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960 questions S90-V90

V90---960 questions
posted by poolman on Sun Mar 6 22:56 UTC 2005
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All right, gotta hole bunch of questions.
1.When driving a 960 on a flat road like interstate driving, will putting the tranny into sport mode affect fuel milage while also using the cruise control?

2. With the increas in gas prices headed our way, I'm thinking of starting to use unleaded regular gas insted of the high test in her now,is this okay?

3. I have noticed a drop in fuel mileage,from 27.5 down to 23.5,I'm wondering about my air mass meter,the door on the air box had been open for a long time
before I caught on to what could be happening to it with a lot of hot air coming off the engine? It starts and idels fine, pulls great but the mileage could be and sould be a little better.

4.I replaced ,back around Christmas ,the intank fuel pump, could the problem with what I've mentioned above be more like the fuel pressure regulator should be changed out also,207k on the original one now?

I've got new coils,plugs,air filter,throttle body is clean,and no vacuum leak have I detected.

Sorry, was so long winded, thanks for all replies
Poolman

Ps. got double posted some how

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    960 questions S90-V90

    As for ther fuel economy check the O2 sensor, if it hasn't been replaced before it is time. Usually the first siogn they need to be changed is poor fuel eocnomy. As for low test, Volvo recommends premium. That mean the computer will compensate for lower quality but performance (including fuel economy) will decline. Try a K and N filter it helped me by about 2 mpg.








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    960 questions S90-V90

    The owners manual states NOT to use cruise mode with the tranny in sport mode. This sport mode also causes downshifts sooner and will increase fuel economy.








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      960 questions S90-V90

      I found the statement in the owner's manual, as I was unaware of this admonishment. The statement is a bit vague, as it says, "E mode should be selected when the cruise control is engaged" This is found under "Tips to remember'" but it doesn't specifiy a context, eg. engine wear, fuel economy or general component functioning. Anyway, I'll pay closer attention to it when I use the cruise control.

      --
      John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 115K








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    960 questions S90-V90

    1. No. Sport mode merely makes the shifts at a bit higher rpm, and allows downshift to occur sooner when you step on it, cannot possibly affect mileage when you cruising along in 4th gear.

    2. Not sure what you mean by regular and high test. In NC we have 3 grades available 87, 89 and 93 (or is it 91, can't remember). I run 89 and have used 87 with no problems. Your car will adjust timing if pinging occurs with the 87. Running higher octane will neither increase mileage or power.

    3. That's fantastic mileage! I have never done better than 22.5 highway on my 97 V90. If AMM was outputting an out of range signal that could not be corrected by the O2 sensor you would have a check engine light on. What year do you have?

    4. As above your mixture is rich to the point where the O2 sensor signal does not allow for fine mixture adjustments you will get a fault code.
    --
    David Hunter








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      960 questions S90-V90 1998

      Your reply is contradictory. If the computer reduces timing the engine makes less power. Since that engine WILL knock under load at WOT on 87 octane under many conditions (especially when hot) that means the engine WILL retard the timing. Therefore, running hi-octane gas will allow the engine to make more power at WOT.








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        960 questions S90-V90 1998

        Let me add to my comments.
        I run 89 as recommended. At this octane level there will rarely, if ever be the need for retard of the timing, the car is running at its optimum designed performance level. Going to higher octane will not do a thing. I know this flies in the face of "the octane myth" believed by many people but thems the facts.

        The exception would be neglected engine heavily carboned with increased compression ratio. It may have ping that must be constantly corrected by the normal retard or it may even be beyond correction. Higher octane (which really just slows the burn) will help in that case.

        My car will also run perfectly well on 87, I rarely use WOT, do you?
        --
        David Hunter








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          960 questions S90-V90 1998

          I use WOT winding the engine to redline more than I should (explains why I rarely get past 23mpg) on 87 gas. I love the way this car just shoves you back in your seat. Passengers can't believe they are riding in a old non turbo Volvo wagon. Im sure the engine will produce a little extra power by using 91 but its not worth paying an extra 10% on the gas I need the other 99% of the time when im not flooring it.
          By the way were paying $2.27 for regular, $2.50 for 91. I drive the beater Neon most of the time. Volvo is reserved for weekends and road trips.








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      960 questions S90-V90

      The car is 97--960 wagon, located in the Blue Ridge mts,South Western parts of Va. Hot air box is open to cold air permenatly now. The 02 sensors have about 30k on them since being replaced.
      Thanks for the replies
      Poolman








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        960 questions S90-V90

        Altitude can explain your very good fuel economy. Also the higher you are the less octane you need. In denver area they sell 85 octane as regular because of the thinner atmosphere.








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    960 questions S90-V90

    1. No. Sport mode simply changes the shift points higher in the RPM range at 60%+ throttle. In theory if you drive lightly in sport mode you shouldn't notice any change in fuel economy even in stop and go driving.

    2.Yes. I've been using 87 octane exclusively for 2 years now. The engine is designed to run on 87 although it will produce more power on 91 at full throttle. Some people have reported problems with 87 octane so you may want to get other people's opinion on this. Before you do try 87, make sure your intake air box is in the full cold air position all the time.

    3. Fuel economy can vary a lot with summer vs winter gas, air temp driving style. 23.5 mpg is still execelent for this car. 27.5 is outstanding. I wouldn't worry about it.
    As previously mentioned, the air flap should be in the full cold air position all the time. It is only an emissions device that is prone to catastrophic failure.

    4. I can't comment on the fuel pump. I just replaced the fuel pressure regulator on our 240 at 120k miles. There is a simple test. After driving the car, remove the vacuum line going to the FPR and sniff for gasoline fumes. If you can smell gas, the FPR is leaking. With your excelent fuel economy I suspect it is not leaking but at 207k miles it might be a good idea to replace it just to be on the safe side. Another item that is over looked by a lot of drivers is the fuel filter. Might be time for a change. I know mine is.

    Good luck.
    Justin







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