Xc70 mpg

[barrysharp]

FYI...

I drove some 830 miles over past weekend at varying speeds and road surfaces. My car now has around 2,300 new miles. I used 92 octane gas. These miles included the trip to Vancouver, BC for the xc70.com gathering that included some off road gravel roads/tracks etc driven mostly with manual in 2nd gear. The bulk of the miles were done on freeways at 60-75 mph. I setup the computer readout to record the average MPG and at the 2nd fuel pit stop the readout was displaying 26.8 MPG. I was impressed.

[jkochis]

I am impressed as well, couple of 150-200 mile trips on my 2004 with only 900 miles so far and have gotten 25.5-27.5 MPG on the highway @ 65-75 MPH.

[barrysharp]

My calculations show that if one was pushed to using 18 gals out of the 19 gal fuel tank using 92 octane and driving at 60-75 mph at freeway speeds the XC70 should be able to make 504 miles between pit stops. This assumes 18 gals x 28 mpg.

The computer readout did display at my last pit stop after having filled the fuel tank -- 525 miles to empty tank. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[purush]

Over the Memorial day weekend I travelled from NC to PA and back with various stopovers at MD and VA. I calculated 28mpg on that trip. I was impressed. Since I used the transmission in auto mode, 89 octane gas and drove 55-75mph depending upon the road through out the trip I was not sure whether I ought to pat my own back or those of Volvo engineers!

purush

[AutoMonkey]

I don't know how accurate the trip computer is, but I find a big difference between freeway and city driving... I'm doing 25mpg+ on the freeway, but I'm lucky to get 18 in the city. (Come to think of it, this is pretty much what the EPA mileage says - 18/26). My regular commute (~10mi each way) is a mix of freeway and city streets, so depending on how clear the freeways are, I find I'm averaging ~18-22 in my everyday driving.

AM

[gary]

hhhmmm.... I'm only averaging about 23 mpg, but the bulk of our driving is stop/go surburb driving on roads where the speed limit is 50-70 kph.  On the autobahn I'm usually between 80-90 mph, so that may explain the low mileage as well.  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Still very impressed with the car though and no regrets yet!

[jthorsen]

I was wondering about the accuracy of the trip computer as well, since I was quite impressed to see we were averaging 25mpg on a brand new car while we were driving around Sweden/Denmark.  Our driving was probably split about 40/60 city/hwy.  Based on the EPA calculations I should have been getting closer to 23 mpg with this split.

After driving a SUV for 4 years and almost never hitting 20 mpg (even with 100% hwy driving&#33http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif, I was quite happy! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

-Jon

[barrysharp]

I find the computer MPG to be quite accurate as I've sanity checked it against miles driven and amount of fuel fillup at some gas pump and same top up procedure. It has always been within 0.2 mpg whenever I've made the sanity check.

[littlewaywelt]

Wow.  You're getting pretty good mileage.  I am not even close.  I drive with a slightly heavy foot, but generally sit btwn 70-85mph.  We get about 23-24 highway and 16 city.  The best mileage I've ever gotten in the car was 26 highway  and 22 city.

[Hiro's XC]

littlewaywelt,

I'm in the same mileage boat as you. Don't feel bad.

Jason

[picklehead]

I've been running Shell 93 octane and Sunoco 94 octane and have discovered that the car seems to prefer the Shell gasoline.  The Shell gives usual returns of 24 MPG in combined driving while the Sunoco yields 22 MPG.  The car just went over 3000 total miles, so this is still a theory in progress.  On friday we are taking a 10 hour trip to Buffalo so I will have an opportunity to see what the pure highway performance is like.

Very Respectfully,
Jim Miller

[littlewaywelt]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Hiro&#39;s XC @ June 16 2003,19:30)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">littlewaywelt,

I&#39;m in the same mileage boat as you. Don&#39;t feel bad.

Jason[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hiro,
I definately don&#39;t feel bad. &nbsp;I&#39;ve never had a car that got the mpg the manufacturer claimed, even when I try to drive very efficiently.

Does Volvo have any plans to introduce a hybrid engine?

