ok i think we did beat this topic to ground but i couldn't find answer. currently, i'm using premium (91 octane) and i'm getting 17 to 18 mpg city and around 21 to 22 highway. not accounting for the today's gas prices, which fuel is recommended for 96 960?

 

I am quoting this from the 1996 Volvo 960 Owners Manual:

"Volvo engines are designed for optimum performance on unleaded premium gasoline with an octane rating, AKI of 91, or above. AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number, RON, and the Motor Octane Number, MON, (RON + MON/ 2).
The minimum octane requirement is AKI 87 (RON 91)."

 

I run 88 in my 93 960, and get 18-20 in the city, and 23-26 on the highway. I've run 91 a few times, and the mileage is more or less the same.

 

Not quite. I use premium diesel, or regular diesel, or just plain diesel.

Mileage currently is 23 city, 44 highway.

 

I use 91 but still I get low MPG with my 96 960. If you use 87, then you might get poorer mpg since the engine needs to work little harder.

 

In my 85 760Turbo I always use premium (91) and can tell a difference in performance and milage ifI use anything else, even mid-grade(89).I've used 91oct. 90% of the time I' ve owned the car and average around 19mpg city;24mpg hwy.

 

I didn't know that the 960 wanted at least 91; I have been putting 87 in it. We have 93 oct w/10% ethanol here in NH. I am doing all I can to lower the mpg budget for this month . I do 95% high way diving with the cruse control; put the car on "E" and drive at either 55 or 70 mph depending on traffic flow try to touch the gas/break pedal as little as possible...

I know the gas stations are messing with the price of prem. gas (remember it was a 20 cent differance between 87 and 93? ) some gas stations still at the 20 mark, but I have seen as much as 50 cent different!!! ( When I had my BMW that only ran on 93 I would boycott those gas stations and still do)

My car is a california emissions car, but I live in NH so we dont care about that. Assuming the price of gasoline is 20 cents more for 93oct w/ 10% ethanol; should I just run that instead?

My car is getting 21 (higway) mpg on 87; and at 100 miles a day its killing gas budget.

It has clean air filter; runs on mobile one 10 40, and well taken care of...I'm about to change out the plugs. Also it supposedly has a new timming belt.

My last car (98 328i four door) I put on a short ram with a big k&n cone filter, with a nice free flowing dual 2" pipe exhaust. ( the 3.8 litre engine in a bmw is an inline 6 high compression variable valve timing engine with coil packs much like the volvo engine) thT CAR GOT 29 MPG

 

Should I put diesel in my car? I hear its like 43 octaine.

 

Sure...but you need to make a few little changes.

Boost your compression ratio from about 10 to 23.
Improve your crank, bearings and piston assemblies to avoid immediate destruction.

If you get those things done, letus know.

 

If you put diesel fuel in gasoline engine, the car will not run.

 

Is it really possible that there is somebody on the planet with access to car keys.... that didn't know that?

Now THAT is a scary thought.

 

I agree with rdharper suggested stupidity to that particular querry, but if it says to put premium in in the manual I would recomend doind so as the multiple Mercedes I have owned suggested doing and have all gone well over 200,000 miles in. If 20 cents is that much of an issue then I guess a Japanese car is in your future.

 

I heard of someone accidently putting diesel instead of gas in her 10 years of driving.

 

Sure... but an accident, not by intention.

 

I am driving a 1997 960, does it hurt to try premium?

 

Only your wallet.

 

hi,if you had to pay what i have to per gallon; breathe easy buddy.

 

We realize the taxes are outrageous in Europe. Out of curiosity, what do you pay in Ireland... and maybe England, France and Germany if you know them off the top of your head.

 

It was a joke.

Anyways I had to replace my motor, timing belt slipped off. That was fun ( change your timming belt idler and other bearings, not just the belt!)

I run 93 oct in my car engine now and the miliage still sucks.

How do you guys figure your mpg? I fill the tank untill the pump clicks off. I drive around untill The tank is about 1/2 way empty. I then refill the tank again untill the pump "clicks" off.

then divide miles driven on the odometer/gallons I just put in.

One variable that may or might not mater: the ambient temperature, the pump clicks off when the pressure in the tank reaches a certain point to prevent over flowage. With gasoline it is a very volitile solvent, so would a hot day make the pump click off sooner? Therefor ruining my method of mpg calculation?

Anyways the next step is to put on my short ram K&N intake, no heat sheild but it doesnt seem to matter as most days dont get that hot/ the car is always moving at a high speed...

Any thoughts?

 

Hey pos,
Kinda in the same boat as you, looking for ways to decrease the fuel bill. Done a ton of research online. A few things.

Your milage calculations are accurate. Fillup-Drive-Fillup-Calculate.
I have read that temperature changes the density of fuel, so technically filling up morning/night would give you a more accurate pump.(but honestly I don't believe the opposite would ruin your calc).

From my experience:
Fillup at the same station, same pump everytime. This helps with accurate fills. No variations.
I use regular unleaded (87). There's no ethanol in our gas...yet.
Add air to the tires. This is a biggy. Tires roll easier with higher pressure. Whatever the mfg says is meant for comfort, and yes safety, but comfort first. If you truly want more MPG, go ahead and bump the tires up to about 40psi or whatever the tire says is max.
I do mostly city driving. A huge gas saver is driving slower. Hard to break old habits, I know. But its necessary in getting good economy. This carries over to hwy driving too.
I neutral-coast alot now. If I see an opportunity I will throw it in N and drift to the light or whatever - hills help. I have been able to coast for half a mile (no kidding) easy.
In the city/suburbs I shut off the engine while waiting at long lights (left-turn-lanes especially).
There's many other things I could mention.

The proof is in the pudding: I am now getting 32-33.5 mpg (100% city) from 87 octane. A helluva lot better than my S60's 21mpg rating.

I used fillup-calculate method backed up with my ScanGaugeII for feedback.
For more info on driving methods/better milage two really good sites are:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/and http://www.gassavers.org/