That's about it. I have a nice 1977 242, about 180K miles. I'm second owner and have enjoyed owning it for over 20 years. She lives inside 95% of the time. Sat for a month, so I started it up and moved it outside - left it running. Going to close garage door I noticed what looked like a fresh drip trail leading outside. Touched with finger, smelled, and...gas. Looked under rear of car and saw, "drip - drip - drip," from right about where the fuel pump is mounted. Da^$##n. Put it back inside - shut her down. A few days later I crawled under and looked. All looked dry, (which it would be by then), but no sign of any, "washed clean," areas around hoses or pump. ????
Started it up. NO leak. Drove 5 miles, returned - no leak. Fuel tank was about 80+% full. Had been some dramatic weather temperature fluctuations previous to all this, but don't see why that would affect it. I'm not aware of any vent pipe that would spit out, (would be dangerous, right?). Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks, Dennis in E WA state

Hi Dennis,

Nearly three years since you posted!

Can I go back to Spokane WA now? Saint Louis is terrible. Unsure about CO.

Hope all's aces!

MacDuffed.

Hi Heisler,

It would be quite the thing to have the original fuel accumulator on this car. They can rupture and leak gasoline. Why the leak stopped I cannot say.


Goatman

Leak drippng at/near the fuel pump.

suspect any of the Low Pressure hoses leading to the pump. That is just the rubber hoses...not the High Pressure sheilded Plastic shrink fit hoses.

Check the one that runs from the Fuel Sender (at the top of the Fuel Tank) down under.

If you've never replaced any of these rubber hoses in all this time???

Hi,

This is a K-Jet model so the system is totally mechanical in that it operates on pressure opening the injectors. I know that doesn't mean much, just letting some thinkers know it an older system not LH or carbureted.

I need to ask was the tank left fully topped off? Small vapor space and the car shakes the tank.

Next thought is a bad hose.
The excess fuel return line that goes to the top of the tank. Leaking on top of the tank.
Rusty metal lines on that side of the car.
The suction line to the pump from the tank is pressurized. In-tank pump.
A line over to the accumulator is under even higher pressure. The accumulator itself. Ouch, if it's the pump!
Those fittings used can get loose because they squash copper gaskets or developed a rusty pin hole in a banjo fitting.
Sometimes it's a plain flaw in the ring of the fitting.

Phil

Thanks everyone. First, no I've never replaced anything in this fuel delivery area. If I drove the car a lot, or for long distances, I suppose the smart thing to do would be to replace the pump, (genuine Volvo c.$300), and all these lines. I may replace the lines anyway, - good maintenance. Still is not leaking. I'm going to look at the top of the tank.