Greetings Bricksters,
Tell us about what kind of brick you drive, the engine, the tranny, and if your driving patterns are urban, suburban, highway, or rural; or any combination thereof. Then tell us what kind of mileage your brick gets. No FISH stories please. ;)

I'll go first.

1985 244GL
4+OD
I drive a mix of urban and highway driving.
21 miles per gallon as of this morning.

--
1985 244GL - St. Joseph, Missouri

1986 740 Turbo wagon
24 mpg hwy/19-20 Washington, D.C. traffic
I love this car.
I even have my original headliner.

I don't know what my city numbers are off hand, but I do get about 24.5 Highway mpg in my '87 240 Wagon (245) at 65 mph with a light foot on the accelerator. The stock tire size is 185R14 (old style metric) and my current tires are a close match. My summer tires are 195/65R15, which are about 3.5% smaller than stock, and my winter Snow Tires are 195/75R14, which are about 0.6% larger than stock.

My AW-70 (4-speed automatic) transmission will be replaced shortly by an AW-70L from an '89 740. The lockup tranny & torque-converter should get me an additional 2-5 mpg city/highway and is well worth the investment since I'm planning to put a lot of miles on the car in the next few years.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 245, NA 232K

28-30 mpg when mostly driving on the highway.
24-25 mpg in mixed driving.
.
-b.

14 CITY / 16 HWY . But then again I have an PRV. I guess that is why I drive my motorcycle around more. Also the fact that I pay the HIGHEST GAS PRICES in the country really does not help me to drive my 79 264GL more often.

I have my eyes peeled with a good shape / low prices 240.

Sincerely,
--
Julio Meza

1979 264GL B27F 123K

Features Added:

BW55 To M46, Central Locking System, 25mm IPD Front Sway Bar, 81+ Dash W/ Oil & Ambient Temp Gauges In C, Oil Pressure, Volts

Next Project:

+Cruise Control

Picked up an 85 245DL (wagon), 4 spd w/ OD & 213k miles on it. For the last month I've been averaging around 27+ mpg with a combination of local/hiway driving. The one longer trip I took last week lowered the milage to 26+, but then there were times I was going 70mph instead of my usual 60.

Great vehicle & even greater forum here!

michael

Hey,

I have a 1988 240 DL with a 5 spd with 202,000 miles on it and my driving is probably 75% highway and the rest city. I did numerous mileage tests and repeatedly recorded 25-26 miles to the gallon. Nothing more, nothing less.

Adrian

88 240 DL, 76 262 GL w/V8

p.s. V-8 Volvo gets about 8 or so. Thats full throttle all the time though ;)

I get about 30 mpg in my '80 245 DL. B21F with an M-46.

Mostly all highway driving (I'd say about 90%), but a bit of city here and there. Speed rarely exceeds 55 mph. (We still have 55 mph speed limits here in Oregon).

I use high quality gas (Chevron, locally). That cheap stuff really brings the
number down.

Most recently it's been a lot of long trips. On a trip from Portland to Seattle it got 36 miles per gallon. In the past 3 days I've put 800 miles on the car alone.
--
If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as 'Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!'

I also have a 1980 245DL M46 - the best 240 ever made in my slightly biased opinion...Have you ever checked your odometer against a highway mile marker? Either your odometer is reading way high or you've got the lowest-friction most-efficient B21F ever made...

Zack
1980 245DL M46 272k
1988 745T+ M46 188k

Well I have an '80 245 with m46. Get between 10 and 11 kms per liter (24 to 26 mpg.) I put in 20 liters and expect to get 200 kms combined city-highway. Also a 3.93 differential and 185/75 r14's. Thinking that maybe a lower diff gear ratio will give better mileage.
--
1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

Well, I got my numbers from very long trips.

When I take long trips (which is actually very often) I don't ever stop the car unless I have to fill up. I don't make any rest stops or anything like that. (In case you haven’t figured out from that, I do most of my driving alone... heh heh heh...) This past weekend I drove from Portland to Seattle doing 55 the whole way, non stop. (Even though the speed limit is 70 in Washington, I don't like to exceed 55 mph.)

I have checked my odometer with the Speedometer check points on the high way, and it's pretty damn close... It's accurate to roughly + or - 0.5%.

Granted, 36 mpg is on the high side... I was somewhat surprised when I saw it. Maybe I'll double check my numbers... (My shorthand isn't the best in the world...)

As for the 800 miles in 3 days, I spend most of this past weekend in my car. Portland to Seattle, Then to Olympia-WA, then Back to Seattle, Back to Olympia, Back to Seattle, from there to Portland, then to Sandy-OR, from there to Eugene-OR, and finally back to Portland to conclude the weekend.

