Hello let me start by explaining my situation.
I had been an owner of a 2007 xc90 3.2 Awd for 3 years.
In that time my fuel consumption was almost always the same no matter the season or tires I was on. I live in Montreal so we get 4 seasons and I do put on winter (non studded) tires from December to march.
I consistently got 510-550 km per full tank of gas.

Last month my wife crashed our car and it was written off, after settling with the insurance I went out and purchased a 2010 3.2 awd xc90 with 68k kilometers on it.

Essentially the same car, both cars have the 18" wheels.
With this car I have not been able to get more than 350-360km per full tank of gas.

The crazy thing is that when I fill up the tank the dash indicator says that I have 650km left but then as I begin to drive the amount remaining rapidly goes down.
On my 2007 the number of kilometers left was typically very accurate.

I had an inspection of the car done 2weeks ago at my local volvo dealership and it came back pretty clean.
I am getting almost 200km less per tank with absolutely no change in driving habit or destinations.

Car is still under warranty (currently has 69k).

I explained this to the service advisor at volvo and he was going on about how the car needs time to learn how I drive??
That sounded like junk to me...what should I do?

 

it is true that the car adapts to how you drive in terms of shift points etc. but it seems like a pretty big difference. I would drive it a lot and see if it improves. Make sure tires are inflated to psi recommended on the door jamb. Alignment could affect mileage so you can have that checked. Oxygen sensors can significantly affect mileage, but with that low mileage yours should be ok. Some tires will give better/worse mileage than others because of differences in rolling resistance, but we are talking very small differences.

 

Thanks for the reply, issue is that I have 11k worth of warranty left on it and if there is anything that can be done by getting it covered by warranty I'd prefer that.

Any opinion about the gauge cluster's indication about the Kilometers to empty tank?
When I gas up, it reads anywhere between 640-650km till empty. As I begin to drive the number goes down way more quickly than it used to on 2007.
I also owned an s40 before and that indication was always bang on.
I'll double check the for pressure but I am pretty sure that the dealership checked it as a part of the 130 point inspection.

I gas at up at the same station, drive the same routes. Something is going on here.

 

I'd guess the miles to go estimate will become more accurate as you drive it more. Another thing that can affect mileage is oil weight, thinner oil will give you better mileage (which is why some cars use 5w-20). Dirty air filter could cause poor mileage also. But that stuff would only make a small difference. The 02 sensor is the only one that would cause mileage to get significantly worse all else being equal. You can try replacing the 02 sensors (probably several hundred bucks in parts/labor) and see if that helps, but I'd drive a few thousand miles first and see if the problem resolves. Partially clogged cat converter could also tank the mileage but again with such low miles unlikely.

 

Could it be that your fuel is switched to E-15 gasoline without your knowledge. In the USA it has been legal for distributors to sell E-15 gasoline since JUNE 2012. You get considerably less gas mileage with this stuff and since everything in your tank is a MIXTURE you have very little way of knowing what the ethanol is in your gas unless you 'test' it yourself weekly. Had some landscapers in my area of VIRGINIA CLAIMING THAT THE OIL COMPANIES were selling E-15 AND MIS LABELING IT. GUESS what.. they were.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/e15.asp

 

Geez, that's weird... Same driving habits ??? what percentage highway/city traffic do you drive ??? Do you still fuel at the same garage ???

It's like the estimate of the mileage to go is in kilometers and the mileage showed is in miles ?!? Weird!!!! is it a canadian or american car ??

If one thing, your 2010 should be better on gas than you 2007 was....... the 2010 uses regular unleaded compared to premium in your old 2007...

see here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find....23428&id=28827

 

DEAR steph.. YOU REALIZE I HOPE that FEDERAL epa tests are done with 100 percent gasoline and NO ETHANOL and it is a laboratory testing. So it is impossible for a vehicle to match up to FEDERAL epa MILEAGE TESTS.. CHECK OUT THE RECENT STORY IN CONSUMER REPORTS.its an eye opener..about how the US GOVT is part of the dealer mileage scam..THINK IT IS THEIR February 2013 issue

 

Wasn't long before I found that it is impossible to meet the numbers on that site, knowing that their numbers are obtained in perfect situations. I did not know that they didn't use the same fuel we use.... renders the whole exercise pretty pointless....

However, I still use that website to see the differences between vehicles, since they are all tested using the same conditions and therefore the difference between cars are real.

In fact, up here in Canada with the prices of gas being what they are and knowing that they ain't getting better, In fact, the price is 30% more than it was last year when the baril of gas was the same price..... Soooo that website is the reason why I did not trade my xc90 for a Porsche Cayenne.... I'd rather keep my paid for XC90 and only have maintenance, gas and insurance, than have payment for a new car, that cost even more in gas and all and all......

 

Hi, Canadian car. All is in Kilometers.
When I gas up (at the same gas station that I've been going to for 7 years) and drive the exact same places that's I've been deicing to for years I get way less kilometers out of a full tank.
Both cars were/are 3.2L engines both on 18" wheels.