[Hiro's XC]

Hard to say if Volvo is going to do that. But it is a safe bet in the next 2 years that we will see the Diesels in the states. BMW is currently planning to import them in the next 18-24 months. And MB has the E class diesel comming back for 04&#39;.

[wiz]

Yes but are we going to see the refineries turned over to produce low sulphur diesel fuel here in the U.S? That is a very, very expensive process...

[pico de luuks]

My average is 23mpg since the first oil service. That&#39;s 90% city driving. So I&#39;m not complaining. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pico.gif

[hordtheviking]

Well our brand new &lt;700 miles engine is delivering around 18 to 20 mpg in all city driving. &nbsp;Better then my 4 Runner on the highway so no complaints here.

[Hiro's XC]

California is already producing 50ppm low sulpher diesel. The rest of the country is 200-500. Not to far off despite what the trucking industry says. You can already get premium diesels allover the country that are 50ppm. Amoco producing one of the best. It is crystal clear, not that dark brown like rot gut garbage truck diesel.

I also think mileage is really dependant on how much you are using the turbo. Our car car be as low as 16 and as high as 27.

[barrysharp]

Somewhat OT -- http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif My &#39;86 745 turbo diesel (inline 6-cyl, 2.9 ltr) regularly returns 27 to 29 mpg driving about town. Strangely enough, when on an extended run the mpg doesn&#39;t improve much and the best I&#39;ve ever seen is just over 29 mpg. A very consistent engine wrt fuel economy. I also don&#39;t add any fuel additives even though Volvo service has constantly told me to do so over the years.

[zcat3]

I have been impressed with mileage as well. A few weeks back I drove from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. A 500 mile roundtrip trip that involves going from sea level to over 7,000 feet (twice - there are 2 passes). We got 26 MPG on the way there - which really shocked me, and almost 29 MPG on the way back. The key to good mileage is limiting the amount of boost you use.

[cmon4day]

What car are you driving? &nbsp;My wife drives the XC, and just does around town. &nbsp;Maybe 10 miles per day. &nbsp;I reset the mpg computer at the last fill up and I&#39;m only getting 15.2. &nbsp;That kind of mileage sucks&#33;&#33;&#33;

[pico de luuks]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (cmon4day @ June 20 2003,01:35)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What car are you driving? My wife drives the XC, and just does around town. Maybe 10 miles per day. I reset the mpg computer at the last fill up and I&#39;m only getting 15.2. That kind of mileage sucks&#33;&#33;&#33;[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Don&#39;t be too hard on your wife&#33; &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif

Those short trips are really killing for the mpg average. Take the car out on a longer trip once in awhile and you&#39;ll see the mpg will be way better, unless you wife is trying to race everybody at traffic lights http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pico.gif

[zcat3]

cmon4day - even driving around town in Half Moon Bay (where we live) I still get over 20 MPG - and the traffic out here on the coast is very often stop and go on Hiohway 1 (with lots of stops). What brand and octane gas are you using. We use premium Chevron (91 octane as you know).

[BillAileo]

We put 1803 miles on our new 03 XC70 during our travels through Norway &amp; Sweden before turning it in for shipment to the US. &nbsp;We averaged about 27mpg and were quite pleased.

[Willy]

My car is still quite new, at first it needed about 23mpg, now, after 3000Km, it reaches 26mpg&#33;
The sulpher content in diesel fuel can be quite low, we can produce as low as 10ppm (this does put some stress on the desulpherizing unit, thus adding cost).
Willy

[newtovolvo]

Hi&#33; I recently purchased an XC70. &nbsp;I am very pleased with the vehicle, however, unlike most of you who have replied to this entry, I am getting only 20mpg. &nbsp;My car has less than 1000 miles. &nbsp;Could there be something wrong. &nbsp;I am wondering if I should take it into the dealer? &nbsp;I drive mostly highway with some stop and go. &nbsp;Please respond.

