Herman and Operation 30MPG

[callahanoffroad]

I guess I should have mentioned at some point that I did go to automotive technical school, although it was many many moons ago. Hahaha.

Just so we're all on the same page, Herman is in fact a beater. So I'm not surprised that he's needing more work. Esp seals. He is 23 years old after all. And he was only $1200. I still think I over paid. Even though I've spent about $4000 getting him back on track if I sold or totalled him I may get $1200 at best. People don't value old cars where I live. Also that $4000 is with me doing 90% of the work myself. So ouch. Hahaha.

Attached is a picture of my first Volvo.

I find that threads are much more compelling when there is a personal story attached.

My first Volvo was a 96 850 wagon. Non turbo. I bought it with about 150k miles on the clock. I loved that car. I drove it across the country several times and it was great to drive, minus the back hatch that liked to clunk over bumps!

I bought her when I was my mom's caregiver during cancer treatments. And for a long time driving that car was my only refuge from the stress of being a caregiver. Because it was my first Volvo I honestly knew nothing about Volvo quirks. And I spent many nights watching RSPI's videos, and reading maintenance threads on this forum.

Thanks for posting this. It does really put a human behind the username! I wish you all the success. When your book is out, I'd be happy to help promote it here and on MVS Facebook.

I actually have 4 already published! Hahaha
Here's a few of my websites

Cookingforchemo.org
Chefryancallahan.com
Howtocookcookbook.com

[matthew1]

Oh d@mn you don't need me

[matthew1]

(Authoring books must not pay like it used to.)

[callahanoffroad]

(Authoring books must not pay like it used to.)

No no it does not. I love teaching people how to cook, and obviously the cancer connection makes it a passion, with of course wrenching on cars being my second. Hahaha

[callahanoffroad]

... You should look at the burned valve database. June

I was the first person to post/respond data in that thread. I'm well aware of its content, hence my summary up above.

For others curious about the info and discussion: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74239l

Thanks for posting this!

I'm looking at some of the pictures associated with the thread and I see a commonality of hot spots forming in the valves and heads. Looks like carbon deposits are heating up and weakening the heads. At least that's my amateur opinion.

To me, with the regularity of failures around the 200k mile mark, that would actually justify rebuilding and cleaning the heads every 200k miles as preventative maintenance.

What do you guys think?

My brain is good at taking large quantities of info and sorting through them... Whether it is correct or incorrect is a completely different thing!!!

[mrbrian200]

(Authoring books must not pay like it used to.)

No no it does not. I love teaching people how to cook, and obviously the cancer connection makes it a passion, with of course wrenching on cars being my second. Hahaha

I would imagine the money to be made in this area these days would lean toward pay per click/online information resources rather than traditional product sales. If you want to chase traditional product sales you'll probably want to investigate 'creative branding'. An example of such would be:
Richard Simmons. Creatively branded common aerobics (Sweatin to the Oldies) and calorie counting+balanced diet (Deal a meal) and made himself a multi millionaire. Short of the creative branding/marketing I doubt any of us would have ever heard of him, nor would he have ever made the big money.

[callahanoffroad]

(Authoring books must not pay like it used to.)

No no it does not. I love teaching people how to cook, and obviously the cancer connection makes it a passion, with of course wrenching on cars being my second. Hahaha

I would imagine the money to be made in this area these days would lean toward pay per click/online information resources rather than traditional product sales. If you want to chase traditional product sales you'll probably want to investigate 'creative branding'. An example of such would be:
Richard Simmons. Creatively branded common aerobics (Sweatin to the Oldies) and calorie counting+balanced diet (Deal a meal) and made himself a multi millionaire. Short of the creative branding/marketing I doubt any of us would have ever heard of him, nor would he have ever made the big money.

Yeah I'm sure its something like that! hahaha

Quick MPG update. Still Running 87 octane. 2nd full tank run through. 23.5 MPG this last tank.

I really, really was going to try hypermilling... but then I was the only driver for two days and... yeah... So I'm going to have to pitch that one out the window. Something I can try very easily is inflating the tires to a higher PSI than I normally run.

I normally run 36 psi front and 42 rear, which i believe is what was recommended on my fuel door for my '96 wagon. The '95 does not have any recommended pressure labels anywhere on the car, which i guess is a pre '96 standards thing. I have no idea, I was 11 in 1996.

I do know that there was an "optional comfort setting" for the tires at 32 front and 30 rear.

I do have to say that I am kind of at an impasse of what to do with the car. Do I keep restoring it? or do I save the cash for a better condition turbo?

I'll try to post some pics of the trouble areas on the car. Basically the seats are in great condition, the front left fender needs some clear coat, the side skirts need some fresh paint, and the car could use a general scratch removal. The hardest hit part is the dash. The wood grain has broken off in multiple parts and i'm not really sure what to do about it. I considered removing the wood and replacing it with a different/new veneer sticker. I've also considered swapping a non-wood grain dashboard like I had in my '96 wagon.

A big "driveability" issue right now is the speakers. the rears are dead, and the front mids are beginning to go. Which if i'm honest isn't entirely surprising in a 23 year old car. So Herman may be getting some new speakers this weekend.

On my dream list I'd like to pickup a spoiler. I just think the car looks boring and boxy without one. Trying to decide if I should go with the factory spoiler, or find something a touch more racey, like a mid 80's m3 spoiler or a late 90's civic si style. Just spit-balling here.

On a more pleasant note I've put about 5k miles on a set of bilstein rear shocks and my goodness do I love the ride!

[crlande]

My '94 850 has a tire label on inside of gas cap door.

[erikv11]

Fuel door, yes. OP, yours must have lost the sticker. But treat all 850s the same for tire pressure.

A turbo 850 is a bit more work to own and fix, and a lot more fun to drive. In other words, no point saving up for one if you're looking to hypermile.

[callahanoffroad]

Fuel door, yes. OP, yours must have lost the sticker. But treat all 850s the same for tire pressure.

A turbo 850 is a bit more work to own and fix, and a lot more fun to drive. In other words, no point saving up for one if you're looking to hypermile.

Hahaha. Yeah it wouldn't be the first weird thing about my car. It is a 95 with vvis after all...

Another strange thing. I returned 24.8 mpg this tank.

Seems like these new Continentals return some better mpg than my last tires. Plus they're nice and comfy to drive!

Upped the tire pressure to 40 psi in the front this last tank. That could have been what upped it.

I'm going to run two tanks of premium this week with the over inflated tires to get a control measurement and try to narrow down the variables. See if I'm on to a good lead.

Will report back with more data.