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Will $4 gas kill the 850?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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wheelsup
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Re: Will $4 gas kill the 850?

Post by wheelsup »

The *new* cars coming out today are actually really safe, even though they are small. A lot of engineering in them goes to protect the occupants. The downside is they get crushed and totaled. I passed a new Corolla yesterday that had rear ended a an old Chrysler something-something and no damage to the Chrysler and the Toyota was completely totaled. But the occupant was unharmed.

I drive <4,000 miles a year so that's like $500 in gas vs. $250 in gas if I got 50 MPG. I have however begun to research converting the gas engine design to a diesel and running WVO. I'd like to keep my 850 on the road...for a long time.
1995 850 GLT Wagon w/ 200,000 miles

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The only thing that will kill your 850 is if you have a turbo and you start running regular gas to save the 10 cents per gallon and burn the exhaust valves. On the highway we are getting mileage about as good as a stinking Prius.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

Matty Moo
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Post by Matty Moo »

I don't complain about gas. We have 2 jeeps and each of those get well under 20mpg. The Volvo gets around 25, which isn't bad at all.
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1996 850 Platinum Wagon. ARD Green Tune, OBX.-Gone
1998 s70 ARD tune, EST exhaust, SE/R interior.
1999 s70 Plain Jane.
2000 s70 GLT
2014 Ram
2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

peacock
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Year and Model: S70 T5 SE 1998
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Post by peacock »

12hr round trip to dayton ohio last weekend with the T5 and hit just under 27mpg avg. i was also following the darkest black corvette ever at 85, and averaged 70mphfor the trip. YAY turbos!!
1998 S70 T5 SE 214,001
1999 v70R 126,000

daedalus
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Year and Model: 2010 XC70 T6
Location: Maine

Post by daedalus »

keough wrote:It won't kill my Volvo but it may kill my Suburban (42 Gal Tank) $148.00 fill up yesterday at 3.59 per gal
OUCH!! Death by gas.....or at least poverty. Just how often do you have to fill up that pig?
2010 XC70 T6...140k

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shiloh51933
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Post by shiloh51933 »

I used plus(89 octane) once in my '96 850 and she ran like crap until I went and put 93 octane in the tank, I mean instantly started running normal again. I use Super/Premium in all my rides and it makes a difference lightening up my wallet a little faster but they all run better/get better gas milaege. The extra 5-10 cent is worth it in the long run...I get better gas milaege, better performance and decrease the chance of repair due to bad gasoline.
If U Wanna Play U Gotta Pay!!
Present Volvo Ownership:
2008 Volvo XC90 V8 Black
2004 Volvo XC70 OEM-HID model Silver
Previously Owned Volvo:
1996 Volvo 850 GLT Silver
1998 Volvo V70XC Dark Blue
1998 Volvo V70XC Dark Blue
2000 Volvo V70XC/SE Dark Blue
2004 Volvo XC90 T6 Gold

vjaneczko
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Post by vjaneczko »

I laugh at my folks who seem to spend a lot of time looking for the cheapest gas station in the area. The difference is a few pennies, and the extra dime per gallon for premium is a whopping $1.80 for us once we get a full tank. Does it really take that much thought to go with the good stuff?!
"He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which." - Douglas Adams

1997 855 GLT - R.I.P.
2006 S60R - For ME!

keough
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Year and Model: V70 T5, 1998
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Post by keough »

daedalus wrote:
OUCH!! Death by gas.....or at least poverty. Just how often do you have to fill up that pig?[/quote]

I am trying to make this tank go 2 weeks but it's been a weekly fill lately.
1998 V70 T5 - Auto - Silver/Charcoal - IPD Lowering Springs - Manual conversion about to begin...
1998 S70 T5 - Manual - Silver/Charcoal - Stock - Donor vehicle

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instarx
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Post by instarx »

vjaneczko wrote:I laugh at my folks who seem to spend a lot of time looking for the cheapest gas station in the area. The difference is a few pennies, and the extra dime per gallon for premium is a whopping $1.80 for us once we get a full tank. Does it really take that much thought to go with the good stuff?!
Yesterday the US avg gas price was $3.58 for regular and $3.86 for premium. That's a whole lot more than a dime a gallon. For 18 gallons it's a $5.00 difference per tank, not $1.80.
2011 XC70 T6 - current
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Q2 - Totaled in 2022. Not my fault.
2011 XC60 - sold
2000 V70XC - given to a friend, wish I still had it.

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