14 mpg - I need help!

pmortv70xc · Post by **pmortv70xc** » 10 Dec 2010, 21:09

Hello v70xc - I am also a Northern Ontarian and have had good success with www.autopartsonlinecanada.com - shipping is free with a $75 order and many parts are competitively priced. My mileage on my 2000 v70xc is 20mpg (city) but I no longer have AWD - beware the failing bevel gear and rear driveshaft!

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 10 Dec 2010, 23:28

Thanks pmortv70xc
I have checked out www.autopartsonlinecanada.com and any parts I have been looking for, they have either not had in stock or they turned out to be parts that they do no carry in their canadian distributing depots.

So far www.fcpgroton.com has been my place for supplies and they covered ALL shipping charges from the US to Canada, which was very impressive. With my first delivery was a coupon for free delivery for any order over $99. My only issue now is that I only see small items that I wish to purchase and have to wait till I hit the $99 marker. I wish FCP would have a store front around the corner

If you know northern Ontario, I am north of KL, therefore, the closest Volvo supplier is in North Bay, 3 to 3.5hours drive away.
Best mileage yet has been after doing my PCV and that is 17.43mpg (13.48L/100Km) mostly all city but some minor highway included. As a matter of fact, this is after a whaling snow storm last weekend, so I might be on my way to getting better results....or so I hope

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 13 Dec 2010, 14:58

Short of paying more for delivery than anything else, I thought I would look around town and all I can find is the Stant p/n:13379 with a temperature rating of 195 degrees. Would this do ok for my 1998 Volvo, V70 XC AWD Turbo, engine B525T.
I am being told yes, but not certain I want to simply trust the guy at the sales counter.

Then there is the Behr at twice the price but I did not get a temperature rating from them...
Is the Stant a reasonable replacement?
Thank you

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 13 Dec 2010, 16:32

Stant is an OK product but it lacks the "jiggle valve". I have used them but I drill a 1/16" hole into the diaphragm to allow any air in the system to bleed out. It also lets coolant flow around the otherwise closed thermostat. On the coldest days - which I am now having - it takes maybe a block or two for the car to fully warm up but it prevents the water pump from getting air locked.

You need to find a new gasket /O-Ring that fits around the thermostat and I would highly recommend that you buy the new style coated steel bolts, in advance, since you will likely strip out the heads on the old ones when you try to remove the old aluminum bolts that hold the top part of the thermostat housing when you go to remove them. The updated bolts are around $1.00 each at your local stealership.

If you do strip out the heads on the old ones you can use a 3/8" drill bit and just chop the heads off of the old bolts to get the upper thermostat housing free. Pay attention to the fuel line so as to not cut through it with the drill and don't dig very deep into the upper housing with the drill bit. Once the upper housing is off what is left of the bolts normally comes out easily once they are not under tension.

...Lee

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 13 Dec 2010, 17:24

Thanks Ozark Lee
1/16" hole into the diaphragm? I am going to have to get the thermostat to get a better understanding of exactly where you intend for me to make this hole. would this be similar to the little bleeder/swivel valve refered to in the documentation at http://volvospeed.com/Repair/thermect2.php If not, do you have a pic to show me what you are explaining here please?

I have found "Stant 195 degree with seal" 12.06 + 3.09 if this explains anything better than I can?

You wouldn't happen to know the size of the steel bolt that I will need. I ask this now since I have not removed the old thermostat as of yet, so I don't have anything to measure up against.

In any of the documents I have seen talking about removing the thermostat, it appear that the upper thermostat housing and the lower housing come together with no gasket other than the seal that is around the thermostat. Am I correct?

I wish I had a dealer here, that might make my shopping quicker and easier.
I have to make due, since I hope to have a new thermostat in there much sooner thank later, but not holding my breath.

Thanks again for the help. Any and all details about the thermostats requirements is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 13 Dec 2010, 20:01

Sorry to be such a bother.
I did not expect shopping for a thermostat to be such a chore

What temp do I actually want for the 1998 V70 XC AWD Turbo.
Others I have recently talked to have suggested that 192 and 195 could be a bit hot for the aluminum block.
I have a 192 and 195 locally available, but should I look at something that warm.
Current temp here is 18C (-0.4F) and it gets as cold as -40C (-40F)
My current local options are "Stant
195 degree with seal" or "Motorad Thermostat 192 Product #14-3729-8" at http://www.canadiantire.ca

Should I simply place a piece of cardboard between the grill and the rad, is that safe and suggested?

