What did improve the fuel economy for you?

[bigkev414]

Leaving my wife home................car doesn't lean to one side either!

[RDEJR]

Here are the plugs you need: http://www.ipdusa.com/products/4878/113 ... k-plug-set

I will order these right now and report back once I've got some miles on them to see what the difference is. Thanks!

[850TurboWagon1995]

Here are the plugs you need: http://www.ipdusa.com/products/4878/113 ... k-plug-set

I just changed my plugs using Autolite copper, which is the cross reference from AutoZone. I am now experiencing cutoff while driving. Could that be plug related? I am contemplating getting Volvo plugs (but Bosch is much cheaper and your link lists them as well)...any suggestions?

[jblackburn]

I think that is probably related to your MAF problem in your other thread.

[erikv11]

Listen to jablackburn but if you decide it is necessary to swap plugs, Bosch coppers will be just fine.

[RDEJR]

I put the standard 3 prong Volvo plugs in, but looking at them, I really couldn't see what advantage they would have over a standard single anode copper plug if the 3 anodes are different distances from the center electrode.... so I gapped it..

It was really tough to get them to move the distance I wanted them too, but now, all 3 prongs on all 5 plugs are near Identical distances from the center. My thoughts as to why spend the time messing with it:

If the idea here is to have an "air gap" spark to 3 different anodes at the same time, electricity takes the path of least resistance, and so it will spark to whichever anode is "closest" instead of arcing to all 3. My plan was to make them all as even as possible, to achieve the most spark in multiple directions as possible.

Initially, it seems the car did not have the "spunk" that it did with the Iridiums, but now that I've run a complete tank through it, power and mileage seem to be about the same; however, it idles more smoothly than with the over gapped iridium plugs.

I will continue to run the Volvo plugs for awhile, as I notice that it takes about 3 tanks of fuel for the computer to "get used to" the new equipment. The next thing on the list, is making sure that the tires are all up, and that the cap/rotor are in decent shape, and if not, clean them. Next after that, is a little magic seafoam.

To be honest, that is what dropped my mileage down, and then brought it back up. When I originally got the car, it had suck-a$$ power. I had to put my foot 1/2 to the floor to get it to move outta the way of a grandma operated wheelchair. Mileage at that time was still about 20MPG.. amazingly...

I modded the air-box for only cold air as the thermo-spring in there is more dysfunctional than a fighting family on Jerry Springer. The difference between hot and cold air is pretty substantial, though mileage did not change, power increased a tad. New plugs (iridium NGK overgapped) and I had to repalce the plug wires because they broke as I removed them from the sparkplugs that were in there (Same NGK's that I bought, just older). The new plugs and wires made a nice performance improvement, but mileage still about the same.

Ok fine, this thing is still a pig, and Im not sure why. Maybe I just remember my old '95 NA Sedan being faster. Enter a full can of Seafoam into the fuel tank. After re-filling, power increased slightly, but MPG is the same. So, what left to do? How about another can of SeaFoam! Again, very small increase in performance and slightly smoother running.

Fine! I guess it will just be a pig at 20MPG.. wait... new throttle plate? OK, swapped the throttle place the for the 960 piece, and that made a significant difference in in-town performance... STILL 20 MPG... WTF! I just cannot for the life of me get better than 20MPG mixed. I got about 24MPG on a tank that was spent almost totally at about 65MPH on I-5, but even that seems low still. I've gotten to the point where I'm just convinced that it will never get better than that, and it's fine.

I guess for me, it comes down to the fact that my race car (1965 Dodge Dart GT with Leaning Tower of Power) gets about the same mileage as the N/A 'goon.

I drive now not with a lead foot, nor like Granny, and mileage is the same. Accelerate a little harder, drive a touch faster down the interstate, and it doesn't care. Same MPG as always. If there is something I come across that makes a noticeable difference, I will come back here and mention it.

Happy motoring!

[fazool]

2001 S60 2.4T 142K : 24.8 MPG
2007 S60 2.5T AWD 70K: 21.8 MPG


Those numbers are consistent and repeatable, after years of driving the same route (70mi each round trip every day : 1/3 highway 1/3 country roads, 1/3 suburbs).

The only change to those numbers is the AWD model goes down a little depending how I drive.

Tune-ups, service, oil, octane, nothing has improved my mileage at all. I was suprised that a 6 year younger car with 70K less miles loses 3MPG just to AWD.

[3903davis]

i understand that the new tesla x will satisfy your issue of power and mileage.

0-60 in 4.4 sec and 267 miles on zero drops of fuel.

if you want better mileage get a different ve hic el
this horse is way past dead!

[tjts1]

i understand that the new tesla x will satisfy your issue of power and mileage.

0-60 in 4.4 sec and 267 miles on zero drops of fuel.

if you want better mileage get a different ve hic el
this horse is way past dead!

LOLWUT?

[KEWROCK]

Nothing ever helped my mileage. The only proven facts are tire pressure and driving habits, everything else is speculation on a well maintained car in good mechanical condition.

That said. I have notice the same thing as a couple other posters. That when my car is running perfect, I actually LOSE mileage. I have a "99 v70r All wheel drive. My engine light was on for a couple of years because of a stuck open evap purge valve. After replacing it I lost 2-3 miles per gallon. I used to get 20-21 mpg all around driving according to the dash computer. Now I never break 18. It's usually at 17.8 now.

I am going to really test it next week when I go from NYC to Rhode Island. That trip I always got 23.2-23.5 resetting the dash computer before I leave, with no traffic, round trip. If I get considerably less, I am going to reinstall the bad purge valve until my next inspection.