Hi,

For the last couple of days I'm having excessively low fuel mileage (8 mpg!). What do you think the cause might be? I've got this 854 two months ago and it has ~97000 miles on her, and as this is my first car I don't have ANY idea what might cause this. I think the last oil/spark plug? change might be at 90k (the guy I've bought have been a bit harsh on the car I guess). Do you think the reason might be the spark plugs? (if you do which spark plugs do you recommend, the car is non-turbo). I've put fuel system cleaner 2k ago I don't know if this might be related to that. But even my wife realized the lack of performance. Need your advice. Thanks in advance.
Ihsan, 95 854 non-turbo

TODAY I'VE CHECKHED THE FAULT CODES AND GET NOTHING EXCEPT 1-1-1. tHEN I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THE AIR INTAKE DUCT TO THE AIR FILTER COMPARTMENT WAS DISSONNECTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COMPARTMENT. dO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE REASON FOR MY EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION? I'LL DRIVE FOR A 20~ MILES AND CHECK BACK THE CONSUMPTION. KENNY, I'LL ALSO CHECK THE TIRES FOR HEAT AFTER DRIVING. ONE MORE THING, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY (NOT EVEN 1-1-1 OR ANY FLASH) FROM THE INGNITION SYSTEM (A6 SOCKET). HOW DO I LEARN IF I HAVE THE JETRONIC 3.2 OR MOTRONIC INJECTION SYSTEM, THE ENGINE IS B 5254 S NON-TURBO 20 VALVE.

LAST OF ALL, THE OLSD OWNER WAS SO HARSH AND INDIFFERENT TO THE CAR THAT, IT HAD 195/60/15S ON THE FRONT AND 195/65/15 TIRES ON THE REAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT!
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THE COMMENTS.
Ihsan 95 854 non-turbo 20 valves

Hi again,

Thanks for all the comments. Connecting the disconnected air intake duct seems to solve the excessive fuel consumption problem. I couldn't imagine that a disconnected intake duct would do this much. To be honest I still don't know if the problem was this but it seems that it is solved for now. I'll monitor the consumption thouroughly during the week and if it still normal then, I'll know for sure that it caused the increased fuel consuption.
Ihsan 854 nonturbo

You might want to change the air filter too. With the duct off you may have gotten water and debris in the filter element.

ONe more thing to check. We had big decrease in MPG and as I was looking over after a short drive felt much heat coming off brakes (rotors).

I've heard of several folks having brake problems, and if yours are not releasing properly perhaps they are the problem. Drive around a little and put your hands near wheels. If you feel lots of heat then time for brake job!

Are any lights on? Check engine etc...

A search archives to get info on checking your flame trap!

Other tune-ups - Air, gas, oil filters, distributer & rotor.

Anyleak in gas tank or line?

I'd think that with mileage like that you'ld see a check engine light with codes and that it'd be running very poorly.
The cause isn't like bad plugs but I'd start by checking your fuel pressure (done with a test guage from the valve on the fuel rail) and looking closely at the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rails underside. After running the engine, remove the vacuum hose to it and see if gas is dripping from it into the vacuum hose (shouldn't) as that would cause your problem.
Also check other vacuum hoses for cracks, splits. If non-turbo, remove the plastic cover over the throttle base as vacuum hoses sometimes split at the vacuum tree there.
If you replace spark plugs, OEM Volvo plugs are your best bet but they aren't likely to be the cause of your problems unless they've never been changed and causing a miss (would set a fault code then however).

Did you check the throttle body? If it's very dirty (which may be the case since the previous owner rode it hard), then it may need to be cleaned? I would also check to see if there are any codes in the ECU computer. Go to the following website: http://au.geocities.com/ozbrick850/computercodesvolvo.html It will tell you how to read the codes, if any. If there are no codes, and the throttle body is not dirty, I would check the air filter, as well as the gas filter. If the gas filter is dirty, that will lower your gas mileage. The fule cleaner is probably something you should do for several gas refills to make sure the fuel injectors get cleaned.

Delgado