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Hi, new guy here.
I drive an '89 Volvo 240 wagon, auto trans.
About 60 mi. to work and the same to get back home.

I found this site from a note in an article on Wayne Gerdes in the current issue of the Hartfod Advocate.

Usually these Volvos get about 23-25 mpg highway with auto tranny. I've had mine as high as 29.x on several individual tankfulls. I don't know what the EPA estimates are.

Summer of '05 I replaced the mechanical clutch radiator fan with an electric one, supposedly this gains one or two mpg as the mechanical fan is a load on the motor, regardless of whether it's needed or not. I logged the 29 mpg tanks using the e-fan. That summer, with e-fan installed, I generally got 26-28 mpg highway which is well above the usual for these cars

Lately I've only been getting in the low 20's. Granted, the New England winters will take their toll on mpgs, but I'd like to be doing better than I am. I do most of the work on our three Volvos. This weekend I hope to check the fuel pressure regulator, temp sensor (ECT) and the oxygen sensor to make sure they're not causing trouble. I might get some interference from the weather - plus there are a few other thngs I need to tend to, aside from my own car.

check the tire pressure to make sure it hasn't dropped much because of the cold ;) I tend to forget that during the winter because I don't want to do it in bellow freezing temperatures because I don't like the discomfort.

Welcome to CleanMPG!

You probably live near brick and Mike D. :)

Welcome! Nice to see somebody driving around one of these tanks...my first car was a 740 wagon and I loved it. The electric fan was a good move and something that I meant to do but never got around to. I bet that engine runs a little quieter, too, without the driveshaft fan beating the cold air. And I, too, maxed out at just about the 30mpg mark on one great trip down the Pike following a semi on the way to school.

How many miles on it? I have to ask because fuel economy is to hybrids as longevity is to old Volvos. After all, another good way to save energy is not to consume it by manufacturing a new car every five years. :D

Hi Brucepick

___Welcome to CleanMPG!

___Fortunately, FE saving techniques for all vehicles no matter the type are very similar although the implementation can be completely different depending. It sounds as if you have a mostly highway commute so DWL and lower highway speeds after a solid setup should help tremendously. In a colder winter climate like your own, a block heater is always a great investment. For around town, shutting down at or FAS’ing to lights, DWB, potential and FACE-Out parking will help tremendously as well. Getting into a full blown P&G routine in an Auto of your vintage might cause far more problems then it is worth so I would stay away from that aspect of hypermiling. I guess the most important item is to install a Scan Gauge since you are OBD-II equipped. Even if your Volvo is already equipped with an i and aFCD, an SG-II can help in other ways with regards to temps, load, TPS … With the ability to record Current, today’s, previous, and current tank data across a range of variables is incalculably valuable when figuring out how to adapt your Volvo to maximize its FE on your daily grind. It is not perfect by any stretch but it gives you a baseline in which to adjust your habits to so as to increase your FE and lower your emissions.

___I am looking forward to your future tank data to see it climb after we have all had the chance to help move you and your Volvo to levels you would not have thought possible … until today that is ;)

___Good Luck and again, welcome to CleanMPG!

___Wayne

Thanks all.
Wayne/Excel asked how many miles on the '89 240?
284,043 when I left work today! Still running like a champ, too.

I've been using some of the techniques discussed here already. But seeing them all named and described on a site dedicated to mpg improvement is a real help. I'm going to have to do some more reading on this site though.

A few other responses -
Tires were set at 35 psi just a week ago. That's max for those tires.
Cargo area holds my tools; I just can't help myself. Worthwhile weight.
Full size spare; I like having it for my distance commute. Donuts don't last.

My commute has hills on a state highway with 65 mph limit. Lately I've been using DWL - lose speed on the climb, get it back on the downhill. If steep enough, I can put the auto tranny in neutral and coast down. Then go back in gear when needed. Just give a bit of gas before going back into gear so as not to lose speed from reengagement.

I've seen some posts on Volvo message boards from people with Volvo 740-940's, who added flat sheet metal or plastic to the underside of car for better aerodynamics. They actually got improvement. The 240 layout is different but I might be able to do something when the weather is warmer.

For good tips on the hardware/mod side of things, if we can't help you out, www.gassavers.org is a pretty good site. Mostly they tend to deal with metros and older model civics, but I'm sure they could give you ideas and help if we can't. But whatever you do, don't bypass emissions controls for better fuel economy. It isn't worth a few cents if you consider the cost to the environment.

"don't bypass emissions controls for better fuel economy"
Shucks, I'd never do that - too much of a greenie.
Besides, this car has full electronic ign. and fuel injection - bypassing parts of the system just messes it up.

I guess the most important item is to install a Scan Gauge since you are OBD-II equipped. Even if your Volvo is already equipped with an i and aFCD, an SG-II can help in other ways with regards to temps, load, TPS …

Sadly, 240s were only made up to '92 or '93 so there's no OBD-II for the ScanGauge. The only way I can think of to get instant feedback on this car is a vacuum gauge, which would be an inexpensive way to see what the engine is up to.

Hi Tim:

___Whoops, to old :(

___Brucepick, another source for a HQ FCD would be the SuperMid which taps into the ECU injector signal and VSS for speed/distance data.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Yoshiyuki Mimura from Japan builds the SuperMID, sent me the following email 01-28-07:

The SuperMID M-1 is out of stock now.
Please wait one or two month for building and shipping.
If you can wait about six months, the MPG display version will be
available and it may be cheaper than current.

Anyway, do you know following site?
http://www3.telus.net/metro/mid.htm

The link will explain the features.

OK - I'm making progress.
Todays fillup: 24.5 mpg.
172.6 mi; 7.043 gal.

Achieved by reducing speed to 50-60 mph vs. previous 65-70. Also DWL on the hills, occasional downhill coast in neutral, coasting down to stops as much as possible.

Currently on four fairly knobby snow tires, 35 psi. 24.x is darn good considering we're in "winter mode", I didn't do much better than 24.x this past summer.