Tow report

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 19 Feb 2018, 16:24

Hello,

Just thought I'd add this for anyone interested in towing with their car or just want to see some numbers to nerd out on.

I just finished a 1,300 mile trip from Charleston, SC to San Antonio, TX. I had approx 1500 lbs of cargo in the car, roof box, and a small U-Haul 4x8 trailer (approx 900 lbs empty). Trip went really smoothly I think, for a 190 HP engine pulling about 6,300 lbs total. Speed was kept between 55 and 60 MPH. Surprisingly, I got 19.9 MPG over the whole trip according to the car's computer (reset prior to departure). Mostly flat terrain with some rolling hills. AC was kept off the whole time (except for a couple times testing the waters). Ambient temps were usually on the higher side of a 65-80 degree range. Engine coolant temp was generally between 197-205 F, but would get pretty hot (~225 F) during any slow-going or stop & go. Car didn't have a ton of power left, but it wasn't dangerously under-powered at all. Braking was no major issue, I just had to get on them sooner than usual and anticipate longer stopping distances. With a trailer, the key to everything is being smooth!

Mileage: ~259,000 miles
Oil: Liqui-Moly Synthoil 5W-40 (no oil burned!

)
ATF: Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF
Aux transmission cooler was installed in front of the intercooler in 2012, as well as a Magnefine inline ATF filter.

You can tow with old cars! These things are tough. Just be smart, take care of them and they'll take care of you. I have had a very slight side-to-side wobble or shimmy the last couple years under hard acceleration. It became a bit more pronounced on this trip as I had to use a lot of power to get up to speed. CV joints?

Thanks for reading!

: Green Beast

Post by **scot850** » 19 Feb 2018, 16:39

Well done on completing the trip! Thanks for the update and glad the move seems to have gone well. But man, did those Volvo brake pads soot up the wheels, LoL (I'm guessing they are actually black).

I'm not sure why we are so surprised these vehicles can tow stuff. Having said that the most impressive is that even with the mileage on the car it burned no oil. Car also looks in really good condition, clearly a well loved car!

Wobble could be a bad axle or no worse than an out of balance rim/tire.

Neil.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 19 Feb 2018, 16:52

scot850 wrote: ↑19 Feb 2018, 16:39 Well done on completing the trip! Thanks for the update and glad the move seems to have gone well. But man, did those Volvo brake pads soot up the wheels, LoL (I'm guessing they are actually black).

I'm not sure why we are so surprised these vehicles can tow stuff. Having said that the most impressive is that even with the mileage on the car it burned no oil. Car also looks in really good condition, clearly a well loved car!

Wobble could be a bad axle or no worse than an out of balance rim/tire.

Neil.

Thanks Neil! It sure looks good with those nice roof racks (thanks again!).

My car always looks better in pictures somehow. From about 10 feet away, all looks well. She's a little rough around the edges though. Yes, I did get tired of brake dust... so I Plasti dipped the crap out of the wheels! I think the car looks better with black wheels anyway.

I'll have to do a little poking around to check out my axles. This happened before and after I had a tire rotation, so I'm not sure it'd be that.

Post by **matthew1** » 19 Feb 2018, 17:09

19.9 MPG! That is stunning.

...a testament to your maintenance and your driving style, Ed.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 19 Feb 2018, 18:23

I thought I was the only one running that oil. Glad to see I'm not the only crazy one.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 19 Feb 2018, 19:19

matthew1 wrote: ↑19 Feb 2018, 17:09 19.9 MPG! That is stunning.

...a testament to your maintenance and your driving style, Ed.

Thanks! I do think it mostly comes down to speed. 55 was definitely best with RPM just under 2000. I tried 65 and got about around 18 MPG, and once pushed it up to 70-75 just for fun... at 75 the engine/turbo were screaming and I was showing about 12 MPG consistently. Back to 55 it was!

ZionXIX wrote: ↑19 Feb 2018, 18:23 I thought I was the only one running that oil. Glad to see I'm not the only crazy one.

It's good stuff! A little pricey, but I get it from FCP usually with other junk and get free shipping. Amazon also has it. For me it's either this or Mobil 1 10W-40 High Mileage. Both of these oils seem to burn almost nothing in my old engine, which is always appreciated. I feel comfortable running both of these oils for 7,500+ miles. I did a 10,000 run on the Mobil once and oil analysis came back showing nothing bad.

Post by **scot850** » 19 Feb 2018, 20:46

Yup my project V70 NA is a 10ft car. Not sure what the previous owner did but it has loads of small deep scratches. I have wet sanded a bunch out but could spend months trying to get them all out. As I am selling this in the next 2 weeks it will stay a 10ft car, but mechanically great.

Neil.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 20 Feb 2018, 00:31

scot850 wrote: ↑19 Feb 2018, 16:39I'm not sure why we are so surprised these vehicles can tow stuff.

Over here Volvo has always been the go to choice to tow 4000 lbs camper trailers around the country. It's terrible to do a road trip at the beginning of peoples holidays..

Post by **abscate** » 20 Feb 2018, 04:04

Love that deep, rich, green paint on that beast

Post by **rspi** » 20 Feb 2018, 09:37

Wow! I thought the cargo weight for inside the car was to be something like 350 lbs in the rear. I often overload mine an have towed from OH to NM. Usually about 65 mph and 18.4 mpg.