Petrol smell in water res 740 Volvo

Discussion in 'Volvo 740' started by noreply@invalid, Dec 22, 2004.

  1. I have what appears to be a smell of petrol in the radiator water
    reservoir.
    I took the top off the reservoir to top the water up, I put my nose by the
    res what for I do not know to smell petrol.
    The smell if definitely petrol and coming form the res, what problem do I
    have.
     
    noreply@invalid, Dec 22, 2004
    #1
  2. On further inspection by a number of others noses it may be that the smell
    is of exhaust fumes in the reservoir.
     
    noreply@invalid, Dec 22, 2004
    #2
  3. Perhaps a head gasket?
     
    Steve n Holly, Dec 22, 2004
    #3
  4. I have done a search and found that exhaust fumes can get in to the cooling.
    I have also noticed that the radiator hoses seems to be possibly under great
    pressure, would this also be a sign of a blown gasket.

    If the gasket is gone can I still use the car as I cant get it fixed now
    before Christmas.
     
    noreply@invalid, Dec 22, 2004
    #4
  5. That pretty well confirms it.
    At this stage, assuming the leak has not developed catastrophically,
    you can still use the car, but loosen the cooling system cap so that
    pressure will not build up. This won't do anything for the efficiency
    of the engine, but it will save you blowing a hose and dumping the
    coolant, leaving you stranded. Expect to loose coolant like this, so
    keep an eye on it, and be gentle with it.

    If you are doing the work yourself, the gasket change is fairly
    straight forward, but you do need to get the head checked for flatness
    or other damage, getting it skimmed if necessary. Yellow Pages should
    turn up a local workshop that can do all this for about 30 - 40 quid.

    While you are at it, take the oportunity to change the timing belt,
    and its tensioner if it is more than a couple of years old or feeling
    rough. Some people would recommend changing the water pump at the same
    time.
    --

    Stewart Hargrave


    For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
     
    Stewart Hargrave, Dec 22, 2004
    #5
  6. You will have to use public transport till it is fixed or you will render it
    non fixable permanently.

    Cheers, Peter.
     
    Peter K L Milnes, Dec 23, 2004
    #6
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