smells like gas in my 240

lukeblan · Post by **lukeblan** » 28 Dec 2008, 01:49

my 1989 240 dl non turbo has a horrible gas smell in the cabn little to no stench on the outside alsso the gas gauge has dropped down dramatically unlike it has been doing. so i knoe i have a gas leak but i just dont knoe where exsactally its coming from any ideas??

Post by **Volvo_240_Atari_2600** » 28 Dec 2008, 10:02

Sounds like a 74 Beatle I once had. They were proned to that.

Question for you.
Is your 240 a wagon or a sedan?
How long have you had it?
Did you recently purchase this car?
Are there any visible leaks on the ground when the car is parked that are related to gasoline?
Have you recently replaced the in tank fuel pump?
Did the past owner say he had the in tank fuel pump replaced?

Not sure this is the culprit but it's where I would suspect A. a fuel loss from the tank, and of course the odor entering the cabin.

You say there is no evident smell outside, what about the engine bay? How about the trunk if it's a sedan.

There is a cover on the (rear) floor of the wagon and the same cover on the floor of the sedan. This cover needs to be removed for access to the fuel tank. If the pump was replaced and the cover to the tank itself was not properly locked creating a perfect seal... This is what I would suspect, however there are other members here far more experienced than me and could probably help you with other suggestions.

Hope this helps.
Eric

lukeblan · Post by **lukeblan** » 28 Dec 2008, 13:26

its a sedan

ive had it only a couple of weeks now
it has 212k

there is nothing that i can see on the ground as far as leaks

i have not replaced the fuel pump and i have no idea if it was replace

Post by **billofdurham** » 29 Dec 2008, 11:21

Did you check the cover that gives access to the tank as suggested by Eric? It would pay to remove this access hatch to visually check the seal on the in-tank pump/sender unit. If it looks suspect change it but don't take it off to check it as, once removed, it would need to be replaced. Also check the filler cap gasket is good and the cap is tight. Under the car check all the pipes for dampness or staining and check that the filler pipe is intact and clamped correctly.

If, as you suspect, there is a major fuel leak then you would find some trace of it on the ground especially where it is parked for any length of time.

the gas gauge has dropped down dramatically unlike it has been doing.

As you have only had the car a couple of weeks what sort of miles have you put on it? Some gauges move very slowly down from the full mark to half, hold a while then take a really fast dive to the empty.

Bill.

lukeblan · Post by **lukeblan** » 29 Dec 2008, 23:31

also i just put gas into the tank and it was on empty and it go to a dollar and clicked like it was full so i pumped again and it clicked agaain so i pumped again and it finally filled is that common or could it have to do with the smell

also im waiting on a replacement exhaust cause the old rear baffel fell off so could that be it too?

Post by **billofdurham** » 30 Dec 2008, 12:20

The nozzle on the fuel filler is designed to cut out when a certain pressure of air coming out of the tank hits it. I have found on some cars if the fuel gets very low the air pressure will be enough to activate the cut out.

It is possible that what you are smelling is exhaust fumes and not petrol fumes in the car. A defective exhaust system will make the engine use more fuel.

See what happens when you replace the exhaust system and keep us informed.

Bill.