Login Register

High RPM / Low speed, sinking engine performance? [850] Topic is solved

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

Post Reply
ToriWhite
Posts: 143
Joined: 15 September 2016
Year and Model: 1996 850
Location: Davis
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 6 times

High RPM / Low speed, sinking engine performance? [850]

Post by ToriWhite »

Hello all,

Have a sinking feeling that my car's performance has made a slow creep downward. I seem to remember it being a lot faster at certain RPM's, but I can't tell if memory is inaccurate with the general elation of owning a new car.. I could swear it felt like it drove faster when I first bought it!

Right now I'm getting 40 MPH @ 2k RPM in 4th gear, and going into 5th gear only gets me to 50 MPH at 2k RPM.. Do any of your guys' volvo's pull similar numbers?

I remember reading that the optimal RPM range (efficiency wise) for most cars was around 2k.. Does the 850 follow that trend too?

User avatar
WhatAmIDoing
Posts: 965
Joined: 30 July 2016
Year and Model: 1998 S/V70 T5M
Location: North America
Has thanked: 104 times
Been thanked: 105 times

Post by WhatAmIDoing »

That sounds about spot on to me, or at least that's about what mine does.

Allegedly 2k rpm is the most efficient, but in my experience the HPT doesn't like being below 2.3-2.5k. Anything above 55mph use 5th gear when you can as that is the "efficiency gear". According to the realtime fuel usage data on my scan tool, you can drive just as efficiently at 3k as you can at 2k rpm at the same speed. Not sure I believe that though.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post