Fuel System: 164: muck in petrol filter

[woolfie1948]

I took the 164 out for a drive today and pleased to say running really well.
When I got home I noticed a water drip and crawled under to tighten the bottom hose clip so hope that is ok. Then I had a check under the bonnet and all seemed fine until I looked at the inline fuel filter that has a surprising amount of brown silt in it. I will have to get another one soon.
I say surprising as I replaced it only a few months ago. The fuel pump and flexible pipes are less than two years old replced by me. The petrol tank was replaced by the previous owner in 2009 invoiced at £550 plus labour plus vat!
I have used Shell V power almost exclusively since I bought the car.
Any ideas?
Jonathan

[woolfie1948]

Has anyone experienced problems with the metal petrol pipe that runs under the car from the tank to just short of the pump, do they rust on the inside?
Jonathan

[guitarman]

If the fuel pipes are steel they will be tinned with zinc or similar to stop corrosion- I would imagine they're copper. Volvo tanks are lead lined which makes them less likely to corrode. I don't have any fuel filter on my 164 and have experienced no fueling problems- then again I do use the car quite a lot.
That sludge is rust and its from the tank- Id say the tank fitted was already on its last legs when fitted- trya bigger better filter mounted in the trunk right next to the tank- if still sludgy then its a tank out job and a can of 'slosh'.

[woolfie1948]

Thanks for your response
I thought I could rule out the tank as its less than four years old, and at £550 it must surely have been new. Maybe I will contact the garage that only did the work, they are only 8-10 miles away, reputable and one of my friends uses them for his modern Audi, to see what they say.
Can you tell me best way to access the tank outlet to put a filter in there - do I have to raise the car and get under or is it in the boot?
Jonathan

[arcturus]

Where ever you locate it make sure it's readily accessable for future cleaning.
Personally I think that you need to drain and flush your gas tank if poss' If it was "new" a few years ago it may have been lying around for the last 40 years or so collecting muck

[guitarman]

Should be a 6/8mm fuel hose coming out of the top or part of the sender unit. I reckon fuel tanks last better when full- no damp air inside to oxidise them then. Wonder if a fuel/water separator/filter like lorries use could be helpful with the ethanol fuel.

[woolfie1948]

Unfortunately mine is an older model with a sender unit that has a bayonet type fitting into the top of the tank. There are no pipes coming from it, only an electrical connector.
I have had a look at the parts diagram on the 164 club website and it looks like there is a metal elbow going into the front of the tank and joining to a metal pipe that I think goes into the engine compartment, so no rubber pipe to put a filter in here.
It looks like a get underneath job just to see it - I wonder if I can just drain the tank in the car as the diagram shows a plug.
Jonathan

[guitarman]

A bayonet fitting? Sounds odd; can't remember offhand what the pipe arrangement is on my 164 but the sender unit is the usual type with a large brass cap which unscrews with the aid of a screwdriver shaft or similar.
I suspect when you drain the tank you won't find much muck in the fuel- what I reckon happens is that the inner top of the tank is the area that rusts as its never shielded from the atmosphere- only when the tank is brimmed does the gunk fall to the bottom and then get sucked up...
Good luck- hope what ever you try works as its a chore taking the tank out!

[woolfie1948]

Just checked with the garage that previous owner told me was a new tank and they say they took it out and sent it away to be reconditioned (£550) and then refitted it.
They said the metal pipe that goes from tank under floor to pop up near the pump is a possible cause, as the tank should still be fine. I don't know if these are still obtainable.
When I said bayonet fitting I meant the sender unit is not screwed down with screws but the unit itself is turned a fraction of a turn and locks into place a bit like putting in a light bulb but without pressing against a spring. There is a tool for this but a hammer and blunt chisel to get it to turn works.
The engine ran fine at 70 on the motorway this week so for the moment it will have to be frequent new filters or maybe try a metal/glass one that can be cleaned.
Thanks for comments

[Derek UK]

This tank was on eBay a couple weeks ago and didn't sell. The part number stamped on the tank is a couple of digits off the ones for 140/164 and maybe correct for those. Worth an ask if you want one. Useful pics for identification purposes.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-AMAZ...vip=true&rt=nc