1988 340 fuel leak?

S60-MBS · Nov 8th, 2008, 17:09

Hi folks,
Filled the tank to the brim today as I am going on a long drive tomorrow,Noticed a strong smell of fuel when I parked up at work and heavy drip of fuel just behind the rear OS wheel.Found this was petrol,The heavy trickle then turned into and steady drip and after about 30 minutes stopped completely.Could this have been due to me over filling? or is there something loose around fuel tank? any ideas appreciated..

Regards
Mo

4 forty · Nov 8th, 2008, 17:49

mo, check the breather pipe connected to the tank.

S60-MBS · Nov 8th, 2008, 17:52

Hi Paul,Had a quick glimpse underneath and saw a rubber pipe about a inch in diameter holding within it 2 other smaller pipes,the out pipe was soaked in petrol,Would this be the breather?

dave4542 · Nov 8th, 2008, 17:55

Hi S60......That sounds like the one.........hopefully now the excess is out .....the problem should now have sorted it's self out........maybe next time don't fill to the absolute max. ...........guess you found a cheap service station...lol....happy driving

Dave

S60-MBS · Nov 8th, 2008, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave4542

Hi S60......That sounds like the one.........hopefully now the excess is out .....the problem should now have sorted it's self out........maybe next time don't fill to the absolute max. ...........guess you found a cheap service station...lol....happy driving

Dave

Hi Dave,Yes indeed the problem seems to have sorted itself out theres been no drips for last 90+ mins,fuel was pretty cheap at 93p /ltr LOL but Think I forgot I was not driving the S60 where it takes ages to fill up where as the 340 only takles half the amount of fuel.Another lesson learned today

dave4542 · Nov 8th, 2008, 18:02

Great one....all sorted......

Clan · Nov 8th, 2008, 18:30

It's not sorted at all !! you need to renew the breather pipes ! If you park on a hill or at an angle its going to start coming out again .. signs of fuel leaks are dangerous and will fail an MOT .. The fabric covered breather hose will be full of cracks and could even part company .. Replace it with some decent rubber 10 mm ID fuel hose and may as well do the small hoses at the same time they have the same problem 6 mm ID fuel hose will sort them ..

dave4542 · Nov 8th, 2008, 18:35

There you go S60..........another option put forward....hope that sorts it for you.......you could always try it on a slope/hill/angle just to see..all the best

Dave

Chris_C · Nov 9th, 2008, 15:06

340s are pretty good at this, I wouldn't put more than £20 in mine for a while until I fixed it. It's not an easy one to get too, but well worth doing. As with the under bonnet stuff, don't replace with cloth covered, the modern cloth covered lasts about 18months before perishing. Get some injection hose of the same int diameter Mo, and it'll last for ages.

Martin Cox · Nov 24th, 2008, 16:20

If I remember rightly - it's been at least 10 years since I had my 340,(1986 340 1.7) there is a small expansion tank at the rear of the car mounted near the filler pipe and connected to the main fuel tank by a couple of hoses. The idea is that if the main tank is full and the fuel expands due to an increase in temperature. Unfortunately the hoses eventually perish and leak. The problem only shows itself when the tank is nearly full. If you replace all the hoses to the expansion tank and any other perished ones too with fuel grade hose, that ought to cure it. It worked for me when I had exactly the same problem

Hope this is of some help.

Martin

Nov 8th, 2008, 17:09	#1
S60-MBS VOC Member Last Online: Jun 7th, 2020 11:28 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: ???????????????? View Photos By: S60-MBS	1988 340 fuel leak? Hi folks, Filled the tank to the brim today as I am going on a long drive tomorrow,Noticed a strong smell of fuel when I parked up at work and heavy drip of fuel just behind the rear OS wheel.Found this was petrol,The heavy trickle then turned into and steady drip and after about 30 minutes stopped completely.Could this have been due to me over filling? or is there something loose around fuel tank? any ideas appreciated.. Regards Mo __________________ Last edited by S60-MBS; Nov 8th, 2008 at 17:50. Reason: senile moment

Nov 8th, 2008, 17:49	#2
4 forty VOC Member Last Online: Aug 12th, 2015 14:44 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: sunderland	breather mo, check the breather pipe connected to the tank.

Nov 8th, 2008, 17:52	#3
S60-MBS VOC Member Last Online: Jun 7th, 2020 11:28 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: ???????????????? View Photos By: S60-MBS	Hi Paul,Had a quick glimpse underneath and saw a rubber pipe about a inch in diameter holding within it 2 other smaller pipes,the out pipe was soaked in petrol,Would this be the breather? __________________

Nov 8th, 2008, 18:30	#7
Clan Experienced Member Last Online: Today 12:31 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L/H side	It's not sorted at all !! you need to renew the breather pipes ! If you park on a hill or at an angle its going to start coming out again .. signs of fuel leaks are dangerous and will fail an MOT .. The fabric covered breather hose will be full of cracks and could even part company .. Replace it with some decent rubber 10 mm ID fuel hose and may as well do the small hoses at the same time they have the same problem 6 mm ID fuel hose will sort them .. __________________ My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .

Nov 9th, 2008, 15:06	#9
Chris_C Gopher Last Online: Oct 12th, 2023 15:31 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Southampton or Isle of Wight View Photos By: Chris_C	340s are pretty good at this, I wouldn't put more than £20 in mine for a while until I fixed it. It's not an easy one to get too, but well worth doing. As with the under bonnet stuff, don't replace with cloth covered, the modern cloth covered lasts about 18months before perishing. Get some injection hose of the same int diameter Mo, and it'll last for ages. __________________ 2003 S60 D5 SE 1989 340GL - Fake - Gallery Project Thread - Spare parts car turned motorsport plaything. 8 more valves, 277 more cc's Previously, a lot of various 300s

Nov 8th, 2008, 17:55	#4
dave4542 VOC Member Last Online: Jul 4th, 2013 20:08 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Folkestone KENT	Hi S60......That sounds like the one.........hopefully now the excess is out .....the problem should now have sorted it's self out........maybe next time don't fill to the absolute max. ...........guess you found a cheap service station...lol....happy driving Dave

Nov 8th, 2008, 18:02	#6
dave4542 VOC Member Last Online: Jul 4th, 2013 20:08 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Folkestone KENT	Great one....all sorted......

Nov 8th, 2008, 18:35	#8
dave4542 VOC Member Last Online: Jul 4th, 2013 20:08 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Folkestone KENT	There you go S60..........another option put forward....hope that sorts it for you.......you could always try it on a slope/hill/angle just to see..all the best Dave

Nov 24th, 2008, 16:20	#10
Martin Cox VOC Member Last Online: Apr 24th, 2024 09:24 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hull	If I remember rightly - it's been at least 10 years since I had my 340,(1986 340 1.7) there is a small expansion tank at the rear of the car mounted near the filler pipe and connected to the main fuel tank by a couple of hoses. The idea is that if the main tank is full and the fuel expands due to an increase in temperature. Unfortunately the hoses eventually perish and leak. The problem only shows itself when the tank is nearly full. If you replace all the hoses to the expansion tank and any other perished ones too with fuel grade hose, that ought to cure it. It worked for me when I had exactly the same problem Hope this is of some help. Martin

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