D5 (2005 on) Fuel Consumption

[Robbijay]

Originally Posted by R-P

Not a lot of in-town driving, pretty much secondary roads and motorways: but they are often congested, so it's not all cruising at 60mph... (it will do close to 50mpg when on CC on a straight at 50mph)

Been thinking about the injector cleaning, as the sound has become sportier (I'm passed that so it's not a wanted change, it sounds more raw, in Dutch I'd say more ruffle (?) more like a drumroll, a Subaru WRX with large exhausts, hard to explain in English, hope you get what I mean) since getting this engine (50k miles into a 120k car) about 3 months ago. The 120k original engine had one injector fail completely.

Does this injector-cleaner work well? Any brands that are particularly good?

You don't say how old your V70 is or what bhp engine it is (or if you have i've skimmed over and missed it). Mines the 185 with a manual 6sp box, and it shows up more like 60-70 mpg at 60 mph on a flat. I wouldn't have thought the auto would be that different once it's locked up.
I tend to use Millers power sport 4 diesel treatment (or Shell V-Power Diesel) every tank to keep the injectors clean, simply because millers seemed to be the most highly regarded on loads of forums while I was researching it.
If you've got the older D5 engine it may be worth cleaning out your EGR/plenum chamber. many people have done that with good results and its well documented on the forum.

According to www.wisebuyers.co.uk, a 2005 V70 AWD Geartronic has a consumption of 25 (urban) 40 (extra) 33 (combined) and the newer engines are slightly more thirsty, being more powerful.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by R-P

Thanks for your input.
I forgot to mention: it's a V70. Yes, the weight (1340kg vs. 1691kg) is a big difference, as is the AWD. But still: it's a diesel being driven as politely as possible, vs. a petrol being driven normally with some abnormal moments...

I simply cannot get the Volvo to be more fuel efficient. When driving to Austria through Germany I stopped below 170 (105mph) because the fuel usage dropped to very low 20's...

Maybe I expect too much, but when I see someone saying they never drop below 38 while redlining the thing, then there's something wrong if I use 20% more fuel (assuming the AWD fuel inefficiency is easily countered by my careful driving, therefor thinking a one on one comparison would be allowed).

And no offence, but how do you guys drive the Yaris?????
My parents did 30mpg on average in their 145's/245's 30 years ago.

I had a 1981 245 manual for 12 years and I used to get 17 mpg in town and 24 on a run. I'm not a very hard driver. Maybe they live in a very flat area? My wife drives the Yaris and she is heavy on the acceleration and braking compared to me. I get 35 to 40 mpg in my XC90.

I'd expect more mpg from a V70 D5 than you're getting. I posted here a while ago and I thought it was the XC90 forum when I looked at your post, which would have be OK for the mpg you are getting, but not the V70 which is an FWD car.

Are you doing tank to tank manual calculations or just reading the cars computer calculations?

All the best.

Roy

[Robbijay]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

but not the V70 which is an FWD car.

He says its an AWD Geartronic, pretty rare if I remember correctly.

[R-P]

Originally Posted by robbijay1

You don't say how old your V70 is or what bhp engine it is
According to www.wisebuyers.co.uk, a 2005 V70 AWD Geartronic has a consumption of 25 (urban) 40 (extra) 33 (combined) and the newer engines are slightly more thirsty, being more powerful.

OK. It's a D5, 120kW/163hp (we don't use bhp), Jan 2004 V70 geartronic (5speed) AWD, delivered in Feb 2004.
The original engine did 120k miles, but was leaking a lot of oil and running badly (pretty much on 4 cylinders), so I never tested long term fuel efficiency and when I did (computer momentary usage), I figured it would do better on 5 cylinders...
Iirc, I got the car with 28mpg on the onboard computer, whereas it is 31.5 now. But the police officers driving it before didn't have to pay their own diesel.....

Edit in previous post: as I am converting xl/100km to mpg, I made an error:
(dashcomputer shows 9.0l/100km or 35.3mpgimp instead of 8.5l/100km or 33.3mpgimp)
should have been:
(dashcomputer shows 9.0l/100km or 31.45mpgimp instead of 8.5l/100km or 33.3mpgimp)

[R-P]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

I had a 1981 245 manual for 12 years and I used to get 17 mpg in town and 24 on a run. I'm not a very hard driver. Maybe they live in a very flat area? My wife drives the Yaris and she is heavy on the acceleration and braking compared to me. I get 35 to 40 mpg in my XC90.

Unfortunately it doesn't show in my location, but we're from Holland, so yes, my parents live in a flat area
My dad was not a granny driver, but they did their best to be economical (not just in cars, I grew up thinking 17ºC or 63F was roomtemperature...)

And I think the way you describe your wife's drivingstyle does explain the Yaris numbers.

Seeing your numbers on the XC90 just confirms I should be able to do better. Way better.

See my previous post for the answer on calculation vs. computer readout.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by robbijay1

He says its an AWD Geartronic, pretty rare if I remember correctly.

Volvo did make a 740 cross country with AWD my friend had one until someone rear ended it at high speed recently. Then they switched to the XC classification.

I didn't realise they were making a V70 D5 AWD though, besides the XC70. I don't think I've ever seen one. It will use more fuel than a standard V70, according to Volvo 2.8mpg more in fact. Volvo say 34.9 mpg combined for your car.

All the best.

Roy

[R-P]

Here it is (but it's totally debadged)

V70enP1800.JPG
At the first dealer, so not my P1800...

V70achter.JPG

small volvo.JPG

[Robbijay]

Well bearing in mind the fact that Manufacturer claims are always a bit high, it seems like your getting about the right mpg from the wisebuyers info on my previous post (or only a little bit lower), I'd try putting the injector cleaner in for a few tanks and see what happens. also, as its the 163 engine try cleaning out the egr/plenum chamber: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=39306

[RoyMacDonald]

Also use the Volvo Eco tyre pressures. On the XC90 I use 40 psi all round. Check the brake pads arn't binding as well. Also do tank to tank figures to find out what it actually does. The results the computer gives are very variable.

All the best.

Roy

[Robbijay]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Also use the Volvo Eco tyre pressures. On the XC90 I use 40 psi all round. Check the brake pads arn't binding as well. Also do tank to tank figures to find out what it actually does. The results the computer gives are very variable.

All the best.

Roy

How do you find out what the eco pressures are? I always run mine a bit hard, but have mainly just added 2/3 psi to the recommended pressure?
I think the TC is only variable because it assumes you are using no fuel when stationary so the less you reset it the accurate it should become (assuming you spend more time moving than sat in traffic - which is questionable these days!).