Petrol smell in cabin

[SlySi]

Hi all,
Just a quicky. I’ve kept meaning to post about this but as I’ve only done about 100 miles in 3 months, I keep forgetting to!!
Anyway, I’m sometimes getting a strong smell of petrol in the cabin. It seems to be when it’s up to temperature and when I pull up at traffic lights, on the drive etc. Thoughts?
I’ve been tinkering with the car on and off so would like to scrub this job off my to do list aswell.
Cheers
Si

[BarryCambs]

I've just had exactly the same. but everything seemed bone dry under the bonnet. I then decided the smell was at the back of the car and found the seal on the filler cap had broken up. Replaced it a few days ago and so far, so good

[old onions]

I had a strong smell of petrol from the rear of the car after filling it to the top. It disappeared after a about 50 odd miles each time.

I couldn't see anything obviously wrong so I took into my Volvo Indy who found a perished fuel filler hose from the cap to the tank. The rubber hose was about £18 , but it took 2 hours of labour to drop the tank enough to be able to fit the new hose , and a similar amount to replace it. A very expensive repair.

However I am glad he did it , as he showed me the culprit hose and I am frankly surprised it wasn't leaking more violently. I also could not have done a diy job without more experience (and a lift?) ..... unless you guys know different?

[Georgeandkira]

Plastic fuel tank? there'll be a fuel filter ahead of the rear onside wheel so checking it for leaks is an easy early step.

In my experience reading several boards, the filler pipe has been mentioned most frequently.

If you can drill out the rivets which hold the fender liner (and have a pop-rivet tool and replacement rivets to reassemble) you can easily eyeball the filler pipe.

Another source of a leak is a ground strap which can rub against the plastic pipe and wear a hole.

[BarryCambs]

I already had the pleasure of doing the filler pipe a few years ago.

[Brendan W]

Have you looked at the seal on the pump under the seats.

[SlySi]

Hi all,
I think I’ve found the culprit. A loose spark plug. It didn’t even take 3 turns to remove. There wasn’t even an electrode. Completely gone. The coil boot was welded to the plug bore. Ugh. I got it off eventually though.
Bad news. There are 2 seized plugs. I’ve done 1, 3 and 5. 2 and 4 don’t want to budge.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Si

[Brendan W]

Get the motor hot and try again.

[Georgeandkira]

When did you acquire this vehicle and with how many miles?
This is an '05 you say?

"They" always say remove plugs on a cold engine.

You could try blowing air into the spark plug bore to clear dirt then drip some penetrating oil and give it time to work. 5ml would be plenty.

Do you have a longer breaker bar? Leverage and a bit of confidence go a long way.

Have a thread chaser on hand for when they do break free.

Also, did 1,3 or 5 chatter or squeal as you turned them out?
All 5 of mine did in my 1st V70 so I've taken to the practice of dripping a little oil of any kind down the bore and working the plugs L-R to coax the lube down the threads.

Aluminum heads and steel sparky-poos give me the willies. I use copper or nickel anti-seize on the threads.

[SlySi]

No squeaking. 1 and 3 came out cleanly. 5 was the knackered, loose spark.
I’ve put a few squirts of wd40 into the plug bores to try and work into the thread. I’m going back every half and hour or so to try again but with no luck.
There is a bit of play both ways on both plugs but they soon tighten up again.
Argh!