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SUVs Volvo XC90 / XC60 Volvo XC90 Real World MPG
74 messages, Last post on Jun 26, 2009 at 7:59 PM
You are in the Volvo XC90 / XC60 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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20.7 mpg (computer 21.4 mpg) 1-8-08 with Shell 93 octane AKI 19.5 mpg (comp 20.3 mpg) 1-27-09 with Shell 93 octane 17.8 mpg (comp 18.0 mpg) 2-17-08 with Shell 93 octane 15.5 mpg (comp 16.2 mpg) 3-7-08 with Shell 93 octane 17.3 mpg (comp 18.0 mpg) 3-23-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 16.6 mpg (comp 17.5 mpg) 4-10-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 19.4 mpg (comp 20.5 mpg) 4-18-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 19.1 mpg (comp 19.8 mpg) 4-29-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane This driving is a mixture of highway and city including some very short trips. Based on these data the computer gives a value which is 4.0% higher than the value calculated from the pump volumes and trip odometer readings.
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Replying to: jim314 (Apr 29, 2008 6:51 pm) 21.4 mpg (computer 22.4 mpg) 5-13-2009 with Shell 89+93 |
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Replying to: qbrozen (Apr 22, 2008 12:17 pm) Looking at the VolvoUK site, the 2008 XC90 3.2 (only comes in AWD, I think) is estimated in their tests to achieve the following fuel use: Urban........... 17.2 L/100km => 13.7 mpgUS Extra Urban... 9.2 L/100km => 25.5 mpgUS Combined..... 12.1 L/100km => 19.4 mpgUS The extra urban mpg is considerably higher than the US EPA highway estimate, and much of that may be due to a difference in the test conditons. However, the site states, "For best performance and lowest fuel consumption 98 octane RON is recommended. 93 octane RON can be used for normal driving." 98 octane RON is equivalent to 93 or 94 octane AKI, and 93 octane RON is equivalent to 88 or 89 octane AKI. The fuel requirement for US Volvos are 87 octane AKI minimum and 91 octane AKI recommended. So it would appear that the European Volvos are tuned to require and take advantage of higher octane gasolines than the US models. This may contribute to significantly higher mpg for the European models. This suggests to me that the recommended 91 octane AKI might give higher fuel economy in the US models, than 87 octane AKI or 89 octane AKI. It would be interesting to see the results of tests by users. To me the cost difference between regular, midgrade, and premium is insufficient to use a fuel which gives a lower mpg even if it would give a lower cost per mile. I am going to use the "recommended" 91 octane AKI, if I think there is just a chance that it gives a higher mpg, even if the mpg is only say 0.5 mpg or even 0.25 mpg higher. One way to test the effect of octane rating of fuel on mpg would be to run the tank down to near empty and put in say 3 gal of 87 octane. Then drive a prescribed highway route at some specified speed (60 or 65 or 70 mph) and use the computer to get an average mpg over the route of perhaps 10 miles. Then put in a volume of 93 octane AKI equal to half the amount of 87 octane added (this gives 89 octane) and drive the same route at the same speed and use the compter to obtain an average mpg over the 10 mile route. Then add 93 octane AKI in the same amount as the total already added (this gives 91 octane) and redo the route.
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Replying to: jim314 (May 20, 2008 2:28 pm) Unfortunately, my wife ain't so good at keeping track for me and she's been driving it pretty much exclusively (it is her car, after all). All I can report so far is that our first couple of tanks of regular 87 got her in the high 18s. Her past couple of tanks of mid-grade (91) have gotten nearly 21 mpg. But, really, this is just anecdotal. The transmission may also have been learning her driving habits.