[Willy]

In my experience fuel consumption goes down after a few thousand miles.
20mpg is perhaps not very good, driving style is very important though. Barry explained his technique to save fuel on this forum, you can find it here:
http://xc70.com/cgi-bin....umption (http://xc70.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=695;hl=fuel+consumption )
Willy

[zundapp]

I could not resist adding my experince to this.
My 2001 MY V70 XC at 79,000 miles is still averaging 24 MPG, thats a mix of highway, town and country.

The best I have seen straight from pump tp motorway (highway) is 29 MPG.

BTW, not looking forward to next service at 90,000 miles. Seems that it will cost at least 500 UK pounds, thats &#036;800 US.
It will be time to change the cambelt etc..........

David

[kersti]

I have just reached the 5000M mark. I am now averaging about 20-21 with mixed driving, commuter freeway driving(stop and go). It has been dropping the last couple of weeks, I have been using 91 octane Chevron or Mobil. It may be the formulation here in California. &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif &nbsp;But it is better than my Lexus which only averaged 18-19 with manual transmission.

Kersti

[Grant]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (barrysharp @ June 18 2003,09:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Somewhat OT -- http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif My &#39;86 745 turbo diesel (inline 6-cyl, 2.9 ltr) regularly returns 27 to 29 mpg driving about town. Strangely enough, when on an extended run the mpg doesn&#39;t improve much and the best I&#39;ve ever seen is just over 29 mpg. A very consistent engine wrt fuel economy. I also don&#39;t add any fuel additives even though Volvo service has constantly told me to do so over the years.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The engine in your 745 is just under 2.4 Litres (2,383cc) with 109BHP in european spec. &nbsp;My dad had a 765 with the 129BHP version of that engine.

My dad has the XC70 D5 SE now and he is very impressed with it, he has averaged 33 miles per UK gallon over the life of the car (10,000 miles so far)

With the XC he is able to only refuel ever week and a half rather than once a week with the 765 around 50% better fuel consumption.

Grant

[gbooth]

http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Just returned from my third 1,500 km (±100 km) road trip since I bought my car in October 2002. The onboard computer shows that for 20,115 Km (mixed city [about 15,000] &amp; hiway [about 5,000]) I have averaged 9.4 l/km at an average speed of 49 Km/h. According to the Natural Resources Canada Fuel Consumption Guide this works out to 30.05 mpg, where 1 UK gallon = 4.54609 liters.

For those used to US measures, I believe that converts to about 25.02 mpg, where 1 US gallon (liquid) = 3.7854118 liters.

Gordon

[mrb]

Just over 1,000 miles in Sweden average speed 35mi/hr on freeways, city driving and country roads--average 26m/gal-am very pleased with milage and how car handled-- http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[jthorsen]

Now that I&#39;ve got the XC back in the US my mpg has gone down to about 23 (from 26 in Europe). &nbsp;I&#39;m driving about the same mix of city/highway but now that I&#39;m back on familiar turf I definitely have a heavier foot. &nbsp;I definitely have to agree with whoever stated that the amount of boost makes a big difference. &nbsp;Not sure if there could be differences in gas quality effecting this as well, but I suspect 90+% is how I&#39;m driving.

[bouvier]

We have just under 4K miles on my wifes 03 XC. Using 89 gas, we average 27 MPG (highway) on our regular 200 mile trips between out home in NYC to our place in Central NY State. We burn less than half a tank making the trip and get great performance in the mountains. I have only two complaints so far, a blind spot on the right and the road noise from the standard tires. The latter I will correct when replacement time comes.

Al

[xclogan]

This topic is why I made my spreadsheet to track all of this. &nbsp;My record so far is 502.2 miles NONSTOP. &nbsp;I average 400-450 ghway/freeway miles per tank. &nbsp;And that us usually with the &nbsp;cruise control set at 65-75mph.

E-mail if anyone wants a copy of the excel file to track it. &nbsp;Or if anyon has any questions or comments that is using it now.

[budrichard]

580 miles Friday, the majority at 80mph with runs to 90mph when road conditions were deserted. Average was 22.5mpg with A/C. About 2 miles were off road thru three feet tall grass covered lanes looking at property and scouting put ins and take outs. Not too bad considering the speeds. Front of vehicle looks like a giant bug catcher&#33; -Dick

[barrysharp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (budrichard @ July 20 2003,06:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Front of vehicle looks like a giant bug catcher&#33; -Dick[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Dick:

Post a pic of the bug catcher at it&#39;s finest. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif &nbsp;Just how messy can that front end look?

