New owner delurking

I have just bought a 1989 740 GL estate with the B230E engine. Can anyone
tell me how far it will go when the fuel gauge reads empty. On my Escort a
light comes on some time after the gauge reads empty, then you know you have
6 litres left and head for the filling station!

I am collecting it tomorrow and it is right out in the country. To get it I
have a 6 mile ride, then take my bicycle on the train, then a 15 mile
pedal. I don't fancy taking a can of petrol on a push bike, but the gauge
is on empty on the Volvo, and it's about 12 miles to the nearest filling
station from where I am collecting it.

Unfortunately I can't get a driver to come with me to drive my Escort home
so am forced to use public transport.

Guess I will be an avid reader of all things Volvo for a while until the
novelty wears off. If anyone's interested I am on the East Coast of Suffolk
in the UK.

Bill

 

Bill,
Don't risk getting the filth from the bottom of your petrol tank in the
sensitive fuel injection system! Repairing this will cost you a lot more
effort (and money) than bringing a can of petrol. Also when this would
happen, you are definitely going to be towed away.
Good luck!
Robert

 

From a point at sea, to the circles of your mind, this is Bill:

Don't know the answer to this, Bill; even if I did it would depend
upon how long it had already been on empty. But there is a common
fault with 740 fuel gauges - they get stuck on zero, and need a tap to
make them give a reading (same propblem with the temp. gauge, too).
Maybe this was the case when you saw the car.

You could take an empty can with you. Then, if the car doesn't make it
as far as the filling station you have a bit more cycling to do.

How about getting the seller to follow you as far as the fuel station?

Hope you got a good car at a good price. These are excellent cars and,
if looked after, will reach 20 years and 200k miles without too much
trouble; just be diligent about the oil changes. Be a good idea to get
the timing belt changed now, too - then it'll be good for another
50,000 miles. Also make sure that the crank case breathers (including
flame trap) are clear - especially the narrow tube and the small brass
nipple on the inlet manifold that it connects to.

For spares, try EuroCar Parts http://www.eurocarparts.com/ who have an
outlet in Bury (01284 755535) or German Swedish & French
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/ who have an outlet in Ipswich (01473
748166). Both do mail order and have catalogues.

Also, have a look at these sites:

http://www.swedishbricks.net/home.html
http://brickboard.com/



--

Stewart Hargrave

A lot faster than public transport


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

Thanks for those tips, and the spares references, now duly noted.

I now have someone who is going to drive me up and follow me most of the way
home, so carrying petrol isn't a problem, thank heavens.

Cam belt was the first job I had in mind. I did my Escort TD without
headache so don't see the Volvo, from what I've read, being a great problem.
The engine bay is nearly big enough to climb in and sit down and do the job.
I'm also going to do an oil and filter change, plus the points you
mentioned. That should all keep me quiet for an afternoon (dreaming
again!).

Bill

 

You should have a low fuel warning light illuminate with about 6 Litres left in
the tank (just like the Escort). Light is in fuel gauge face.

Cheers, Peter.

: Bill,
: Don't risk getting the filth from the bottom of your petrol tank in the
: sensitive fuel injection system! Repairing this will cost you a lot more
: effort (and money) than bringing a can of petrol. Also when this would
: happen, you are definitely going to be towed away.
: Good luck!
: Robert
:
: "Bill" <> schreef in bericht
: : > I have just bought a 1989 740 GL estate with the B230E engine. Can anyone
: > tell me how far it will go when the fuel gauge reads empty. On my Escort
: a
: > light comes on some time after the gauge reads empty, then you know you
: have
: > 6 litres left and head for the filling station!
: >
: > I am collecting it tomorrow and it is right out in the country. To get it
: I
: > have a 6 mile ride, then take my bicycle on the train, then a 15 mile
: > pedal. I don't fancy taking a can of petrol on a push bike, but the gauge
: > is on empty on the Volvo, and it's about 12 miles to the nearest filling
: > station from where I am collecting it.
: >
: > Unfortunately I can't get a driver to come with me to drive my Escort home
: > so am forced to use public transport.
: >
: > Guess I will be an avid reader of all things Volvo for a while until the
: > novelty wears off. If anyone's interested I am on the East Coast of
: Suffolk
: > in the UK.
: >
: > Bill
: >
: >
: >
: >
: >
:
:

 

[ ... ]

Place the can of petrol in your Escort, drive to the Volvo, pour in four
liters or so, drive your Escort home, take your bike to the station, ride
to the other station, ride your bike to the Volvo, drive home.

Or, get a couple of 1 liter fuel containers, carry them with you (empty)
to the end of the train ride, then fill them somewhere along the way on
your longer ride. Presumably, you have some way of carrying a couple of
small items the size of 1 liter bottles on your bicycle. Containers for
camp stove fuel would work great; select non-approved containers with
care.

Enjoy the car!


Gary

 

Do you remember the riddle about getting the chicken, bag of corn and a fox
across the river.

Good suggestions but I have a lift sorted now thanks.

Bill