What's up everyone? So I just came up on a '85 240DL yesterday and everything seems to running just fine although the seller did advise me to never run it below half a tank of gas because the car will begin sputtering like crazy. He wasn't too informed on the mechanical end of the car so he doesn't know what it is and I was wondering if anyone here might know what the issue is, and whether it's a big deal or an easy fix.

Any info would be much appreciated as I am new to Volvos and this forum but I'm looking forward to both. Thanks again and cheers!!

EDIT: BTW I have not yet dropped the tank below the halfway point yet.

 

hmmm.

your car has two fuel pumps, a booster pump in the tank, and the main fuel pressure pump under the back seat., forward of the axle and gas tank.

sounds like the in-tank booster gas pump is dead. or the fuel pickup sock has fallen off it. either way, means an excursion into the gas tank access plate where the in-tank fuel pump and fuel level sender units live.

 

For a detailed lesson on fixing the in-tank pump, check out this web site:

In the Tank - 240 Volvo Tank Pump and Sender

 

The "sock" is a filter, it doesn't pick up anything!
Most likely the in tank pump is bad...

 

I see, this gives me a place to start! I'll be sure to look into it and follow up on this thread, thanks a bunch guys!