[Willy]

Compared to my 940, the XC seems to catch far less bugs, the hood as well as the windshield.
Do we have a &quot;clean summer&quot; here or is this the general opinion?
Willy

[purush]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (budrichard @ July 20 2003,09:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">580 miles Friday, the majority at 80mph with runs to 90mph when road conditions were deserted. Average was 22.5mpg with A/C. About 2 miles were off road thru three feet tall grass covered lanes looking at property and scouting put ins and take outs. Not too bad considering the speeds. Front of vehicle looks like a giant bug catcher&#33; -Dick[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
budrichard

&nbsp;Isn&#39;t 22.5mpg awfully low? &nbsp;Why would speed (&gt;65mph)
reduce milage? &nbsp;Doesn;t constant acceleration (implying
constant speed) consuime less gass than varying accelerations. &nbsp;So it shouldn&#39;t matter whether you are 65mph
or 85mph (well, modulo greater drag because of the wind)..
right?

sincerely
purush

[budrichard]

Purush, Speed=horsepower-drag-friction. The drag from wind resistance increases as the square of the wind velocity. Therefore the drag from wind velocity at 65 compared to 85 mph is 1.7 times as great requiring that much more horsepower and fuel thereby lowering the gas mileage.-Dick

[Jorge-789995]

Dick, the calculation is correct, but Drag increases with 1/2 velocity squared.

Keith

[budrichard]

Was not showing a quantitative calculation so 1/2&#39;s and &nbsp;unit conversions do not appear. -Dick

[Hiro's XC]

22.5 is about right for the WI/N. IL Area. I just had to do 3 trips from IL to Madiason, WI and back, about 145 miles each way and got 22-23 on two and 27.9 on one due to construction holding traffic down to around 45-55mph. Anything beyond 75mph and these cars really drop the gas mileage.

&lt;OT&gt;
I have been dealing with a sick name sake here (Hiro) as he almost died on Saturday due to a fungal infection in his lungs taking over about 65% of both of them. Good thing I was in Madison when it happened as the Emergency animal hospital knew what to do and in conjunction with the outstanding vet lab at UW Madison managed to save him. He is resting comfortably at home now awaiting more lab results on what he actually has. Oh, did I mention over 20 pills a day......I knew I should have bought that health insurance for him...

Jason

[budrichard]

Hiro, I assume you are driving I-90 to Madison. I was in Madison Tuesday(the &#39;Yellow Jersey&#39; is the best road bike shop in the midwest) but I drive I-94, so no construction but still about 22 mpg. Where I really make time is I-43 to Greenbay where on some mornings it is essentially deserted. Then HWY 64 to Langlade has some long straights but the problem is deer. Best advice is, if you see one, brake hard because there will be more.
BTW not only does Madison have great vet facilities but UW Hospitals are a world class facility. You can also tell I&#39;m a &#39;Badger&#39;&#33; -Dick

[budrichard]

Update: Cartopping my Dagger &#39;Caption&#39;( 2person whitewater canoe) for 580 miles at 80 mph caused a reduction from 22.5 mpg to 20.5 mpg. Of course, I can not think of a better way to travel to and from and you don&#39;t have to concern yourself over being stuck at put ins and take out&#33; Stuck a road bike in the vehicle and performed our own shuttle service. -Dick

[littlewaywelt]

Hiro,
How&#39;s your pup doing?

[ifnt420]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (budrichard @ July 20 2003,06:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">580 miles Friday, the majority at 80mph with runs to 90mph when road conditions were deserted. Average was 22.5mpg with A/C. About 2 miles were off road[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hmm.. 580miles range at approx 80mph. and avg 22.5mpg.

