Volvo: 1999 S80 2.9, slow leaks, wet spots

Question
My 1999 S80 has appx 80k on it right now. Recently I have noticed a heavy smell of gasoline while the car is running. If u are standing outside while the car is running u smell it. You also smell it inside. When the car is parked for a while and u open the doors or trunk the smell hits u immediately. I can find no leaks and there have been no spills to account for the interior smell. No warning lights or messages have appeared. In conjunction with starting to experience this smell, it also is having a harder time starting.I have to crank it for several seconds now before it starts. Before starting was almost instant. Could this problem be related to bad fuel possibly. I got gas from my normal station just before I started to notice these two problems. I normally put in the 92 octane but this time I settled for 89. Any thoughts?

Keith

Answer
It is possible you've gotten bad fuel which would cause the smell, however, associated with bad fuel is also usually a huge decrease in performance.  If the car drives normally once you get it started, it is probably something else.  Based on what you told me, I'm going to surmise you have a leak somewhere.  The problem with those, is that gas evaorates very quickly, so unless the leak is huge, you might not ever see wet spots.  Second, once the gas starts leaking, and the smell gets everywhere, it is very hard to locate where it originated.  Because you say that the car seems to take a few seconds to start now, my theory is you've got a leak either up by the injectors of the engine, or somewhere in the fuel line close to the engine.  If you park the car at night, the fuel can slowly leak out the line, creating a large section of air, which in turn, needs to be pushed out when you start the car in the morning.  This could account for the few seconds you have to wait now in order for the car to finally start.  I would suggest closely inspecting the injector assembly as well as the fuel lines near the front of the car for slow leaks.  You might find that one of the lines is slightly damp, or even better, one of the lines might have a slow drip while the car is running and the line is under pressure.  Good luck!