Fuel filler drip tray.

danielv40 · Jan 28th, 2012, 15:57

Just wondering if anyone knows if the little black rubber drip tray under the fuel filler point actually leads spilt fuel back in to the petrol tank?
I have noticed a small hole in its back corner. I'm assuming it does feed over spill into the tank (great design if it does, first car I've owned to have such a simple yet effective bit of engineering. All cars should have them). Or is it just there to divert fuel away from paint work?

Only reason I'm asking really is because I recently added a can of bg44k to my car, most of which ended up in said drip tray.
Please dont tell me I've poured £18 worth of additive outside of my fuel tank....

smashey · Jan 28th, 2012, 20:29

Nothing to go on here but just gut feeling but...

I doubt if the drip tray leads back to the tank as 1. the tray collects a fair amount of crud and you wouldn't want that going into the tank 2. the tank gets a bit pressurised (positive on hot days and negative when nearly empty) so there couldn't be any open pipework 3. it would be a bit of a fire hazard.

Sorry, I know how you feel as half a bottle STP went the same way on me. Next time I'll either use a long bladed screwdriver to hold the filler flap open or pre mix the treatment in a 5 litre petrol can and then tip that in (using the long spout).

I look forward to be proven wrong though

blairs40 · Jan 28th, 2012, 20:40

yup .... you poured it out .....
cheers

Dean1985 · Jan 28th, 2012, 20:59

I thought it did lead back to the tank, otherwise where does it go?

it does not end up on the floor and there is no other spare container for it to go into. If there was you would need to empty it eventually.

Lastly not 100% but if you get right under car think you can follow that tube, not really sure where it goes as i've never need to look in that area. Does it does it not just flow back into the main fuel line before it enters the tank.

inchley313 · Jan 28th, 2012, 21:21

I would have thought it's a drain hole as when you wash your car, water gets into the fuel flap area!! It needs to go somewhere and if it went back into the tank, it would contaminate your fuel!!

I am only going on common sense here so someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

danielv40 · Jan 29th, 2012, 19:23

Thanks for the replies.
Still none the wiser though as all answers are just thoughts or guesses.
Hasn't anybody out there worked on or around this area of the car and happened to notice?

If not, I will investigate further tomorrow afternoon and post my findings, just for future reference. It's always good to have a definite answer for people who may find this post through the search function in months or years to come.

tt82 · Jan 29th, 2012, 19:32

Interesting thread. I'd like to know the answer to this. I tend to wash inside the fuel filler cap when washing the car so could potentially be putting lots of soap and water into the fuel tank.

btsam · Jan 29th, 2012, 19:53

Hi chaps,

It drains to the floor

There a little breather pipe size plastic tube that follows the filler neck back down toward the tank but stops half way and is open ended

S

danielv40 · Jan 29th, 2012, 21:37

Gutted.

tt82 · Jan 29th, 2012, 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by btsam

Hi chaps,

It drains to the floor

There a little breather pipe size plastic tube that follows the filler neck back down toward the tank but stops half way and is open ended

S

I thought that was the case. Cheers sam.

Jan 28th, 2012, 15:57	#1
danielv40 Junior Member Last Online: Feb 1st, 2014 14:05 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Holywell	Fuel filler drip tray. Just wondering if anyone knows if the little black rubber drip tray under the fuel filler point actually leads spilt fuel back in to the petrol tank? I have noticed a small hole in its back corner. I'm assuming it does feed over spill into the tank (great design if it does, first car I've owned to have such a simple yet effective bit of engineering. All cars should have them). Or is it just there to divert fuel away from paint work? Only reason I'm asking really is because I recently added a can of bg44k to my car, most of which ended up in said drip tray. Please dont tell me I've poured £18 worth of additive outside of my fuel tank....

Jan 28th, 2012, 20:40	#3
blairs40 Member Last Online: Dec 3rd, 2014 18:22 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: paraparaumu new zealand	yup .... you poured it out ..... cheers __________________ 1998 s40 1.8 auto (silver) Volvo motor

Jan 28th, 2012, 21:21	#5
inchley313 Insane!! Last Online: Oct 19th, 2015 08:58 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ramsey, Isle of Man	I would have thought it's a drain hole as when you wash your car, water gets into the fuel flap area!! It needs to go somewhere and if it went back into the tank, it would contaminate your fuel!! I am only going on common sense here so someone please correct me if I'm wrong. __________________ '01 V40 2.0 Ph2 141,000mi (lower than the last one) '98 Honda CR-V 2.0 Auto (as this is the car I'm teaching SWMBO to drive in) Previous: '97 V40 2.0CD with 173,000mi on the clock and now sold!!

Jan 29th, 2012, 19:32	#7
tt82 Forum Support Team Last Online: Nov 28th, 2022 17:33 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here.... obviously!	Interesting thread. I'd like to know the answer to this. I tend to wash inside the fuel filler cap when washing the car so could potentially be putting lots of soap and water into the fuel tank. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I like my dog! 2009 V70 D5 R-Design - Jeade'en

Jan 29th, 2012, 19:53	#8
btsam Master Member Last Online: Sep 1st, 2016 08:26 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bolton	Hi chaps, It drains to the floor There a little breather pipe size plastic tube that follows the filler neck back down toward the tank but stops half way and is open ended S __________________ Showroom thread - http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=85795

Jan 28th, 2012, 20:29	#2
smashey New Member Last Online: Nov 15th, 2017 06:57 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dublin	Nothing to go on here but just gut feeling but... I doubt if the drip tray leads back to the tank as 1. the tray collects a fair amount of crud and you wouldn't want that going into the tank 2. the tank gets a bit pressurised (positive on hot days and negative when nearly empty) so there couldn't be any open pipework 3. it would be a bit of a fire hazard. Sorry, I know how you feel as half a bottle STP went the same way on me. Next time I'll either use a long bladed screwdriver to hold the filler flap open or pre mix the treatment in a 5 litre petrol can and then tip that in (using the long spout). I look forward to be proven wrong though

Jan 28th, 2012, 20:59	#4
Dean1985 Master Member Last Online: Jun 4th, 2021 20:51 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Norwich	I thought it did lead back to the tank, otherwise where does it go? it does not end up on the floor and there is no other spare container for it to go into. If there was you would need to empty it eventually. Lastly not 100% but if you get right under car think you can follow that tube, not really sure where it goes as i've never need to look in that area. Does it does it not just flow back into the main fuel line before it enters the tank.

Jan 29th, 2012, 19:23	#6
danielv40 Junior Member Last Online: Feb 1st, 2014 14:05 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Holywell	Thanks for the replies. Still none the wiser though as all answers are just thoughts or guesses. Hasn't anybody out there worked on or around this area of the car and happened to notice? If not, I will investigate further tomorrow afternoon and post my findings, just for future reference. It's always good to have a definite answer for people who may find this post through the search function in months or years to come.

Jan 29th, 2012, 21:37	#9
danielv40 Junior Member Last Online: Feb 1st, 2014 14:05 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Holywell	Gutted.

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