Volvo Classic V70 Tdi (manual) incredible mpg
Discussion
I have had my 1999 (classic) V70 from new, it now has 203000 on clock, it often can manage 600-700 miles a tank...better in warmer months....better when i drive it (wife has a heavy foot and holds gears too long....but you can't tell her.....
OP getting 60 MPG is brilliant
love my old barge...I have a Mini and an MX5....but still love it.....
OP getting 60 MPG is brilliant
love my old barge...I have a Mini and an MX5....but still love it.....
I also have a V70 2.5 tdi classic. It's done 216k miles and returns a genuine 50+mpg. I fitted a tuning box to it that wakes it up (15-20bhp in told), it'll pull a house down, tow anything, I've moved house with it and it is used as a workhorse. These really are secret gems from Volvo.
So it's a couple of years or so since posting the original and the old TDI made it to 300k miles before being sold for £550, that's £320 less than I'd paid around 120k miles earlier. With the economy it must have saved me £000's.
I only sold the car after finding an almost exact replica coming up to 20 yrs old with only 75k miles although no cruise control and no OBC both which I miss, and no leather, which I don't.
This car is pretty sluggish compared to the previous one though and only averages around 54 mpg so far. I'm considering a few things to try and get it 'up to speed' as it were...
1. EGR cleaner in the fuel tank
2. EGR delete
3. A Ronbox Synergy 4
Not many V70 TDi's being kept going now it seems - I'm tracking one at the moment I might buy from a guy in Glasgow, selling for scrap £200 due to an ABS sensor failure. Such a pity - these Direct Injection cars can run on used chip oil, can achieve 60mpg or thereabouts, can be maintained for a few £/Yr, don't rust, can carry 7 people with rear jump seats, are great comfortable cruisers for long journeys, and everyone who owns them loves them. Mine will see me out. If you find one - buy it!
I only sold the car after finding an almost exact replica coming up to 20 yrs old with only 75k miles although no cruise control and no OBC both which I miss, and no leather, which I don't.
This car is pretty sluggish compared to the previous one though and only averages around 54 mpg so far. I'm considering a few things to try and get it 'up to speed' as it were...
1. EGR cleaner in the fuel tank
2. EGR delete
3. A Ronbox Synergy 4
Not many V70 TDi's being kept going now it seems - I'm tracking one at the moment I might buy from a guy in Glasgow, selling for scrap £200 due to an ABS sensor failure. Such a pity - these Direct Injection cars can run on used chip oil, can achieve 60mpg or thereabouts, can be maintained for a few £/Yr, don't rust, can carry 7 people with rear jump seats, are great comfortable cruisers for long journeys, and everyone who owns them loves them. Mine will see me out. If you find one - buy it!
Edited by Rob-u50pm on Wednesday 19th February 09:29
Edited by Rob-u50pm on Wednesday 19th February 22:00
Cheers watchnut, I'm only just getting to grips with what's worth doing <proactively> to the TDI even though this is my third one - I've never had to look into it they've been so reliable and economical.
I think the same as you - I'm going to do everything I can to keep the car going. Would rather maintain this relic with all its eco and other capabilites over something newer that's more likely to fail.
Would be nice to find a V70 TDI 'expert' to get some advice from - there seem only ancient posts online and very few maintenance related video clips.
Good for 500k with maintenance they say - I guess at 244k you could be about half way there?! At this rate I'll be 92 when mine conks out.
I think the same as you - I'm going to do everything I can to keep the car going. Would rather maintain this relic with all its eco and other capabilites over something newer that's more likely to fail.
Would be nice to find a V70 TDI 'expert' to get some advice from - there seem only ancient posts online and very few maintenance related video clips.
Good for 500k with maintenance they say - I guess at 244k you could be about half way there?! At this rate I'll be 92 when mine conks out.
Edited by Rob-u50pm on Wednesday 19th February 22:04
My uncle bought one new in 1999, put 120-130k miles on it in 4 years and then my parents had it off him until last year. Sadly it went bang whilst cruising on French Autoroute at 248k miles. Bar consumables and things simply wearing out it let them down once when the MAF died. Not sure what went wrong, it didn't drop any oil or coolant. Shame as it went well for what it was and returned decent MPG. I'm guessing it dropped a liner or something, unsure.
I picked up a V70 2.4d AWD p2 which has done about 90k miles in December, and whilst I don't seem to be able to get more than 44mpg, although I know I have a problem with the turbo boost pressure - which may be part of the problem - but it is so comfortable - probably best car I have bought for so little cash :-)
(I even bought a second one with a crapped out gearbox to get the turbo bits off it and a few other little electrical gremlins that were annoying (Tailgate open fault and dash dimmer switch broken).
(I even bought a second one with a crapped out gearbox to get the turbo bits off it and a few other little electrical gremlins that were annoying (Tailgate open fault and dash dimmer switch broken).
Think I might have a familiar sight for Rob here...
She’s still going strong, had a bit of a bump with a slightly iffy local MOT centre but I’ve nursed her through that at the very least. New shocks and springs are soon to be on, finally finished replacing the entire rear brake system and currently touching up the interior a bit.
Must be said I think my slightly exuberant driving does impact MPG but I still manage 55, it’s a brilliant car that’s for sure.
Mate!!! (Rikki 337)
Looks like you've been doing some great work on the old girl!?
I was looking for your contact details the other day - I still have the radio unit. If you still need it let me have your number and we'll work out a way to get it to you?
I picked up another TDi with only 75k miles by the way but very sluggish compared to yours and it has only been giving me 51mpg even with my regular steady right foot. I've just managed to fit a Ronbox Synergy 4 which I'm hoping will improve the mpg - it's certainly not quite as sluggish now.
