hi guys!

Sorry for posting this one a 300 series website but it's such a shame the VOC site is down. It's such a good resource! hopefully all the archive from the forums will be available in the new version. For that to have been wiped would be a tragedy!!

anyhow...

I'm looking into getting an 850 diesel and was wondering a few things (can't afford a D5 yet!!)

1) does anyone have the fuel consumption specs from a brochure?
My 440 TD gets 50mpg in town and 70mpg on the motorway which is close to volvo's specs.

2) Does the diesel use the M56?

3) Bosch fuel pump?

4) Anyone know of any concerns with this engine? I know the VW/Volvo straight 6 is prone to headgasket failure. What's the 5 like?

I've recently heard from an engine development engineer at Volvo that along with the N series development in the 80s, there was a diesel version of the N series 5 cylinder with unit injectors. He helped to optimize the engine. Unfortunately, the accountants then got involved and decided to work with VW on their 5 cylinder and develop that for use in volvos instead. Volvo's diesel 4 and 6 cylinder based loosely on the redblock design also got to the prototype stage before accountants decided it would be cheaper to co-develop a straight 6 with VW instead.

look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the VOC meet in June too!!

shimon

I don't think theres anything particularly wrong with the engine, Just essential that full Service History has occured.

If i recall correctly, when changing the cambelt its advisadble to also change the waterpump along with all other tensioners as a waterpump siezing up throws the belt and course the normal expensive damage.

As to wether it would better the 460's 50mpg round town i'd doubt it. But it would be a hell of a lot more comfortable place to be.

hi there!

thanks for the posting (and your text about 400 driveshafts)

Research to date shows it has the M56 gearbox (but different bellhousing to the petrol models) and gets 55mpg at "highway speeds" dunno if that's 56mpg or 70mph...

seems the fuel consumption is worse that the 400s (50 town and 70 if you stick to 60-70). A X40/400 would prob get 60mpg at 70mph...need to find out what an X70 can do....

Im looking for something with cruise control so it's a debate between a V40 with the same engine as the 400s (D19) but did the X40s get bosch pumps? mechanical injectors I guess? The 850/X70s get bosch pumps and unit injectors. The ECU controlled umit injectors is useful for a project I've got coming up

Im a little concerned about the high mileage ability of the JC5 family. Having had one box have a bolt free itself in the bellhousing and the replacement has a noise diff, Im thinking the M56 is the better bet. I've also heard accounts of problems with diff circlips on the JV5 at higher mileages...

X40s and X70 seem the same price too so its worse fuel consumption (X70) verse concerns about gearbox durabilty (X40).....

unless those gearbox concerns are unfounded.

The renault based (volvo upgraded) boxes are naturally a bit rumbly and whiny I've been told by a reliable volvo source (Mac! ). My replacement one does have grumble/whine at anything over 20mph and from further testing it seems to be the diff bearings. it hasnt got any louder in 2000 miles but I've now got a spare box and am considering putting it in.

We had the same debate on replacing the 460 TD with a 40 series or a early V70 diesel, or spending a little more on the D5 Version.

In the end, nothing from Volvo really impressed for the budget £5k, so a 2004 Mondeo 2.0 TDCI 6 speed Ghia Estate was purchased.

Does 50mpg round town, and gets even better on the long runs. Comes with all the toys you'd ever want.

I was also going to suggest going somewhere else.... if you're after an economical diesel, Volvo doesn't make sense until recent years.

the earliest X40s are £1000 and the X70s are pretty close to that too

its a choice between volvo/renault and volvo/VW.....shame the diesel based on the redblock didnt make it....that would have been good.

I met a guy from volvo R&D whose first project was a 5 cylinder engine with unit injectors... that might have been volvos N series diesel (the N series was planned from the start as a diesel too but it too a while for the D5 to come!) or it could have been the volvo/VW unit....I'll find out.....