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Replying to: qbrozen (May 21, 2008 8:54 am) A. Full test: Wait till you have say 1/4 or 1/8 tank left use the computer to estimate how much fuel is in the tank. Use the computer ave mpg and the trip odometer since last fillup to determine how much fuel is in the tank. Fuel used since fillup = distance travelled / ave mpg. Subtract that from the tank capacity of 21 gal. Now reset the computer ave mpg and ave speed just before starting a freeway constant speed run of at least 1 mile. (Five miles would be better.) Record that as mpg at 87 octane. Now add 93 octane in an amount equal to half the amount of 87 octane you calculated was in the tank and redo the test, resetting the computer mpg and ave speed just before the run. This is mpg at 89 octane. Now add 93 octane in an amount equal to the total vol in the tank at the start of the 89 octane run, reset the computer and redo the test. This is mpg at 91 octane. At this point you could fillup with 93 octane and redo the test. If you do this and report your computer readings and pump volume data, we can check you calculations. B. Simpler test: Wait till you have 1/3 tank (~ 7 gal) remaining and then do a certain route at constant speed, resetting the computer mpg and ave speed just before the test. You could do the route twice to see what is the variability. Now fill up with 93 octane (fuel in tank is now 91 octane) and redo the test run.
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Replying to: jim314 (May 22, 2008 4:50 pm) What you ask wouldn't be much different than me requesting she go outside and change the head gasket on my Alfa. I would get a confounded look in return in either instance.
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Replying to: qbrozen (May 24, 2008 9:55 am) What about you doing the quickie test B? Wait till she's got 1/3 tank or less of 87 octane. Then you take the vehicle out for a test run. Get the engine to full operating temp. Reset the mpg function at speed just before doing a run of a mile or two at constant speed, then read the ave mpg. This is mpg at 87 octane. Now fill up with 93 octane, and repeat the same test run at the same constant speed. Of course, just as you start the run you reset the ave mpg on the computer, and read the ave mpg at the end of the run. This is the mpg at 91 octane (or higher if the tank was less than 1/3 full for the first run). This test might take an hour max and you'd deliver your wife's car back to her with the gas tank full. Latest results with my wife's 2007 XC90 3.2 FWD 19.5 mpg (computer 20.9 mpg, ave speed 23 mph) 5-23-2008 with Shell 89+93 => 91 octane
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Replying to: jim314 (May 24, 2008 11:45 am) Prior to this, we used regular twice and got ~18. But, like I said before, the truck was new to us at that point, so I don't necessarily trust those readings. Anyway, I filled up with 92 octane today and I'll get her to do the same for the next 2 tanks and see what happens. Again, for those keeping score, this is a 2005 2.5T AWD. |
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20.7 mpg (computer 21.4 mpg) 1-8-08 with Shell 93 octane AKI 19.5 mpg (comp 20.3 mpg) 1-27-09 with Shell 93 octane 17.8 mpg (comp 18.0 mpg) 2-17-08 with Shell 93 octane 15.5 mpg (comp 16.2 mpg) 3-7-08 with Shell 93 octane 17.3 mpg (comp 18.0 mpg) 3-23-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 16.6 mpg (comp 17.5 mpg) 4-10-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 19.4 mpg (comp 20.5 mpg) 4-18-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 19.1 mpg (comp 19.8 mpg) 4-29-08 with Shell 89 + 93 => 91 octane 20.2 mpg (computer 20.8 mpg) 5-10-2008 with Shell 89+93 => 91 octane 21.4 mpg (computer 22.4 mpg) 5-13-2009 with Shell 89+93 19.5 mpg (computer 20.9 mpg) 5-23-2008 with Shell 89+93 => 91 octane 15.0 mpg (computer 16.0 mpg) 6-14-2008 with Shell 93, all urban short trips 23.5 mpg (computer 24.9 mpg) 6-16-2008 with Chevron 93, includes 361 mi road trip much of which was urban, some at slow speed in state park Overall fuel economy to date since purchase 11,244 mi / 597.1 gal = 18.8 mpg
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Replying to: jim314 (Jun 17, 2008 2:38 pm) 21.8 mpg (computer 23.4 mpg) 6-23-2008 with Shell 91, highway 24.2 mpg (computer 25.5 mpg) 6-23-2008 with Shell 91, last leg of 609 mi road trip, non interstate four and two lane highways, and some at slow speed in state parks Overall on two day road trip: 608.7 mi / 26.3 gal = 23.1 mpg. Overall fuel use to date since purchase: 11,991 mi / 630.9 gal = 19.0 mpg.
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