poor mileage 86 740 gle

Discussion in 'Volvo 740' started by pepe256, Sep 29, 2005.

  1. pepe256

    pepe256 Guest

    no vacuum leaks and ive used someconcentrated fuel injector cleaner still
    no improvement its not running rich or theres not any smoke comeing out of
    tailpipe really anyother things that could be wrong?
     
    pepe256, Sep 29, 2005
    #1
  2. pepe256

    jg Guest

    Plenty, blocked or leaking exhaust or ignition timing are possible
    preliminary suspects. It has been suggested (though I haven't noticed
    myself) that with current high petrol prices and supply problems, there
    might be some adulteration. On that subject, has anyone heard of using small
    amounts of acetone to improve engine performance?
     
    jg, Sep 29, 2005
    #2
  3. pepe256

    Randy G. Guest

    Have you checked the thermostat in the air cleaner to make sure that
    the hot air from the heat riser is shut off during normal operating
    temperatures?

    Could a stuck-open cooling system themostat cause the motor to run too
    cold, fooling the computer into thinking it needs a richer mixture?

    Have you changed the air filter lately?

    Have you checked the brakes? Could be a stuck caliper or dragging
    e-brake shoe. Maybe a rusty e-brake cable

    How poor is the mileage?


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Sep 29, 2005
    #3
  4. pepe256

    James Sweet Guest

    I've heard of people doing this, apparently it boosts the octane, but it can
    also break down the gasoline, as well as it's an excellent solvent and will
    quickly rot out rubber and plastic components in the fuel system. I'm
    sticking to plain old ordinary gasoline in my cars.
     
    James Sweet, Sep 30, 2005
    #4
  5. pepe256

    Randy G. Guest

    Risking burning a $4000 car to the ground against an octane point or
    two is just bad math.

    Speaking of cars and math, Redd Foxx said, "I ain't gonna crash my car
    dodging no damn cat. The way I see it, a $28,000 Cadillac goes over a
    28 cent cat once with nothing left over."


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Sep 30, 2005
    #5
  6. pepe256

    Randy G. Guest

    Risking burning a $4000 car to the ground against an octane point or
    two is just bad math.

    Speaking of cars and math, Redd Foxx said, "I ain't gonna crash my car
    dodging no damn cat. The way I see it, a $28,000 Cadillac goes over a
    28 cent cat once with nothing left over."


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Sep 30, 2005
    #6
  7. pepe256

    jg Guest

    Of course. I haven't tried it but wondered if anyone had without any
    problems so I don't take any risks. If one could bank on nothing more than
    saving fuel then it would be worth it, but not without a lot of positive
    comments I'm not about to. Thanks for replies.
     
    jg, Sep 30, 2005
    #7
  8. check catylatic converter to see if it clogged could be part of problem
     
    badboywithbadtoyz, Oct 1, 2005
    #8
  9. I've had a couple of plugged cats - the most obvious symptom is that the
    accelerator operates normally up to maybe half throttle, then nothing
    happens when the accelerator is pushed more.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Oct 1, 2005
    #9
  10. pepe256

    pepe256 Guest

    i had the air filter changed abut a minth ago and the brkes also im getting
    maybe 14 mpg but its not running rich hardly anysmoke form tailpipe
     
    pepe256, Oct 1, 2005
    #10
  11. pepe256

    James Sweet Guest

    Either it's running rich, something is causing a LOT of drag, or it's
    leaking fuel. Half your gas is going somewhere and it's not simply vanishing
    into an alternate universe. There could be a bunch of unburned fuel dumping
    into the exhaust and burning up in the cat but you should be getting at
    least 24 mpg, probably higher.
     
    James Sweet, Oct 1, 2005
    #11
  12. pepe256

    pepe256 Guest

    if it was running rich wouldt i be getting alot of smoke and i havent seen
    any puddles under my car could a clogged converter be causing this + i
    just had the muffler replaced cause it blew up
     
    pepe256, Oct 2, 2005
    #12
  13. pepe256

    Randy G. Guest

    Here's another data set from the other side of the box:
    -Odometer reading is incorrect
    -Bad math
    -Some else is resetting the trip odometer mid-tank
    -Someone is stealing gas from it

    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Oct 2, 2005
    #13
  14. pepe256

    James Sweet Guest


    Running rich won't necessarily make it smoke, the cat will burn up the
    excess fuel, often it will even get red hot. If the converter is clogged
    it's usually the result of running rich and melting down.
     
    James Sweet, Oct 2, 2005
    #14
  15. pepe256

    pepe256 Guest

    the odometer is broke but i have drove to school usually in a diff car and
    it is 18 mile 1 trip and i am getting maybe 10 trips to a tank
     
    pepe256, Oct 2, 2005
    #15
  16. pepe256

    James Sweet Guest

    Fixing the odometer would be a good place to start, but yeah I would expect
    15-20 trips depending on whether it's highway or around town. If I do
    entirely around town I get about 18 mpg, 25 on the highway, I've gotten a
    bit higher in the past but I'm overdue for a tuneup.
     
    James Sweet, Oct 2, 2005
    #16
  17. pepe256

    pepe256 Guest

    i just took it for a spin and looked at the cat converter and it wasnt red
     
    pepe256, Oct 2, 2005
    #17
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