That's roughly 750-800 miles right there...

I also drive with a very very light foot...

Then again, maybe I do have the lowest friction most efficient B21F ever made... That might explain the mileage... heh heh heh…



Oil changes every 3000 miles can do this.

(I also gave my car an oil change right before my “trip”. Maybe that aided the mileage, who knows...)
--
If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as 'Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!'

I have an '86 sedan with 281K miles and do 90% hwy. I'm averaging 27-29 hwy depending upon how late I am to work and 2 mpg less in the summer with the a/c on.

I get around 30 hwy and 25 around town. 1989 245 automatic with 125k miles.

Sorry Klaus, previous post was meant as a reply to Joe...

90 244DL AW70 232K

Summer 22-28
Winter 20-25

1986 245 Auto non-turbo 26 mpg 90% Rural and 55 mph
1987 740 Auto turbo 21 mpg same driving, 21 mpg IF I drive carefully.
--
1988 740 Turbo 210k, 1986 245 284k, Gone: 1962 122-wish I had that one back.

23 But that was my last tank of gas. Turns out I had a bad O2 sensor and replaced it half tank. Also have the snow tires on there still. Almost all Highway tho.


B23F M46

93 240 N/A, 34,000 on clock
Auto OD
205-14R-70 all around
run 87
0-60 10.7
Took out middle muffler, and enlarged airbox/tube
Surbu mostly-with making honda drivers cry
17 years old (major point here)
20-22 mpg

Blake

thats a real good 0-60 time

1980 245DL M46 with correct 185R14 tires and currently dead with 272k

Cruising @75 MPH: used to get 21-22 MPG, declined to 18-20 MPG last couple winters
All-time high of 24.5 MPG during a 55-60 MPH trip many years ago
City driving: 18-19 MPG

1988 745TI+ M46 188k

Cruising @75 MPH: 23-24 MPG - I expected better but I just bought this car and it could use some maintenance

Note on the 240 wagons - I've seen tons of them with the wrong tire size - I had a girlfriend whose father thought he got great mileage with his 1986 245GL M46. Turns out his claimed 28 MPG on the highway (70-75 MPH) was really about 26 MPG once you corrected for the 185/70R14 tires he was running.

Zack

My 1992 245, 207k, everything stock, w/ AW-70, 195/70 x 14 Dunlops, 28 lbs front, 30 lbs rear except for heavy loads; Plus grade in winter, Premium in summer (knocks more in the heat):

20 mpg suburban winter, 19 summer (Texas, = max AC or you die)

25 mpg straight interstate at 70 mph, winter. 24 mpg w/AC.

For comparison: even when it was much younger, my 1980 w/K-jet and M46 got worse in the city (18 or less in the summer, but that was with the stupid York compressor) but better on the highway (27 max even with AC).

Mileage on the 1992 is not really great considering the 240 had the same engine and trans since 1985--lots of time for engineering the system for better efficiency. Volvo should have invested more time on gas mileage (extra suprising considering that gas in Europe is SO expensive).

I note that most of the replies with stick are several mpg better. The lack of a lockup OD in the AW-70 was shortsighted on Volvo's part.


Doug Harvey

Quote: "The lack of a lockup OD in the AW-70 was shortsighted on Volvo's part."

Lockup is available if you want to swap trannys (find yourself an AW-70L or AW-71L). I believe the 740 vehicles started getting lockup in 1989, and the 240s got it in either 1991 or 1993 (different data from different sources). The heavy duty AW-71L didn't appear until the AW-70L had been out for a year or so. I've just recently salvaged an AW-70L from a 1989 740 non-turbo and it will be going in my '87 240 wagon after I change the tailshaft bushing and a couple check balls in the valve body. If you do swap in an AW-70L, don't forget to swap the torque converter with it.

The brickboard has a decent table of transmission models and years that they were used:
Brickboard Volvo Transmission Model Table

It is unfortunate that Volvo started using lockup so late in the game. GM was using it on many/most of their RWD vehicles by 1983.

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
--
'87 Blue 245, NA 232K

18-24mpg with both cars depending on road conditions and how heavy my right foot is on any given day...

Chevron (sometimes ARCO) Premium Fuel

240t-M46, my canyon carver...
744ti-AW71, my daily driver & autobahn hauler...


--
don hodgdon '89 744ti, '81 242t, '71 D-35

I haven't bothered checking the mileage in mixed driving, but the first trip I took in my 91 automatic wagon (1000 miles the day after I bought it), I got 27.5. I always run 87 octane, and I'm a very conservative driver.

