I need some help.
My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!

I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
worked on fairly healthy bricks.

Anyone have a clue where I should start?

TIA

d

"Don B." <Don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:f1oemm0h50@drn.newsguy.com...
>I need some help.
> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!
>
> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
> worked on fairly healthy bricks.
>
> Anyone have a clue where I should start?
>
> TIA
>
> d
>
>
Start with the gasoline. It is probably seriously stale if the car has been
unused for a few months.

Best is if you can drain it. The gasoline can still be used, but greatly
diluted. Adding a gallon of it to a tank of good gasoline won't hurt. Dunno
if you have enough jerry cans around to store it or enough cars to transfer
it into, though.

Once the tank is suitably low, fill it with fresh gasoline (nothing special)
and add a bottle of Techron to the tank. By the time the tank is half empty
you should see a big improvement. Run that tank pretty low before refilling
to get the most out of the Techron and to move most of the old gas out.

If the old girl is still creaky, cleaning the throttle body and checking the
plugs would be in order. And don't forget to check the flame trap soon!

Mike

In article <DfWdnT0kIe_VVaLbnZ2dnUVZ_v6tnZ2d@sedona.net>, Michael Pardee says...
>
>"Don B." <Don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>news:f1oemm0h50@drn.newsguy.com...
>>I need some help.
>> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
>> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
>> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
>> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!
>>
>> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
>> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
>> worked on fairly healthy bricks.
>>
>> Anyone have a clue where I should start?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> d
>>
>>
>Start with the gasoline. It is probably seriously stale if the car has been
>unused for a few months.
>
>Best is if you can drain it. The gasoline can still be used, but greatly
>diluted. Adding a gallon of it to a tank of good gasoline won't hurt. Dunno
>if you have enough jerry cans around to store it or enough cars to transfer
>it into, though.
>
>Once the tank is suitably low, fill it with fresh gasoline (nothing special)
>and add a bottle of Techron to the tank. By the time the tank is half empty
>you should see a big improvement. Run that tank pretty low before refilling
>to get the most out of the Techron and to move most of the old gas out.
>
>If the old girl is still creaky, cleaning the throttle body and checking the
>plugs would be in order. And don't forget to check the flame trap soon!
>
>Mike


Okay, you got me there.
"flame trap"?

"don b." <don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:f1oi3q0o69@drn.newsguy.com...
> In article <DfWdnT0kIe_VVaLbnZ2dnUVZ_v6tnZ2d@sedona.net>, Michael Pardee
> says...
>>
>>"Don B." <Don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>>news:f1oemm0h50@drn.newsguy.com...
>>>I need some help.
>>> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
>>> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
>>> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
>>> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!
>>>
>>> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
>>> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
>>> worked on fairly healthy bricks.
>>>
>>> Anyone have a clue where I should start?
>>>
>>> TIA
>>>
>>> d
>>>
>>>
>>Start with the gasoline. It is probably seriously stale if the car has
>>been
>>unused for a few months.
>>
>>Best is if you can drain it. The gasoline can still be used, but greatly
>>diluted. Adding a gallon of it to a tank of good gasoline won't hurt.
>>Dunno
>>if you have enough jerry cans around to store it or enough cars to
>>transfer
>>it into, though.
>>
>>Once the tank is suitably low, fill it with fresh gasoline (nothing
>>special)
>>and add a bottle of Techron to the tank. By the time the tank is half
>>empty
>>you should see a big improvement. Run that tank pretty low before
>>refilling
>>to get the most out of the Techron and to move most of the old gas out.
>>
>>If the old girl is still creaky, cleaning the throttle body and checking
>>the
>>plugs would be in order. And don't forget to check the flame trap soon!
>>
>>Mike
>
>
> Okay, you got me there.
> "flame trap"?
>
>

Yes, a "gotcha" in that vintage. Check out
http://www.swedishbricks.net/faq/flametrap.html for the details. I
understand access is a bit frustrating in the 240s, but regular maintenance
helps prevent massive quantities of oil from blowing out of the engine.
Without occasional cleaning, that is "when" rather than 'if!"

Mike

>> Okay, you got me there.
>> "flame trap"?
>>
>>
>
> Yes, a "gotcha" in that vintage. Check out
> http://www.swedishbricks.net/faq/flametrap.html for the details. I
> understand access is a bit frustrating in the 240s, but regular maintenance
> helps prevent massive quantities of oil from blowing out of the engine.
> Without occasional cleaning, that is "when" rather than 'if!"
>
> Mike

Nope. Turbos don't have a flame trap...or rather the turbo _is_ the
flame trap (the crankcase is vented to the elbow between the flow plate
and the turbo.

I hate to tell you this, but having owned 'em, the 240 Turbos are pigs
on gas. If it's an auto, 12mpg around town, well, might not be that far
off. Both my 245T wagon and 242Ti with 4sp/OD never cracked 25mpg
highway in their lives. 7.5:!CR and mechanical fuel injection is not
the height of fuel efficiency.
That having been said....leaking hoses are your #1 enemy. Replace them
all (I'm willing to bet that the one that goes to the dizzy has blown
off giving you both a vacuum leak and throwing off the timing). Also,
check the rubber turbo hose/hoses (only one on non-intercooled from the
compressor to the cross over, two on the intercooled ones: one each to
and from the intercooler)...you may well have a crack that's only
opening under positive pressure and is causing the mix to run seriously
rich, which will quickly lead to a clogged catalytic converter.