When I fuel up my dash indicator says that I have 650 kilometers till tank empty but then as I drive that number decreases way faster thank my trip meter increases.
I reset my trip meter everytime I gas up and I always fill up till the pump won't let anymore fuel into the car.

My driving is almost all considered city driving, I do jump on the highway several times a week but for short distances (typically under 10-20 kilometers per trip).
Both my wife and I can work from home so we are mainly running errands and picking up/ dropping off te kids from school and activities.

 

Driving not deicing (friggin autocorrect).
Is it possible that my speedometer is not accurate ie. showing that I am going 50 but really going 60 hence my trip meter an odometer are 10-20 % lower than real.

Or is it possible that my car is burning more fuel when idling or just in general.

Any ideas would be most appreciated.

 

you can check speedo with a gps or using mile markers on the freeway. google "tire size calculator" and you can verify circumference of tires is the same as stock by typing in width, aspect ratio and wheel size. (manual should say stock sizes to compare).

 

Well, I must tell you one thing my friend.... I own a 2.5T and do 95% morning and evening traffic and odd week-end highway drive. I hardly ever get more than 400 kilometers per tank full, well, lets say per 65-70 liters of gas cause I never wait to be empty, yielding about 15.5 liters per 100 kilometers which is on the ball for that model XC90... which is by the way, the cheapest XC90 on gas available in north america...... I say that your old XC90 was the exceptional one...... around 600 kilometers per tank full, city driving! !!!!! Only in a diesel my friend.......

 

What type of fuel do you put in it? I accidentally filled up 87 octane because I was in a hurry and the XC went through it like no one's business...

 

he has the 3.2 which is designed to run on regular unleaded (it is actually a selling point because all the competitor Euro suvs require premium). in a car designed to run on premium, regular will reduce mileage but mileage should not differ depending on gas for the 3.2.

 

I have a 2009 XC90 in BC here that I bought a few weeks ago. Out of the gate I got 500KMs per tank pretty much on the nose. I took it in to a local dealer who informed me of a "gasoline upgrade" that the dealer could do and he would have to see if mine was "eligeable". Of course mine was, I did the upgrade for $100 and so far, no difference whatsoever. I even changed the tires to Conti CrossContact LX20 which are supposed to deliver better mileage. A few tanks later and I had a chance to do a test. To my surprise 500KMs on the nose. I went back to the dealer who said it takes a few tanks to "reset itself" and one tank may even be worse until it resets, after that you should get 550-580 per tank. Not happenin Willis. I have heard about after market computer upgrades that promise 30% plus increase in mileage ut am skeptical now. I think I'm going back to the Volvo dealer and asking for my money back as well. Has anyone else heard of this "gasoline upgrade" from a Volvo dealer? Any other suggestions on how to get better mileage for me and my friend from the other side of Canada?

 

I've never heard of a fuel upgrade, can you tell us what the invoice from the dealership said? I'd be interested to know more about it. Was there a code on the invoice?

So since my original post I've been paying very close attention mtl my driving and consumption in this car.
On my last gas up I ran the numbers
I got 423 km my fillip required 70.1 liters of gas to that's led just under 17 liters per 100 km. now it's important to note that my driving pattern is the same that it has been for 5 years (city driving, no bumper to bumper driving).
On the other hand with my current tank of gas I have gone to 2 out of the ordinary destinations that required a good amount of highway driving. My trip meter is currently up to 520km and my fuel light isn't on yet. The light should come on in the next 20-30km.
So it appears as though my highway milage is quite good (for this gas guzzler).
My onboard computer was indicating a consumption of around 10-ish liters/100 km.
I am going to keep calculating as I fuel up but I have the impression that this specific car is much more fuel hungry at idling and during acceleration.

I have tried shell 91, ultramar 87 gas with no noticeable difference in performance.
I appreciate all the knowledgable and courteous opinions and info keep them coming!

 

I've yet to cross reference my actual speed with a GPS. I will to make sure it isn't the speedo.
My tires are 235-60-18 which is the stock all season size.

 

It's kinda hard to read but it says: "check for ECM gasoline upgrade, upgrade if available - upgraded ECM with latest software
- 13 CP 0.50
- 1 30677021 5 ECM gasoline upgrade
- parts 34.50 labor 60.00

 

Also, your tank is supposed to be a 79.84 litre tank isn't it?

 

Hmmm so yesterday I gassed up (like I mentioned after doing 2 longer highway trips).
Trip meter was at 540km. Gas needle was at the bottom side of the red, fuel light was on, km to empty tank indicator said 70km till empty.
Stopped at a shell station put in 87 octane (which "may" contain up to 10% ethanol) and only managed to get slightly over 68 liters in the tank. (At 1.38/liter)
Fuel economy on this tank 12.7 L/100km highway, I'm thinking great. Can others confirm their milage and also how many liters/gallons they can squeeze in when empty.