BTW, this compares with a highway average of 28.5 in my 5 speed 87 245.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

89 244 automatic 80% highway at speeds of 65-75 mph. 22 mpg
--
1989 Volvo 240 DL 193k Miles

1975 245 B20F M40 - 18/20
1983 242 B23F M46 - 24/26
1986 244 B230F M46 - 24/26

1984 244 DL
5-speed, electric OD
B23F engine

Overall, about 27 MPG of an even mix of city and highway driving. I can get almost 30 MPG on straight highway driving. I use high-octane gas from Shell gas stations. Any money I save through higher mileage I lose through buying higher octane gas, but my car pings big-time on low octane, less on medium octane, hardly ever on the premium stuff.

Keep in mind that I drive very conservatively: no jack-rabbit starts (unless I'm having a bad day), lots of coasting downhill in neutral (I'd have fun in San Francisco), and I do about 60 MPH on the freeway. Yes, people HATE me during rush-hour, but screw 'em - that's why God created the passing lane.
--
Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 231,000 miles - with Euro headlights and lots of gauges

You actually might burn more gas coasting downhill in neutral,
because when the engine is being spun by the wheels with no throttle
applied, the computer cuts off the gas. If the engine is idling,
gas is being used. Also, coasting in neutral gives less lubrication
to the tranny, I've heard.
.
-b.

I have a manual tranny. The engine RPMs return to idle speed when I'm coasting downhills.

I've never done this in an automatic, but does that also happen if you throw an automatic into neutral while careening downhill?
--
Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 231,000 miles - with Euro headlights and lots of gauges

My '89 240DL with the automatic delivers 19-20 city and 25-27 highway. That's with snows and burning regular(87) and dino oil for the winter. In spring I'll run synthetic engine again(I switch for the winter-change it every 4 weeks)and do a flush and synthetic fill for the slushbox.I expect to pick up 1 to 2 mpg at that time.Oh yeah, I'll put the regular 195-75s back on too. Proper tire inflation is so important-ask any trucker.

1991 245
B230F
It is getting 23 mpg in the dead of winter.
I do a 50/50 split of city and highway miles.
This accounts for the aggressive driving associated with weekend rallies.
--
1983 242 ti, 1983 244 ti, 1986 245 DL

hey, which rallies have you been running recently? you weren't at the SOWR, were you? there was only one other 240 there, a 1981 wagon that got 4th overall. Also, I'm in waterloo, and Ayr is quite close, is it not? we should exchange stories sometime. welp, tata for now
Nate Gundy
--
'86 240DL sedan, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, 260 front and wagon rear springs; http://valvespringcompressor.weblogs.us/

18-19 MPG suburban [stop&go, 30/40 miles/hr] burning premium
Aiming for 21+ MPG suburban driving

1989 244 DL with almost 160K on the clock
Stock :
B230F
2.3 L
M47 II
LH 2.4

Second owner, own it since 155K miles (July 2003)
Going through the Zero mile list, still left "to do"

Timing belt
Shocks and struts
Bushings all around
Oil separator box (to be cleaned or replaced)

Everything else on Zero mile list was done including O2 sensor, all fluids (engine, transmission, power steering, rear axle differential, coolant, brake), all filters (air, oil, fuel), plugs, wires, distributor cap & rotor, thermostat (coolant & airbox), new air intake hose, throttle body & iddle control motor cleaned, flame trap service, new tires, new exhaust cat to back, new front brake pads.

Bought all parts at FCP Groton, Volvo dealer, local AutoZone/PepBoys, local junkyard. Castrol oils all around (10W30, ATF Type F, 80W90, Dot 4 MLA); Prestone coolant; Bosch: WR7DC plugs, 13913 O2 sensor, fuel filter, wires; Mann: oil & air filters.

The BrickBoard, Bentley, Haynes, and various Brickster's Web sites have been most useful.