Bill

In article <aLmdnQSbi8v2T6LbnZ2dnUVZ_tadnZ2d@sedona.net>, Michael Pardee says...
>
>"don b." <don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>news:f1oi3q0o69@drn.newsguy.com...
>> In article <DfWdnT0kIe_VVaLbnZ2dnUVZ_v6tnZ2d@sedona.net>, Michael Pardee
>> says...
>>>
>>>"Don B." <Don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>>>news:f1oemm0h50@drn.newsguy.com...
>>>>I need some help.
>>>> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
>>>> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
>>>> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
>>>> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!
>>>>
>>>> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
>>>> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
>>>> worked on fairly healthy bricks.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone have a clue where I should start?
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>> d
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Start with the gasoline. It is probably seriously stale if the car has
>>>been
>>>unused for a few months.
>>>
>>>Best is if you can drain it. The gasoline can still be used, but greatly
>>>diluted. Adding a gallon of it to a tank of good gasoline won't hurt.
>>>Dunno
>>>if you have enough jerry cans around to store it or enough cars to
>>>transfer
>>>it into, though.
>>>
>>>Once the tank is suitably low, fill it with fresh gasoline (nothing
>>>special)
>>>and add a bottle of Techron to the tank. By the time the tank is half
>>>empty
>>>you should see a big improvement. Run that tank pretty low before
>>>refilling
>>>to get the most out of the Techron and to move most of the old gas out.
>>>
>>>If the old girl is still creaky, cleaning the throttle body and checking
>>>the
>>>plugs would be in order. And don't forget to check the flame trap soon!
>>>
>>>Mike
>>
>>
>> Okay, you got me there.
>> "flame trap"?
>>
>>
>
>Yes, a "gotcha" in that vintage. Check out
>http://www.swedishbricks.net/faq/flametrap.html for the details. I
>understand access is a bit frustrating in the 240s, but regular maintenance
>helps prevent massive quantities of oil from blowing out of the engine.
>Without occasional cleaning, that is "when" rather than 'if!"
>
>Mike
>
Thanks Mike and all others.
Looks like a greasy weekend for me.
With some good places to start!

d

Don B. wrote:
> I need some help.
> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!

> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
> worked on fairly healthy bricks.

> Anyone have a clue where I should start?

> TIA

> d

I'm assuming that the fuel has been topped up as otherwise tyou'd have no way
of knowing that the consumption was so poor.

Apart from a full service: air and oil filters, plugs, fuel filter and oil,
get the carburettor tuned and possibly consider getting it rejetted. You can
usually buy carburettor renovating kits comprising jets and diaphragms etc.
for a small sum.

On May 7, 8:02 pm, Don B. <Don_mem...@newsguy.com> wrote:
> I need some help.
> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!
>
> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
> worked on fairly healthy bricks.
>
> Anyone have a clue where I should start?
>
> TIA
>
> d

one possibility is a stuck/leaky injector, from sitting unused for so
long.

"Don B." <Don_member@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:f1oemm0h50@drn.newsguy.com...
>I need some help.
> My 17 year old son has inherited the family '85 245 turbo.
> It has been sitting unused for WAY too long.
> Now it seems that besides running a bit rough
> the best mileage it gets is about 12 mpg!
>
> I have been a Volvo driver (and back yard mechanic)
> for a long time but this is a bit beyond me. I've only
> worked on fairly healthy bricks.
>
> Anyone have a clue where I should start?
>
> TIA
>
> d
>

K-jet fuel injection is very sensitive to contamination. I would start by
removing the fuel filter and checking it for rust, I've seen one fuel
distributor ruined by rust contamination in the filter clogging everything
up. You'll also want to check all the vacuum lines and the usual tuneup
stuff, and pull the injectors to look at the spray pattern, one or more may
be just pissing out into the cylinders.

"Bill Bradley" <senator2@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in message
news:l3S%h.7839$XG1.5265@trndny07...
>>> Okay, you got me there.
>>> "flame trap"?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Yes, a "gotcha" in that vintage. Check out
>> http://www.swedishbricks.net/faq/flametrap.html for the details. I
>> understand access is a bit frustrating in the 240s, but regular
>> maintenance helps prevent massive quantities of oil from blowing out of
>> the engine. Without occasional cleaning, that is "when" rather than 'if!"
>>
>> Mike
>
> Nope. Turbos don't have a flame trap...or rather the turbo _is_ the flame
> trap (the crankcase is vented to the elbow between the flow plate and the
> turbo.
>
> I hate to tell you this, but having owned 'em, the 240 Turbos are pigs on
> gas. If it's an auto, 12mpg around town, well, might not be that far off.
> Both my 245T wagon and 242Ti with 4sp/OD never cracked 25mpg highway in
> their lives. 7.5:!CR and mechanical fuel injection is not the height of
> fuel efficiency.
> That having been said....leaking hoses are your #1 enemy. Replace them all
> (I'm willing to bet that the one that goes to the dizzy has blown off
> giving you both a vacuum leak and throwing off the timing). Also, check
> the rubber turbo hose/hoses (only one on non-intercooled from the
> compressor to the cross over, two on the intercooled ones: one each to and
> from the intercooler)...you may well have a crack that's only opening
> under positive pressure and is causing the mix to run seriously rich,
> which will quickly lead to a clogged catalytic converter.
>
> Bill

They're not the most fuel efficient things around, but I've never gotten as
low as 12 mpg. Lowest I ever got was 13, and that was entirely around town,
and thrashing it constantly since I'd just cranked the boost up. Usually it
does more like 18 town and 25 highway.