I have tried to find out any details I will need from VADIS to no luck.
I am concerned about not having much heat in the car, but more concerned about the engine itself.
Am I hurting and damaging the engine by running it right now with the temp gauge at about the 4 o'clock position?
I ran the car for 4 to 5 minutes simply to warm it up this evening and the temp gauge did not start to climb until I actually moved the car.
Does this tell me something?

This is not actually my dash, but I thought I would give an idea as to where the temp gauge shows to be on my dash. The yellow line represents where my reading is at.

: Temperature_Gauge.jpg (1.81 KiB) Viewed 1668 times

I am at a loss until I open it up. Don't want to open it up just to find that I have to close it up again with no parts to go in

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated... thank you.

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 15 Dec 2010, 20:32

What a great place to gather info and guidance.
Thermostat was replaced with the Stant 90 degree and now the temp gauge goes to 3 o'clock within about 3min30sec to 4min....
- I will swap it for the correct Volvo part just as soon as I can get one sent over... I just had to get heat into the cab of the car sooner than later

hate to have the eyeballs freeze open... like the tstat

Funny enough.. that is only once the car is moving... while it sites for the first min or two it hardly moves at all.
Then again, it is -15C (5F) out here right now.
A great thanks to jablackburn... this is the second time he has stepped me though a fix... Much appreciated...Keep up the good work.
Also, EstVolvo and RedArrow for you suggestions and startups, these got me going...
I also intend to keep your ideas and suggestions on my to-do (to-verify) list, since I still want to get better mileage.
Was getting about 15L/100 (15.680mpg)..mind you, this is only after doing 77km (9.32miles)
I have a hunch the front O2 sensor need to retire.... I don't look forward to this small (small space) task

Still looking for ideas on my other post "Radio lights not all working" if anyone wishes to cross thread

Anyhow, thank you one and all... great work.. keep up the superb info...
It is greatly appreciated by myself and I am certain it is appreciated by all those that get a fix and then fall off the form...
Continue enjoying the Volvo... I know I will

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 16 Dec 2010, 00:38

Ozark Lee: Great news.....old bolts did not strip and are back in place.
I did not have spares on hand...so you can only imagine how happy I am.
thanks

Post by **thecheat** » 16 Dec 2010, 19:43

Not that it's particularly cold here but it takes my wagon about 10 minutes to get to operating temperature when it's 38 degrees out. Should I replace the thermostat? It's fine during the summer.

v70xc · Post by **v70xc** » 16 Dec 2010, 19:53

I am no pro, but for the minimal cost of the thermostat and seal, and seeing the big difference it did for me... I can't see why not. Does your engine temp drop when you turn the heater on high heat and full fan? If so, from what I understand, that would be a sign of a thermostat not performing to full potential.
On my 1998 V7 XC AWD Turbo, I went with the 90 thermostat. This car was initially produced with the 87 and then they discontinued that on and switch to the 90.
I am pleased I chanced the $16.99 investment and the minimal time in the cold garage to install it.
I have great heat in less than in about 2 minutes and a 3 o'clock temp gauge in less the 4min 45seconds.
It is an easy job. As mentioned earlier in the thread.... caution with the 2 bolts...what I did was to soak them with Liquid Wrench... then I tapped then a few times before trying to loosen them.. be careful tapping, you don't want to crack the housing. Using a light hammer, I tapped the end of the T40 driver, tried to loosen, then tighten, then loosend... and it gave the "crack" sound. Tighten again, back and forth so till it finally comes loose. Easy does is the trick on these guys....a 40mm T40 is definitively the way to go. Getting a socket in there is easy as well, but the fact that you will not sit the socket square in the head of the bolt is a fine way to strip it as well...
Go for it.
Good luck

14 mpg - I need help!

Re: 14 mpg - I need help!