Well, my initial resentment that a Volvo finally let me down has tapered off; I took a look at the fuel leak.

Judging by the amount of gas I lost, I expected to find a big, gaping hole. Instead: no hole, no evidence of leakage, all unions tight, and so on. The car had not been started since; so I ran it a while and looked & sniffed for leaks.

None.

So, I'm at a loss. I know the '74s have has some tank issues but it seems to be isolated to the wagons. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

-the background: '74 142 poured fuel from somewhere at the tank on the driver's side immediately after filling up.-

Thanks, -Sean
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1966 122s, 1970 142s, 1974 142e... Blue is beautiful

My guess is a hole in the top of the tank.

If the floor of your boot is dished at all it traps gravel or stones beetween the top of the tank & the underside of the floor. Eventually the trapped rock will fret a hole in to the top of the tank & you loose the top couple of gallons when you fill it up.

Let it run low on fuel so that you can drop the tank down for a look see. In the meantime, don't fill it up past 3/4.

Did it leak before it was started?
Did you look in the trunk area?
How are the evaporation system lines and tank?

Yep, before starting; but only at the station a few minutes after refitting the cap. No leaks today, nor had I noticed any prior to the other day. Trunk is clean. The evaporative system is at least intact; are there any checks I can perform on it?

the plug unions, sender retaining plate and everything else seem to be fine. I wonder, could it have gotten too full somehow? No fuel delivery issues when I ran it today.

I've run it dry once but it's been fine for several tanks since.

That's about all I can give you without draining everything and reconstructing the scenario at home.
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1966 122s, 1970 142s, 1974 142e... Blue is beautiful

The gas filler tube, cap and evap system are on the passenger
side,and yet you said the gas came from drivers side?
Or it pooled on the ground on the drivers side?
And no stains on the undercoating on the drivers side?

Evaporation System:
And no strong smell in the car?
Which is typical of clogged evaporation lines.
I would leave it alone for now and not risk breaking
a dried up hose.

It really sounds like a case of overfilling.
Did you monitor the fillup?
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69-145-S ; 71-145-S ; 72-145-E ; 72-1800-ES ; 87-245-DL

Just a thought . . . I've been to some gas stations where the fuel cut-off sensor didn't work. The result is spilling gas all over the place. Any chance there could exist an alternate universe within which that might have happened to you?
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74 164E auto -- looking to convert to manual M410

As far as I know, the Volvo safety campaign for 1974 and 75 models was for both sedans and wagons. I have seen both small stress cracks in the body of the tank and a crack in the solder joint around the drain plug.

As Redwood Chair noted, undercoating is soluble in gasoline. If the spill was on the tank it should be noticeable.

Leaks can be temperature dependent and can depend on the amount of fuel in the tank. The pressure of a full tank can force fuel through a crack that does not leak at lower pressures.

I just saw s_r_c's other post on apparently this same topic.
Several gallons poured out ?

Yikes, everything is teeny-tiny on B'board now...

I'm willing to believe that the fuel shut off at the pump malfunctioned, but I would've expected a leak on the pass (right) side in that case. There's gotta be a hole in the top somewhere, but the trunk is dry. And yes, it poured out steadily for over 2 minutes; situated so as if I were to try to see where it was coming from I would have gotten a mouthful.

there is some staining on the undercoating for the tank, along the ridge where it meets what looks to be a retaining plate between it and the body. this stain courses almost the whole diameter of the tank.

It might have just leaked out the driver's side because it was lower; I was on my way to get rid of those tires finally; and was running a 165/70-something on the pass rear, a 205/55 on the driver's rear while in the neighborhood.

I have a greenbook in the mail finally; I'll just take the tank out unless someone buys it first. Found a tank for $150; can't imagine all hope is lost...

Thanks for the tips gentlemen; will follow up on the findings.

-Sean
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1966 122s, 1970 142s, 1974 142e... Blue is beautiful