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1997 850 T5 fuel economy

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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850TurboTurtle
Posts: 279
Joined: 2 August 2011
Year and Model: 96 850T, 05 S80T6
Location: Tacoma WA
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95 850T getting 19/28

Post by 850TurboTurtle »

I did a new head gasket a year ago. I'm getting about 28 on freeways at 65mph, and about 19 in town, sometimes 21, sometimes 17 depending on how much I keep the Fun Switch engaged (sport mode).

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abscate  
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Posts: 35273
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Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
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Post by abscate »

The high pressure turbo really eats gas once the boost comes on. My 1999 on highway

70 mph 25 mpg
60 mph.27 mpg
50 mph. 31 mpg

Prii never fit anywhere for me. I would never drive one on a freeway due to poor crash protection, they suck in winter, and around town I ride my bike.
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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FLXC90
Posts: 1132
Joined: 18 August 2014
Year and Model: 98 V70 T5
Location: Florida Panhandle
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Post by FLXC90 »

The other item that can deteriorate mpg slowly without throwing a code is your O2 sensors. They will degrade slowly for a long time, and the ECU compensates as long as it can before coding.
Current Volvos:
1998 V70 T5, 112k sat 5 years, still in mechanical coma (finally at the top of the pile )
2004 XC90 T6 AWD: 186k, 60 on transaxle ( traded in )
1998 POS70 N/A: DD/training aid, 236k but really about 240k, I think...ABS module( passed on to son who sold it)

Scholz
Posts: 65
Joined: 23 July 2015
Year and Model: 1998 S70T-5
Location: Portland, OR USA

Post by Scholz »

Two weekends ago I ran my 98s70T5 208 miles south on interstate 5 from Portland. 30.3mpg with an average speed of 79. My work commute is .8 miles each way and after a week of that my mpg is 17 or so because of stop and go traffic. All of this according to the onboard display of course.

Seaway
Posts: 259
Joined: 22 May 2014
Year and Model: 1998 V70 T5 Manual
Location: Alexandria, VA

Post by Seaway »

I have a heavy foot and my 1998 T5M gets about 16mpg in city only driving. When it is highway only I see closer to 27mpg.

jenkinskg
Posts: 238
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Year and Model: 04 c70 hpt 98 s70 xc
Location: United States
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Post by jenkinskg »

my 2004 t5 c70 gets about same, with wife driving on long trip using cruise we got 29mpg for 333 miles

otherwise with my lead foot turbo loving , 16mpg
2004 c70 2.3HPT, s60 2.5T

TrstnBrtt
Posts: 93
Joined: 10 November 2012
Year and Model: 2006 XC9 2.5T
Location: Vancouver, BC
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Post by TrstnBrtt »

My 1998 T5 Auto gets me about 19 combined - low 30s on the highway makes that average higher though. Roof racks with Bike carrier probably don't help but I don't have a cat on my car.
If I paid attention to signs with little symbols I’d never find anywhere to park.

mecheng
Posts: 1271
Joined: 27 March 2014
Year and Model: 1998 Volvo S70 T5
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Post by mecheng »

98 T5

I get around 11L/100km or 21mpg mixed, but mainly city

On the highway, I get 7L/100km or 33mpg

Considering the vintage and power, it is nothing short of amazing. The EPA numbers are way low. With my 96 Prelude VTEC, and 94 Integra (non VTEC), the highway gas mileage was no better. For the Prelude it was slightly worst.
1998 Volvo S70 T5 - SE - 240km - Sold July 2018
1997 Volvo 850 GLT - 190km
Boost is my drug of choice

Brahms
Posts: 57
Joined: 19 February 2015
Year and Model: 96 850T5 95 T5r
Location: Austin
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Post by Brahms »

I have a 96T5, in pretty fine mechanical shape now. It has a short ram intake and a mild ARD tune, I run high octane only, right now my dash computer pegs it at 18.3 in town, and not moving from that. I drive somewhat aggressively with some occasional drift when I can.

All things considered for a car with this power, this heavy, and this large I think 18.3 in city is pretty darn good. I hear people with new cars, (not efficiency cars grant you) that are barely getting that, and sometimes worse. And this car has a backseat with legroom too.

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