hm.. heat and leaking fuel vapour), or do as I have and drop the whole rear sub-frame to get to it. The method is similar to what I went through, just some differences in the pipes on the top of the fuel tanks and the emissions piping.

That is not something you want to do unless you plan to keep the car long term.

Neil.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 06 Nov 2015, 22:02

The places I have had leaks aren't really with the pipes but with the seals, the two items that are designated number 8 on the diagram. In both cases you can't change the seals without removing the pump (Right hand side) or the pickup (Left hand side) which means either dropping out the running gear and the tank or cut the holes in the floorboard.

The latter option is far easier.

...Lee

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 06 Nov 2015, 22:24

Thanks guys.

Sounds like I'm safe if I keep the tank below half. Definitely fine doing that as this car won't do much driving - will be getting me to work and back pretty much exclusively- about 15km per day.

Any idea why I'm only smelling gas from the carbon box thing when the tank is more full?

Post by **cn90** » 06 Nov 2015, 22:31

Read up on EVAP system...

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 07 Nov 2015, 01:19

cn90 wrote:Read up on EVAP system...

This is good advice - it certainly sounds like fumes are coming out of it in ways they shouldn't. On my 850, one of the lines was cracked pretty badly and had been rubbing on something, so it was basically straight out to fresh air. Worth taking a look at.

- S