Are you enjoying yours? I'm sure it must have had a remap at some point to achieve that sort of performance. You haven't spotted a tuning box on there at all have you - maybe it did, I never looked into mods as it was already awesome!
Best, Rob.
Looks like you've been doing some great work on the old girl!?
I was looking for your contact details the other day - I still have the radio unit. If you still need it let me have your number and we'll work out a way to get it to you?
I picked up another TDi with only 75k miles by the way but very sluggish compared to yours and it has only been giving me 51mpg even with my regular steady right foot. I've just managed to fit a Ronbox Synergy 4 which I'm hoping will improve the mpg - it's certainly not quite as sluggish now.
Are you enjoying yours? I'm sure it must have had a remap at some point to achieve that sort of performance. You haven't spotted a tuning box on there at all have you - maybe it did, I never looked into mods as it was already awesome!
Best, Rob.
Rob-u50pm said:
Mate!!! (Rikki 337)
Looks like you've been doing some great work on the old girl!?
I was looking for your contact details the other day - I still have the radio unit. If you still need it let me have your number and we'll work out a way to get it to you?
I picked up another TDi with only 75k miles by the way but very sluggish compared to yours and it has only been giving me 51mpg even with my regular steady right foot. I've just managed to fit a Ronbox Synergy 4 which I'm hoping will improve the mpg - it's certainly not quite as sluggish now.
Are you enjoying yours? I'm sure it must have had a remap at some point to achieve that sort of performance. You haven't spotted a tuning box on there at all have you - maybe it did, I never looked into mods as it was already awesome!
Best, Rob.
Definitely been trying to when I’ve got the spare money and time anyway!Looks like you've been doing some great work on the old girl!?
I was looking for your contact details the other day - I still have the radio unit. If you still need it let me have your number and we'll work out a way to get it to you?
I picked up another TDi with only 75k miles by the way but very sluggish compared to yours and it has only been giving me 51mpg even with my regular steady right foot. I've just managed to fit a Ronbox Synergy 4 which I'm hoping will improve the mpg - it's certainly not quite as sluggish now.
Are you enjoying yours? I'm sure it must have had a remap at some point to achieve that sort of performance. You haven't spotted a tuning box on there at all have you - maybe it did, I never looked into mods as it was already awesome!
Best, Rob.
I’ve still got your email address on record, so as long as it’s not changed I’ll pop one across, would be nice to have the actual radio unit opposed to the 20 quid cheapo one I grabbed off eBay haha.
Just been looking into something similar actually, a couple of plans in mind to say the least. Was going to dive and see if there was a box or something mounted tonight as I hadn’t even thought about checking for one!
It’s a brilliant drive, feels like the boost is slightly higher than it would be stock though and there’s some clear evidence that somebody else was doing a bit of a tinkering once upon a time so entirely possible that it’s had some work done. Glad to hear you got the other V70 though! They’re genuinely far too rare nowadays.
Fancy stumbling across this ancient topic though, small world and internet apparently!
How did you get on mate? Was there a tuning box attached?
I'm still a bit behind yours on economy even after fitting the box. Not too bad now at 56.6mpg (was only achieving 51mpg pre-box) but I've some way to go.
I've tried a different combination of settings and a couple of other tweeks including a good clean out if the MAF sensor and housing so will be interesting to see how it pans out after another tank of fuel (will be some months with the Covid-19 lockdown).
My email is unchanged by the way but didn't see anything from you. If you did email it must have gone to Spam, so drop a line here and we'll work out a way to get the radio unit to you?
Best, Rob.
I'm still a bit behind yours on economy even after fitting the box. Not too bad now at 56.6mpg (was only achieving 51mpg pre-box) but I've some way to go.
I've tried a different combination of settings and a couple of other tweeks including a good clean out if the MAF sensor and housing so will be interesting to see how it pans out after another tank of fuel (will be some months with the Covid-19 lockdown).
My email is unchanged by the way but didn't see anything from you. If you did email it must have gone to Spam, so drop a line here and we'll work out a way to get the radio unit to you?
Best, Rob.
OILIT.....we had "power" problems with our V70, especially going up hill, then a couple of months ago it lost all it's power, a trip to our local garage, and he found a hose from/to the turbo had a little split in it. The mechanic did us a favour, went home where he had some that he thought might fit....it did for a temp repair while they ordered the correct bit
4 days later it was repaired properly all in for about £50, now got all it's power back, smoking less, happy days
we suspect the small whole/split had been causing the lack of power for a while until she (the wife) booted it that morning and it blew out)
some of the miles on these old cars are a joy to read about
4 days later it was repaired properly all in for about £50, now got all it's power back, smoking less, happy days
we suspect the small whole/split had been causing the lack of power for a while until she (the wife) booted it that morning and it blew out)
some of the miles on these old cars are a joy to read about
"hose from/to the turbo had a little split in it."...
Now there's a thought - Watchnut was the mpg down as a result?
If so I'll probably get a butane canister and blow it around the vaccuum pipes to see if I can identify any leaks. Some while ago I watched a YouTube clip of a guy doing it that way - is safer than it sounds.
Currently I've turned the settings right down on the new Ronbox tuning box I fitted and it seems very happy. Will report back when I've done enough miles to understand the effects on economy 👍
Now there's a thought - Watchnut was the mpg down as a result?
If so I'll probably get a butane canister and blow it around the vaccuum pipes to see if I can identify any leaks. Some while ago I watched a YouTube clip of a guy doing it that way - is safer than it sounds.
Currently I've turned the settings right down on the new Ronbox tuning box I fitted and it seems very happy. Will report back when I've done enough miles to understand the effects on economy 👍
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