Volvo - Horrible fuel mileage!!!

[cmohn1]

I have a 2007 Volvo Show Hauler motor coach that I use to pull a race trailer. The fuel economy is a horrible 5.6 mpg compared to friends of mine with Renegade motor coaches with the Mercedes engines or similar motor coaches with Detroit diesel motors. They get 7.5 to 8.5 mpg pulling similar trailers with the same weight or more than what I have.

Has anyone reflashed the ECU/ECM on their trucks to improve fuel economy? No one makes a hand held programmer that I am aware of for a Volvo....but I have found companies that will reflash the ECU if I send it to them with an increase of 20 - 25% more in fuel mileage.

Thanks for any offered help!

Chuck

 

[bushpilot-TC]

man that does suck but not all that bad....what motor / trans / axle ratio set up do you have ?

folks in my same storage lot are lucky if they get 6mpg in their pusher coaches w/out towing ANYTHING.

i run a consistent 9.6 - 9.9 at 75mph...once i get in the mountains (Tennessee thru Virginia) i fall of to high 8's and thats w/ a fairly heavy foot 75mph and passing...and thats not towing ANYTHING. Im about to add a jeep but dont expect much mpg impact.

the previous owner of our coach pulled a 36ft stacker and got a claimed high 6's at 75+ mph (scarey)...and he said that was the worst he'd seen.

 

[Gordy-TC]

Running my Freightliner cab and chassis back to Elkhart, towing a car trailer total weight 28500 lbs I averaged 9.6 mpg. That was generally at or 5 mph over the posted speed for 2200 miles. Truck has 475 hp Cat C15, Eaton Autoshift and tandem rear axle.

 

[Oscarvan-TC]

There's a lot of knowledgeable Volvo owners here:

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