--
'89 244DL M47 159K miles

1989 244 GL
Automatic
Mostly city (and highway is fast, so probably the same!)
20 miles per gallon, as best as I can guess (odometer stopped working a while back)

I have a heavy foot, as well, usually getting the revs up to 4K at least a few times while driving around the city. I fear the day when I start doing mpg-killing mods to my Brick.
--
'89 244 GL--25/22 ipd sways, Alpine head, Eclipse front speakers

745-16valve-4+OD, 27-28 on trips averaging 70mph, low of 24 around town in winter.
242 Turbo-4+OD 19 in suburban driving, think it could do better
'84 245DL auto 23 in mixed driving, but doing badly now (18)
81' 245 4+OD got 24-28 town/ highway.
--
744-16v,745-16v,242Turbo.245DLT

1991, 244, 4-spd autotrans mostly highway/rural. I get 21 to 25 average depending on the highway content. In true Boston-type city traffic it goes down to 19. I have owned this auto from brand new, when it was new, I got consistantly in the high 20's with a career best of 32. Then the lower connecting rod bearings started knocking at 30K, still under warranty, Volvo rebuilt the engine, they said they used an experimental lightweight rod used for that year and they had to replace many of them for this reason. My mileage instantly went down to what it is now. At 170,000 engine has 225psi/cyl uses no oil. (Mobil 1) This is no fish story.

Steve M.
Billerica, MA

P.S. I have been told the knocking was not fatal, other bricksters who were beyond the warranty period just let it ride and had 200K at last I heard, and were still getting great mileage, Oh well.
Look in the archives under "engine knock"

1986 245 B230F manual w/ OD
primarily highway

after running a can of injector cleaner thru the engine my mileage improved to something like 30-32. i cant believe it. with snow tires on and with a hole in the muffler.

1986 240DL, K cam, meticulously maintained, M46 tranny, Usually average between 25-30mpg, with mixed urban and highway driving.

Girlfriend's 1989 240DL with AW71, also well maintained, gets 21-25mpg in mixed urban and higway driving.

Nate Gundy
--
'86 240DL sedan, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, 260 front and wagon rear springs; http://valvespringcompressor.weblogs.us/

86' 240 WAGON Auto, 'bout 300k and tired (trans slipps)
"x" cam, adjustable gear, enlarged throttle body, turbo exhaust, no cat, major air box mods,
MSD 6A box, magnecor wires, ele. fan, skinney tires, and LEAD FOOT.

12 - 14 MPG CITY / HIWAY COMBINED

1990 245 DL (Salvaged Title)
Invested LOTS of Time & Money
182,500 Miles
2.3 Litre
M47 II 5 Speed
I Drive 80%/20% - City/Highway

Usually No Faster than 70 MPH
Always the Middle Grade of Unleaded (Octane 89)
Very Well Maintained
Need to Get The Cruise Control Fixed

Always 25-27 Miles Per Gallon
--
'90 245 182k

My 93 245 auto gets 24 mpg on a the drive to work, which is about 90% highway. I usually cruise between 65 and 70 mph.

Hi Folks,

1980 242 272,000 miles, B21F engine, 3 speed auto -- 18-19 mpg on local commute and 22-23 highway. Car is always meticulously (fanatically ?) maintaned, premium gas, synthetic oils

1987 245 130,000 miles, B230F engine, auto w/overdrive -- 20-21 mpg on local commutes, and 24-26 highway.


Mike

1990 240 DL -b230f/aw71

The car is freakishly maintained and in an excellent state of tune at all times... I drive suburban 60% & highway 40% (including long distance surf trips).
Also, I always run super unleaded and tires are checked twice monthly to keep a consistant 36 psi.

Local/Suburban: 20-22 mpg
Highway: 23-25 mpg
On ultra long trips: 25-26 mpg

89, 245, m 47 (5 speed), 239+ K, rural,town: 25- 26 MPG, highway (10-15 above posted): 29.5 -31.5 MPG. Proper tire inflation, regular oil/ air filter/ fuel filter changes (3-4 K), plugs as needed (6-8 K).

84, 242 GLTi, M-45 (4 + OD), 168K, rurual, town: 21-24 MPG, highway (10 -15 above posted): 27-29.5 MPG. Same maintenance as above.

Tend to get up there ASAP, then maintain momentum with as little excessive throtle input as possible. Confession, I burn regular.

Al
--
84, 242GLTi, 167K, 4+OD, in hibernation; 89, 245 DL, 239K, M 47, daily driver; and other toys.

1987 740 turbo 2.3 automatic 90/1- city hiway 15 mpg

I get an average of 20-22 with my 89 244 2.3 litre automatic with a 70/30 mix of city/highway.
Highway only 24-26 if speeds are kept below 75mph

Ditto here, I use Amoco Utimate, taking it easy from stop and go, no jack rabbit....

PS. Bosch platinum plugs

Mostly city driving, gets around 17-18 MPG, if I'm lucky. This always seemed pretty sad to me, but it is 25 years old.

270,000 miles
3 speed auto without OD
crap spark plug wires (the ones for like 8 bucks at Autozone)
Bosch plugs
good air filter
change the oil about every six months, with dino
I don't drive like a turtle but I don't kill it either