The longest range I was able to acheive on one full tank (alone in XC with no cargo, tire 33psi all the way around) was 800km, with cruise control set at 100kmh; which equates to about 500miles at 62mph. &nbsp;I&#39;m wondering what I&#39;m doing wrong here, how come Dick was able to get 80 more miles than me at almost 20mph faster speed??

Cheers

[barrysharp]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ifnt420 @ July 30 2003,07:59)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (budrichard @ July 20 2003,06:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">580 miles Friday, the majority at 80mph with runs to 90mph when road conditions were deserted. Average was 22.5mpg with A/C. About 2 miles were off road[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Hmm.. 580miles range at approx 80mph. and avg 22.5mpg.

The longest range I was able to acheive on one full tank (alone in XC with no cargo, tire 33psi all the way around) was 800km, with cruise control set at 100kmh; which equates to about 500miles at 62mph. I&#39;m wondering what I&#39;m doing wrong here, how come Dick was able to get 80 more miles than me at almost 20mph faster speed??

Cheers[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Maybe Dick was travelling more downhill sections than you or had a very strong tail wind or you had a very strong head wind or Dick used 93 Octane vs. your 91, etc, etc, etc. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Comparisons of this type are really futile, don&#39;t you think, as there surely are too many unknowns.

[Hiro's XC]

Dick,

Yep yellow jersey, great shop. We have a LOT of great shops here in IL. Bought my softride solo w/campagnolo and rolf wheels from bicycles ect here about 18 months ago.

I90 is the road of choice from Rockford to Madison but I use I88 to I39N out of Chicago since I&#39;m 40 Miles west of Chicago already. 1/4 the traffic and NICE SMOOTH ROADS&#33; I90 is currently under BRUTAL construction from Schaumburg to Belvedere (50 miles) ONE LANE&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

I see similar mileage as the speed increases. Usually in the 20-12.5 range. I go nearly 30 when I was tied down to 50mph recently for 75 miles though.

The dog......well it isn&#39;t fungal.....it&#39;s a severe case of pnuemonia, resistant to 3 of the 6 drugs that could treat it. It took 6 days for the culture to come back to the exact problem. (they ran 30 tests) He is starting to come around, actually able to walk more than 50ft without having to rest for 10 minutes. He is still sleeping 22 hours a day though. And the coat blow&#33; Oh MY GAWD&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33; Nothing like stress and sickness to make a dog blow his coat. It&#39;s like pig pen from Charlie Brown except it&#39;s hair trailing him wherever he goes. He is on CIPROFLOXACIN HCI (CIPRO) to knock it out. That is a SERIOUS drug. 4 weeks is the time frame. Good thing my neighbor/friend is a Doc. He get&#39;s it for &#036;7 a pill vs. &#036;60 from the pharmacy.

Jason

[xclogan]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (budrichard @ July 20 2003,06:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">580 miles Friday, the majority at 80mph with runs to 90mph when road conditions were deserted. Average was 22.5mpg with A/C. About 2 miles were off road thru three feet tall grass covered lanes looking at property and scouting put ins and take outs. Not too bad considering the speeds. Front of vehicle looks like a giant bug catcher&#33; -Dick[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
My best so far was 502.2 miles varying terrain (two and four lane) nonstop from Las Vegas, Kingman, Phoenix, Casa Grande to Yuma. 26.6 Average MPG, 66 MPH average speed. No A/C (drove at night). &nbsp;At one point I was averaging 28.7 miles per gallon. &nbsp;Max speed was 76 or so. &nbsp;

This on a 1999 V70XC

Hoping I can hit 30MPG when I drive East in the next few months....we&#39;ll see...

The spreadsheet really helps in tracking all this stuff&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

[budrichard]

We did refuel and the mileage was actaully 20.7 mpg. The Dagger is on a set of Yakima bars with canoe rests and straps on both bars and fore and aft tie-downs. I just am not confident going any faster than 80 mph not knowing the forces that exist at that speed on the tie downs. In actuality the fore and aft tie downs are for retarding motion horizontally and the bar tie downs secure the canoe to the vehicle and prevent vertical motion. Having two bar tie downs should provide two 100% systems. Having the Dagger blow off would be a spectacular event I don&#39;t care to witness. -Dick