hi folks, first, happy thanksgiving!

second, today i smelled fuel coming from the engine compartment. got home, nothing on fire. it was nighttime. grabbed a flashlight, and peered around. didn't see anything. thought it might've been my fuel pressure gauge that i installed leaking at the seams, but no, that was all nice and tight.

started up the car, still ddn't see anything squirting or leaking. shut off the car. i heard a little hissing sound. ah ha! the leak is coming from the fuel return line (the cloth/fabric covered one) that is connected to the fuel pressure regulator. CRAP. so it's leaking in the hose.

does ANYONE know what size line that is, and/or where to get it and if it NEEDS to be fabric/cloth covered? i seriously NEED the car tomorrow for thanksgiving events, what horrible timing... by the way, i'm in NYC.

thanks! i hope someone can save me!
--
Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

I just dealt with one of these leaking on my wife's 1986 745T. Just cut 1 inch off the end of the hose and re-connect. It will be fine.

i would do that except the leak is pretty much dead center in the length of the hose... :(
--
Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

This is 8mm fuel hose. 5/16" is almost the same. Go to the cheap auto parts store and buy some. You will need about 6 feet if I remember right, but check the length first. Please remember that this hose goes directly into the fuel tank. You will be as low as the fuel tank at the chassis side of this hose. Put out the cigarette before you start.

Remove the gas cap to vent the tank. If the tank is nearly empty and you have the car pointed up hill it will help. I would use a pair of Vise Grips to pinch the old hose closed on the lower end, then I would remove the upper end and work it down to the lower end. Then I would install the hose on the engine end and work it down to the chassis end, then install quickly.

Since your weather is plain cold and lousy, why don't you buy a short piece of 5/16" tubing and two hose clamps. Cut the hose where the leak is and install the tubing and hose clamps. You can easily drive this way until spring.

Hi John,

Just ran outside with a flashlight to double check. The segment of hose that has a hole in it approximately 1-2ft long at most. There is a hose clamp at each end of it. The top end (closer to the FPR) plugs onto the rail/outlet (not directly into the FPR itself...there apppears to be a little hose between the FPR and then into a metal tube/pipe that is a part of the fuel rail), the other runs about 1-2 ft, and then plugs into what appears to be some other sort of plastic or metal (can't make it out in this light) end, which I surmise then goes into the fuel tank.

I don't know if it matters, but it's a regina fuel system, so perhaps this may account for the difference? Or it's possible this was repaired before in the past, I have no idea.

Also, assuming autozone is open, I don't think they carry fuel line. The last time I checked when I was upstate, they tried to give me heater hose to run fuel through! So I just said thanks and left.
--
Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

I believe all auto stores carry some type of fuel line, its a pretty generic hose that can be used for a typical vac hose as well, i think i know which hose your talking about here, its the one that comes off the Fuel Pressue Reg and Probly Plugs into the ( I think ) Intake Manifold either way the hose is about a foot foot and a half long and pretty skinny well at it, if this is your hose go to the auto store bring your old one in with you and they should be able to match it up without a problem, the hose may not look the same just make sure its rated for fuel it will say it right on the side.

nope, you're thinking of the vacuum tube, that's not it. this one does lead back to the fuel tank eventually. it's definitely the fuel return line. can't use rubber hoses (vacumm tubes) for this because the fuel will eat it right up.

btw, thanks both of you for replying even though it's pretty late and also thanksgiving :)
--
Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Whenever I buy a piece of hose I always buy too much. I save the leftover
for cases like this. I also have a box of hose clamps and related hardware.
This constitutes part of my culch heap. Sometimes I have to buy stuff but
a good part of the time I can come up with what I need out of the heap.
(Sometimes it takes me a time to find the required piece of culch.)
--
George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma