CAR/YEAR: 1989 245
MILEAGE: 189k
TRANS: auto with O/D
MPG: around 250 miles on a near-full tank

ADD. INFO: I have a thule roof rack with fairing on my car, but I dunno how much that affects mileage. also, I have a new tranny from a later 700/900 with lockout torque converter. I was told I should notice an increase in mpg. I'm not getting 300 on a full tank yet!

year/model: 1988 245 wagon
mileage: 253,000 kms (158k miles)
trans: AW70
av. mpg: 19.6
best mpg: 25.1 highway with strong tailwind
worst mpg: 17.1
(1 tank 98 octane per 4 tanks 91 octane)
--
Mike's 'Indobrick' : '88 245 250,000kms; RIP: '84 360GLT 200,000kms.

1993 245 (w/ OE rack)
193k miles
Auto trans.
10w30 Chevron dino oil, Mann filters, DIY Starla turbo exh.

21-22mpg on my daily 70mi commute(stop-n-go...mostly STOP). Highway driving is usually up around 25mpg. 27mpg is the highest I've ever gotten.

1992 245
183K miles
M47 transmission
K&N air filter
ipd sport exhaust
synthetic in engine, trans., and diff.

average mileage 28-29
best mileage 31 (this was on a day-long casual highway drive, mostly downhill, out of the mountains to the coast)
--
Jim - '92 Red 245 "The Radio Flyer" - '85 245 270K "Old Girl"

CAR/YEAR: 1981 245 SU carb B21A
MILEAGE: 317000 km
TRANS: Manual 4 speed with O/D (M46)
RANGE: approx 400km/250 miles on full tank
Per Litre: 8km
MPG: 19 miles per gallon
FUEL TYPE: 87 octane

I get the worst mileage imaginable on this car :(
This is a 15 mile commute at 55 mph.
It has the chrome/steel roof rack and 3.91 gears.
It will run 16 hours a day at 80mph though :)

Perhaps I need to lean the mixture...

--
Stef -- 1981 wagon B21A SU M46 317000km

Car: 1988 240DL Sedan
Mileage: 271,000 miles
Trans: AW70
MPG: Usually around 25 miles per gallon, (disapointed if less, happy if more), mostly highway driving between NY and PA.
Range: Usually look for a gas station around 300 miles on the trip meter, have gone up to 330, but started feeling nervous. I had an intank pump that was failing one time, and I let it get a bit too low, so now I always fill up when it gets close to the red or when 300 pops up. I usually put in around 12 gallons at a fill up.
Fuel Type: 87 octane, 1) because its cheaper, and isn't that why we are all here??? 2) yeah, it knocks a bit if I flog it, but for general driving almost never. Make sure you have good cap, rotor, plugs and wires; gives me best bang (literally) for the gas $$.

Doug
--
1988 240DL sedan. auto. almost 1/4 million miles :>)

Model: '92 240 Diesel
Mileage (in km ;-) : 202000 Km
Km per tank: around 840 Km (that would be ca. 525 miles)
Liters/100Km: 7,1/100Km
--
'92 Volvo 240GL 6cyl. Diesel

First, my numbers:

1992 245, LH 2.4, AW70 automatic (no lockup; dumb move by Volvo not to add this)

19-20 mpg suburban, 25-26 interstate at 70. I live in Texas, lots of AC time, but don't notice much dropoff during the summer. Maybe the Kiki compressor is a lot more efficient than the old York bangers.

Buuuut...Several people in this thread said they were running regular in a b230 car. What's the trick to get away with that? Mine knocks noticeably on the highway with plus if I go up the slightest hill--If I'm going out of town I make sure the tank has 100% premium. In town I can get away with plus in alternate fillups. Regular would be out of the question.

Regular vs. premium price difference here is around 20c a gallon. That's like a 10% loss in gas mileage.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Doug Harvey

Doug,

If you are being forced to run higher octane gasoline in your car you may need to have it tuned up. It sound like you may have some carbon build inside the combustion chamber. This buildup will cause the compression ratio to go up. Therefore the lower Octane gasoline will cause pinging.

Good luck and Happy Brickin'

Brian
--
86 240GL, 86 740GLE, 93 Ram 50, 02 Civic, 82 242 Turbo

One suggestion is to use good gas. Mobil and I think someone here mentioned BP have the highest amount of detergents.

My car runs fine on Mobil regular. I do get a little better performance with premium. If I notice any pinging or knock (I do this anyway a couple of times a year), I'll run a bottle of Techron AND a tank of Mobil premium and the car seems to love that!!!

How is your knock sensor? It should adjust the timing for changes in octane level. I remember reading on the 900 board about someone replacing their knock sensor and saying their car ran like new...



--
90 244DL 1/4 million miles - original engine/drivetrain :)

I always use regular (87 octane). in fact, my car seems to run better on regular. I always try to use chevron though, next choice is U76.

I'm surprised at some of these cars only doing 15-17 in the city, but I don't drive mine in the city full time. I live about 10 miles out of town. The guy I bought it from said he got 28 on the highway. I have a heavy foot, using full throttle very often. I get:

23mpg as a rule, 26 on the highway at 75-80 MPH.

I did dip to 21 during the last snowy cold snap, warming the car up in the morning and idling around town in traffic on slick streets.

I suppose I could get 28 if I were to drive 65 MPH.

CAR/YEAR: 1983 244, B23F LH 2.0
MILEAGE: 157K miles
TRANS: Manual 4 speed with O/D, 3.31 axle ratio
RANGE: approx 450 miles on full tank til the pumps suck air
MPG; 23 city, 29.4 on recent 1100mi highway trip (~65MPH)
FUEL TYPE: 87 octane

CAR/YEAR: 1981 244 B21F K-Jet
MILEAGE: 300K miles
TRANS: Manual 4 speed with O/D, 3.73 axle ratio
RANGE: approx 410 miles on full tank til the pumps suck air
MPG; 20 city, 26.3 highway...exact same trip as car above, but made a week earlier with son (aka "Leadfoot") at the wheel)
FUEL TYPE: 87 octane

Both cars: recent wheel alignments, new tires at 32psi, Mobil-1 0W40 engine oil, Redline MTL in transmissions, Redline 75W90 in rear ends, fresh NGK plugs.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar 77 MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

'89 245 AW70 auto 145,000 miles
23 mpg city
33 mpg highway (as high as 36 mpg!!!!)

'89 244 AW70 auto 140,000 miles
23 mpg city
32 mpg highway

same driver, light foot on accelerator, both kept below 80 mph.

That's incredible with a slushbox! How do you do it?

--
90 244DL 1/4 million miles - original engine/drivetrain :)

Both cars are regularly tuned and I keep a very close eye on my tire pressures. I also learned to drive in some very very low powered vehicles (FIAT 600, FIAT 1200TV, VW bug etc) so I learned very early that any speed lost was very slooooowly regained, so I drive very alertly even today. The big secret in good MPG seems to be no jackrabbit starts, looking ahead in traffic so as avoid slowdowns and keeping speed consistent and below 80MPH: Here are the specifics for the cars:

1989 245DL AW70 auto
Michelin HydroEdge tires @ 40 psi
Mobil 1 10W-30 oil
Mobil 1 75W-90 gear oil
Mobil ATF
IPD antiroll bars, overload springs
no luggage rack

1989 244DL AW70 auto
Michelin HydroEdge tires @ 40 psi
Mobil 1 10W-30 oil
Mobil 1 75W-90 gear oil
Mobil ATF
IPD antiroll bars

I accelerate gently to speed and look for traffic openings as they occur so as to not loose speed. Also tire pressures are at 40 psig and everything is clean and tunned to the max. It also does not hurt that I drove a pure stock VW for many years (in a Bug you learn to look at traffic ahead so as to not loose any headway since HP is very limited).

CAR/YEAR: 1986 244
MILEAGE: 161K miles
TRANS: Manual 4 speed with O/D
RANGE: approx 280 miles on full tank
MPG; 20 city, 26 highway (72 MPH cruising speed)
FUEL TYPE: 87 octane
This is the only one of my Volvo's that I keep accurate records on. My 740 is very simular though. I have not driven my 242 turbo enought to know its mileage.

Brian
--
86 240GL, 86 740GLE, 93 Ram 50, 02 Civic, 82 242 Turbo

CAR/YEAR: 1987 245
MILEAGE: 181K miles
TRANS: auto with O/D
RANGE: approx 300 miles on full tank
MPG; 23 city, 26 highway (70 MPH cruising speed)
FUEL TYPE: 87 octane
LOCATION: Austin, Texas (moderately hilly city, lots of hot weather and AC use)

ADD. INFO: Mobil 1 ATF, Mobil 1 10W30 oil. Bilsteins, overload springs, Yokohama Avid Touring 195/70R14. Bosch or NGK copper plugs. Mostly a city car; average trip length is < 5 miles.

WHAT HAS HELPED THE MOST WITH MPG: converting to synthetic oils, carefully maintaining the vacuum system, relocating the flame trap, keeping tires inflated, driving conservatively, using cruise control, keeping throttle body and IAC clean. Other vehicle is 85 Yamaha 180cc scooter, about 70 MPG.

kourt
87 245
Austin, TX

1981 glturbo, roof rack O/D Manual trans, b21ft 20mpg in town and 25 on the highway( I try to keep it under 65)

78 245
Milage ?????? (394k on car)
Trans M46
MPG 31 (highway only)

195/75/15 tires
93' B230F About 4k miles since complete rebuild
True cold air intake (aka ram from under bumper)
Strickly a highway car
custom 2.5" exhaust
ported exhaust ports and manifold
No A/C (will be getting less MPG this summer when I'll have to put A/C on it)
Not sure what rear end, but has had the Volvo mounts welded on to it. (only had the car for 2 weeks now)
The car's a dieing snail off the line, but very friendly over 50 MPH

Don't know about the MPG on the 79 745 yet, not ready for the road.

