2000 V70 fuel line leak Topic is solved

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 18 Aug 2019, 13:12

My parents have my V70 right now and have reported a fuel leak under the center of the car just aft of the firewall. The car is parked on the road and it is 5 hours away from home. I am going down there next weekend to try to fix it. Anyone ever deal with a similar problem? Looking at the dealer website pictures it appears to be a rigid hose. However, my father thinks it is braided.
a) anyone know what material this hose was originally made out of, ie rubber, metal, nylon?
b) any reason that I can't splice a rubber hose where the leak is? I can see adding a metal insert if rubber or just rubber over pipe if metal. Not sure what I can if it is nylon.
c) Diameter of hose?

Considering it is on side of the street, I expect that I need to fix it quickly or cop will stop by and complain. I am trying to get a list of parts/tools together so that I can get in/out quickly. If no one knows the answer to these questions, I'll go to junkyard and experiment there. Any other suggestions greatly appreciated.

Post by **abscate** » 18 Aug 2019, 16:54

If it’s a model year 2000 the fuel line is metal one piece and is under 50 psi pressure.

Good fuel line with oetiker clamps might hold it, it will be messy cutting the line with gas everywhere unless you can squeeze off the gas line in the back of the car.

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 18 Aug 2019, 18:13

Hmm, is the whole fuel tank going to want to try and empty if I cut the line; effectively acting like a siphon? There is 1/2 full tank in there! If so, option 1 is to try and slice a short new piece of rubber fuel line and use it as a compress. Basically, clamp it right over the leak. I have done this successfully on a Volvo 240 transmission line years ago, not sure if it would hold the pressure in a fuel line but I suspect it will.

Post by **abscate** » 19 Aug 2019, 05:02

You are going to have to find the leak first. Pinhole might plug with JB weld , clamping a split at 50 psi is going to be tough in my experience. I would show up with a bubble flare kit, fittings , and a short piece of steel line

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 19 Aug 2019, 13:55

I was just forwarded a picture of the leak. It actually looks like a rubber hose but picture is kind of blurry, I didn't get to see it in person yet.

: The leak was easy to find, just look above the puddle:)

Doesn't look like it is rusted if it is actually metal, possibly an animal got hungry but lost interest as soon as it started tasting fuel. The car was sitting for a month in the corner of a parking lot under a tree.

The damage looks fairly extensive, but car still runs surprisingly and it only leaks until the pressure goes lower. I'll go to junkyard later this week to try to find/cut out a piece of pipe to see what it really looks like (outer diameter, etc) and to assess temporary repair options. Given where the car is parked, I don't think I can cut the hose if significant fuel is going to leak out and it is isn't safe to drive to a better place.

Post by **abscate** » 19 Aug 2019, 15:34

That might be non-stock,so God knows what else you will find.

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 25 Aug 2019, 23:14

Finally got to look at car. It is a rubber hose with 1/2 outer diameter. It seems to be same/similar to a P2 fuel line. It has a plastic cover that protects it ‘most’ of the way under the car. I am chicken to cut all the way through the hose until I figure out what the inner diameter is.

Post by **kranz** » 25 Aug 2019, 23:40

I had a similar leak on my 98 V70 on an unprotected section of the gas line. Here are photos of the replacement part that I got from VOLVO. I only used part of it to replace the leaking segment. I seem to recall that there was great variation in the part numbers for this gas line depending on model and year. I ordered the wrong part first time out and only got it right after careful study of the confusing VOLVO parts diagrams.

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 28 Aug 2019, 05:07

I was able to repair my leak well enough to get my car home. Apparently, this year has 1/2" OD rubber hose with another stiffer flexible hose internally that has 1/4" ID from fuel filter to under engine and then it is metal. The dealer wasn't any help with this information, all they could tell me was that the hose was $275 but was discontinued.

I used a 1/4" hose splice and hose clamps to repair it on the side of the road. So far repair lasted me 3 days and 400 miles. I'll update this thread if repair fails or if I decide to attempt a better repair.

: Hose splicer

: repair with splice and hose clamps

Post by **abscate** » 28 Aug 2019, 05:22

If you get rid of the hose clamps for stainless steel Oetikers, Andy then protect it with some heat shrink. It will last the rest of the car life. Pex fittings for home plumbing, which are Oetiker type, are tested at 100 psi, twice the operating pressure of your system.

Add a inspection protocol to your car of weekly smell underneath, then monthly, then twice annually. A fuel leak is easily detected by the nose