700/900 Fuel Economy (Petrol Engines)

[Tom85]

I will say that mileage on the E engines is only matter of proper adjustment. Injection, being purely mechanical can get out of adjustment quite easily after 20+ years. My consumption was 20MPG when i bought it and now after a two years of fiddling i came close to 40MPG (without zero investments). Every machine on the Earth needs to be adjusted now and then to run efficiently. Gasoline K-JET engines just are extremely fault-tolerant. You just have to set your screws *RIGHT* ;-)

[Macabry]

On old cheap "Egg foo yung" brand spark plugs, worn tires (also some crazy unknown brand) and mixed driving my lovely '88 740 GL with B200E returned exactly 32.8 MPG.....It is astounding considering my wifes 2003 Renault Megane 1.4 returned 38mpg on average...........GO VOLVO

I have not tried measuring MPG with my new plugs, and a decent service.....can only improve things.


PS- General rule of tyres seems to be that the longer the name runs around the rim the less grip they offer (e.g. SUPER TOURING SPECIAL SPEED GT VXR SPORTS etc.).....or is that just me.

[volvolimoman]

740 2.0l Hearse 28 mpg (Weights over 2 tonne) Journey to Lake District
740 2.3l Saloon 38 mpg, regular journey to Surrey from Northampton (M1 M25)
740 2.4 diesel pick up 42 mpg
740 2.3l 6 door limo 32 mpg
760 3.0l 4 door limo 28 mpg
740 2.0l Saloon 36mpg

Hope it helps.

[Choc]

Originally Posted by Tom85

I will say that mileage on the E engines is only matter of proper adjustment. Injection, being purely mechanical can get out of adjustment quite easily after 20+ years. My consumption was 20MPG when i bought it and now after a two years of fiddling i came close to 40MPG (without zero investments). Every machine on the Earth needs to be adjusted now and then to run efficiently. Gasoline K-JET engines just are extremely fault-tolerant. You just have to set your screws *RIGHT* ;-)

And for those of us hovering around 23mpg, what do you adjust?

I've changed the rotor arm and distributor cap this morning, the air filter is clean so what's my next step?

I changed the plugs a month ago and they were a perfect tan colour, so surely the engine can't be running badly?

[timofthomas]

745 GL Petrol - 1989 B200E K-Jetronic injection with manual idle speed set up and capability to adjust the mix at the fuel distributor. 5 speed manual box 14 inch wheel rims. Cheap tyres Properly INFLATED! . There is teflon additive in the engine oil and using magnatec high mileage oil - boy does that stuff stink!

Runs very slightly rich to allow for 40-70 overtaking manoeuvres to be made more safely on straights and to cope with the big steep hill on the way home every night!

Best ever mpg was on a run brim full from Exeter Services to Northwich in Cheshire via Swindon and over the Chilterns to the M5 with three adults and a toddler plus luggage for a week. 55mpg.
This whole trip was done at a steady 100 kph/62mph unless the speed limit was lower - with a big gap in front of me to the next vehicle - I think I touched the brakes twice in Swindon, twice coming down the steep long incline off the Chilterns to the M5 near Gloucester, once at a set of lights near home, and when I stopped on the driveway!

When the brakes are behaving she averages 34-35mpg on a country trunk route and dual carriage way drive to work. When they are binding, it's more like 12mpg!

I've noticed that due to some duff wiring, driving with headlights on (and worse, foglights when needed) eats a lot more fuel - any electrical shorting will consume more power from the alternator, and therefore drink more juice - something for those doing everything else right but still having poor mpg to consider maybe?

[roadcar2000]

All you high MPG guys, Have you checked the accuracy of your speedometers/ odometers?

[timofthomas]

hehehe - I know that my trip to work is 24.7 miles and that my fuel tank to the brim is 64.5 litres - so all I need to know is how many trips I do before the fuel runs out given tyre wear I rarely if ever trust the odo in any car for fine measurement.

[Dr. Rog]

940 2.3lpt estate manual
30mpg doing 55 down the M1 following a laden van.

Worst
940 2.3 lpt auto
<19 mpg in the snow and cold. The engine never got warm.

The auto seems to cost about 4mpg, in part because it drops down a little too quickly.

[barkster1971]

Managed to go through the 30 mpg barrier (just)! Now at 30.25 which is up from 27.7. Totally overhauled the PCV system. I'm very happy with this figure for a 2.3l 1997 945 that's been modified.

[V-Jet]

Here's a list of the best fuel economy I've ever got out of the Volvos that I've owned. I've also included which country I was in as the local fuel quality & driving conditions plays a big part.

1990 Volvo 740 GL, B230F (LH2.4) & AW70L - 36.1mpg (in Australia)
1990 Volvo 740 GLT, B234F (LH2.4) & AW72L - 27.7mpg (in Taiwan)
1990 Volvo 760 GLE, B280E (LH2.2) & AW71 - 27.9mpg (in Taiwan)
1991 Volvo 960, B280F (LH2.2) & AW71 - 25.6mpg (in New Zealand)
1998 Volvo S90, B6304F (Motronic 4.4) & AW30-43 - 28.7mpg (in New Zealand)
1998 Volvo S90 Executive, B6304F (Motronic 4.4) & AW30-43 - 28.6mpg (in New Zealand)