CAR/YEAR: 1989 244
MILEAGE: 190K
TRANS: auto with O/D
MPG: around 300 miles on a near-full tank

About the same. Filled up Friday, 276 miles, 50/50 mix of town/highway, took 11.75 gallons for 23.5. I make occasional trips from Philly to Boston, 300 miles at 75-80, takes 11.5 to fill it, a little over 26.

I should wash it - less parasitic drag, better aerodynamics.

about 14-16 mpg city. No highway, broken OD, does not go over 60. 1982 244 GL converted from a diesel inline 6 to a B21F LH fuel injected with an AW71 and a posi rear end. Other modifications: turbo hood insulation, K&N filtercharger, turbo front air deflector, 86-93 tail lights, 79 245 headlights, sunroof air deflector.



Joe
--
?

about 14-16 mpg city. No highway, broken OD, does not go over 60. 1982 244 GL converted from a diesel inline 6 to a B21F LH fuel injected with an AW71 and a posi rear end. Other modifications: turbo hood insulation, K&N filtercharger, turbo front air deflector, 86-93 tail lights, 79 245 headlights, sunroof air deflector.



Joe
--
?

about 14-16 mpg city. No highway, broken OD, does not go over 60. 1982 244 GL converted from a diesel inline 6 to a B21F LH fuel injected with an AW71 and a posi rear end. Other modifications: turbo hood insulation, K&N filtercharger, turbo front air deflector, 86-93 tail lights, 79 245 headlights, sunroof air deflector.



Joe
--
?

about 14-16 mpg city. No highway, broken OD, does not go over 60. 1982 244 GL converted from a diesel inline 6 to a B21F LH fuel injected with an AW71 and a posi rear end. Other modifications: turbo hood insulation, K&N filtercharger, turbo front air deflector, 86-93 tail lights, 79 245 headlights, sunroof air deflector.



Joe
--
?

hi there, all four of my bricks fuel guages do not work right and hit the red about 200-220 miles. but still have 5 gallons left. and you said almost full tank. did you check by mileage and gallons. anyway hope i didnt offend you just wondering.

85 244turbo intercooler 187,000 city=20mpg highway 23mpg many many new parts
86 244 130,000 city highway mix= 23.5
85 244 165,000 city highway mix= 22-23
87 245 unknown city highway mix= ?

Every 240 is like that... it hits the red w/ 3-4 gallons in the tank... you need to factor that in when doing your calculations... make sure of your of your gas usage/milage by checking the numbers at the pump on fill-up.

CAR/YEAR: 90 244
MILEAGE: 1/4 million
TRANS: AW70
MPG: 20-28, lately more like 22-25


ADD. INFO: Luckily, I've always gotten at least 300 miles to the tank (about 20mpg). Installed IPD sport exhaust about 2 years ago, no change. Otherwise stock. At my next tune-up (soon), I'm going to try Magnacor wires and silver plugs to see if there is an improvement in performance and mileage...

--
90 244DL 1/4 million miles - original engine/drivetrain :)

CAR/YEAR: 1986 245
MILEAGE: 180,000 miles
TRANS: 3 spd Auto w/ OD
MPG: 27 MPG

ADD. INFO: K&N Airfilter, Airbox mod, 2 1/4" High Flow Exhaust, bypassed A/C compressor, Virgo wheels, lead foot.

Mostly Highway driving. Probably around 22mpg city.

-Mike
--
- Mike

CAR: 1983 242Ti
MILEAGE: 221k
TRANS: M46 with OD
MPG: 15 city - 21 highway (17 city - 23 highway in the summer)

I also have a yakima roof rack on the car with no fairing (yet), and have a heavy right foot.
--
Zack Silver 83' 242Ti (221k)

CAR/YEAR: 1991 244
MILEAGE: 213,000 miles
TRANS: M47 - 5-Speed
MPG: 28 MPG - approx

ADD. INFO: I drive 75 miles round trip for work at 75-80 MPH. I do some city driving but not very much at all, maybe 25-50 miles per tank. I generaly refill the tank at 320-360 miles and usually have 3-4 gallons still in there.

Joyca

1985 244 DL non-turbo
non-modified exhaust - intake restrictions removed (hot-air hose & circuitously routed intake hose)
automatic tranny
217,000 miles
26.5 mpg - about 350 miles per tank
--
big rich in arkansas '62 544 132K, 85 244 210K, 95 855 105K

CAR: 92 244
MILES: 109K
TRANS: Auto
MPG: Also around 250 miles per tank (DANG! more city than highway driving on this car)

CAR: 93 245
MILES: 99K
TRANS: Auto
MPG: Around 280 per tank, wih a little more highway driving, but not much. It runs a bit smoother and gets better mileage - and I have no idea why.

Too bad the cars don't get better MPG. I'd love a 5 speed
regards,
-pu
--
((1993 245 Classic, 95K)) ((1992 244, 107K)) ((1987 245, 271K - RIP)) San Diego

1987 245 DL
397,000 km
M47 5 Speed
Approx 400 km city, 460-480 km highway

K&N filter, air box mod, Vx cam, FlowMaster cat, 2 1/4 piping w/Turbo muffler.

--
Happy Bricking!!! - Richard - '87 245 DL , '82 242 GLT - Volvo's are alive and well in Brampton!!!