V70 - MPG figures and performance

[stevenball]

Hi,

We have just bought a 99 V70 2.5 auto (not a turbo) and plan to use it as our towcar for a 17 foot single axle caravan.

We normally only travel 50 miles or so from base, but have having just got the car we went for a weekend at Alton Towers with the van.

This is roughly a 120 mile journey from Ely and we travelled via the A14 / M1 then A50 to Alton. Our Average MPG on super unleaded was 16 MPG. I expected to take a hit with the van on the back but this lower than I expected.

I was wondering if this is the norm. The car also seemed very under powered we stood virtually no chance of over taking a slow moving lorry at 50 ish.

What would the ideal rev range be ? I have been driving diesels so am used to keeping the revs low to maximise torque, what would be right for my V70 in terms of max torque plus good MPG.

Would an ECU upgrade be of benefit with it not being a turbo, how much would I gain.

Sorry I know it's lots of questions, but we love the car and the towing issue wasn't going to be a deal breaker, we wanted a good clean car and this one is mint, with full history and only 100K on the clock. I just want to make sure I'm driving it right.

[Clan]

how heavy is the caravan and is it the 140 bhp ( DOHC on the top of the engine cover) or 170 bhp engine ( 20 valve on top of the engine cover) ? Normaly when towing witha volvo you hardly notice the caravan on the back. did you feel like you were straining the engine when towing or was it driving nicely with minimal throttle ? How does it go without the caravan? The 170 bhp should fly ..
you cant do anything useful to increase power ..

[mikealder]

I did 550 miles in my 2000 V70 (170bhp non turbo Auto) yesterday without anything in tow and the car returned 38,6 to the gallon the trip was either crawling along the M6/ M25 in traffic or at a higher speed than you would tow with.
What does the car do without the van attached, top the tank off and do a long run then top the tank off and work out the MPG - don't just go off what the trip computer is saying - Mike

[stevenball]

Thank you for replying so quickly, There are no marking on the engine to denote the amount of valves or the like. It is the old shape V70 as in the 850 type. not a more modern shape if that helps.

This was the first big run we have done, so I'm checking the MPG without the caravan. We don't have a trip computer so my calculations were based on the fuel used over distance etc.

If it helps I can post a picture of the engine. The car felt so sluggish and under powered I would say it was verging on the dangerous. At 50 mph I had no umph to over take a lorry safely. Without the caravan performance is fine.

The caravan is now back at the storage site from memory I think 1400 KGS, but again will check plate in morning.

[stevenball]

Have just checked paperwork from dealer. It would appear I have a 20V, 2435 cc. No markings on engine though. The car was first registered 7th September 1999.

[Jim314]

I have towed light trailers with a 2004 V70 with the US 168hp 20 valve 2.4L non-turbo with 5-spd auto transmission. I got about 20 mpgUS (24 mpgUK) on the hwy towing a light trailer (maybe 400 kg gross).

So your mileage with the 1400 kg trailer would seem to be within the expected range, albeit on the low side. Is your tranny a 4-spd auto or 5-spd auto?

Lightly loaded and with no trailer my 2004 V70 gets about 30 mpgUS on the highway (36 mpgUK) so you can see a trailer really does reduce the mpg significantly.

IMO an ECU upgrade would be reckless and probably would decrease mpg both with and without towing a trailer.

[JimDay]

I have just changed my caravan to a Swift Charisma 550 which is a single axle, & has a MTPLMof around 1400Kgs. I tow with a V70 2.5 T auto & after picking up the van while on holiday in Kent I was pleasantly supprised to return around 23 mpg at speeds of around 55 mph,( & had no problem over taking slower traffic ) which is on a par with the old caravan which was a lot lighter, on a run with out the van in tow I manage around the low 30's.

So I would say you have a problem somewhere, have you had the car serviced recently, it could be something as simple as spark plugs, air filter & fuel filter that needs renewing.

[mingdiesel]

On my 2001 V70 2.4 D5 I get 44mph (uk) when solo (wife can get 55) but this drops down to 36 when towing my 1500Kg Caravan at legal limit so cannot complain.

[tykey]

If you are calculating the fuel used, I'm assuming you are brimming the tank before and after?

[mingdiesel]

I brim tank regularly and use Shell diesel extra & Millers Diesel Additive regularly to keep injectors etc in good condition.

My 2009 2.4D still has to be run in properly so it struggles to achieve 40mpg yet but hopefully after 5000 miles or more it'll improve.

Mingdiesel