Accuracy of Fuel Consumption data via Trip Computer

Hi,
Newbie to this group although been trolling for a few weeks. I've looked for
a charter and/or FAQ but no luck so please accept apologies if this post is
not appropriate here. I have a Volvo C30 but not sure if this group is for
current or classic Volvos - I am sure you will let me know !

Whilst is it obvious that fuel consumption is dependant on a number of
variables, hitorically how reliable is the fuel consumption data provided by
the trip computer in Volvos? When the computer indicates you have say,
200km left in the tank, is this reasonably accurate ? Or are these devices
simply a gimmick which should be ignored ?

Cheers
Mal
Oz

 

I can only speak for the 850 (GLT 2.5 and T5)/V70 (T5 and D5) makes.
My experience with the gasoline powered Volvos shows an accuracy
compared to the manual calculation of 2-3 % deviation. IMHO this is
very accurate. What I found out is that the fuel tank volume indicated
by the manual is very conservative. My new Volvo V70 D5 (185 hp) has
an indicated fuel capacity of 72 litres. I once refueled more than 75
litres.

The fuel consumption indicated on the computer on the same Volvo V70
D5 is roughly 10 % lower than the real value which I consider as very
inaccurate.

Joerg

 

Thanks for that Joerg - so apart from checking it myself against an empty
tank - are you suggesting that the computers in the petrol engines appear to
be more reliable that their diesel counterparts ?

Cheers
Mal
Oz

 

In my individual case that is my experience. My wife switched from a
gasoline powered Renault Scenic to the new 2.0 Diesel (150 hp/340 NM)
with 6 Gear-Automatic. In this particular case the trip computer on
the diesel is more accurate (1-2 % deviation) than the one on the 2.0
gasoline 4 Gear-Automatic was (3-4%).

Joerg

 

The fuel consumption computers in Volvo and other cars are reasonably
accurate when measuring things like average MPG for an entire tank of
gasoline or spot MPG. The

It's a reasonably accurate but not precise measure that assumes your
driving habits won't change. It is not precise on the cars I'm
familiar with when compared to the analog fuel gauge. The car will
appear to use somewhat less fuel for the first half tank of gas
compared to the second half. I have to assume this anomaly has to do
with a gasoline tank that is irregular in shape.

No, unlike rain sensing wipers they actually do something useful.

 

The estimate is based on the recent rate of fuel
consumption. If, for example, you have been driving on
limited access highways, and then go onto city roads, the
estimate will be way off.

 

Thanks all for the feedback re the the fuel data.

On the wipers tho, odd you should say this - this is the first car I have
had with rain sensing wipers and am impressed (so far). We had plenty of
rain on the weekend in varying degrees, spits, showers and heavy rain. I was
actually very impressed with them. Even to the point where they adjusted
their speed and sweep rate depending on how hard it was raining. I'm don't
know whether this is a standard feature with rain sensing wipers, but the
C30 has a sensitivity adjustment on the steering column. I had this set at
about 50% and I found the system very effective.

Cheers
Mal
Oz

 

They work well maybe 70% of the time. Other times the wiper will
begin speeding across the glasss under the slightest of mist or it
will operate at a very slow speed in a downpour. I'm told by other
owners that their experience is similar. To be honest it really
offers no improvement on simply switching the wipers on as needed.

 

Ok, I'll definitely keep an eye on their behaviour then. Concur that turning
the wipers on/off manually is no real drama - but I was impressed by the
need not to continually adjust the speed every time the rain changes - and
it does that here a lot in a short space of time. You find yourself
continually changing from intermittent, slow, fast, back to slow etc

I did find that with the adjustment knob set to 100% that the wipers didn't
stop quickly when the rain stopped. Thats why I set the dial to half-way.
After that I found them 100% effective. Caveat: this was the first weekend
I had to use them and the really heavy rain is yet to come. Maybe I'll
report back at the end of winter to see if I am still as impressed !

But appreciate the heads up.

Cheers
Mal
Oz

 

I may be overstating it somewhat, because most of the time they
perform as you describe by speeding up and slowing down ad the
rainfall changes. Some of the time, after the wipers have been in
rain sensing mode for a while they behave erratically as I described.
It's as though the memory chip overflows with rain measurement data
and goes wacky. Shutting the wipers off for a moment and restarting
seems to cure the problem. Dealer says this is common and a family
member who owns a Chevy suburban with those wipers reports the same
experience.