2008 Volvo S60 2.5T

[2004volvos60]

I currently have a 2004 Volvo S60 2.4 (non-turbo) and I have been looking to get a 2006 2.5T, but I cannot find accurate information on whether it REQUIRES premium fuel or not, or whether you can use regular fuel. I don't really want to spend $0.25 more per gallon on gas, especially with the fuel prices the way they are.

[evilspoons]

The manual says it requires premium but also states the engine computer will compensate for lower octane fuel if it's there.

While technically the car will run on lower octane than premium, it is only for "oh crap, I can't find any premium" situations. The car is turbocharged, octane is used to prevent knock (early detonation), the turbo creates boost which increases pressure... which is exactly what causes early detonation.

You'll wear your car out much faster and have to spend extra on maintenance, thereby negating any benefit from cheaping out on your fuel. You'll also see reduced fuel economy and performance because to prevent knock it will have to retard timing and dump extra fuel in.

If you want to save money on gas, buy a smaller car.

[tecrench]

I have 2004 S80 2.5T 128k 28-29 cold weather, 34 mpg warm weather driving easy, 26-28 with other people stomping the keys. Been considing how to put 1 on a diet. Had a Prius for 2 years also until it got shorter. I have had them for 30 years 4-240d & gl, 242T. I still have a 64 122s( find time to do brakes and Weber rebuilds). I was a Tech at the dealer on them in the 80's. Have ran all on 87 grade ( except the 2 diesels LOL). a couple of them had over 300k and 82 240 had 485k when got rear-ended at at light. The computers will comp and you will get a little better mileage /performance with the 91/93, but not enough to offset the up-charge IMO Good Driving
Note I'm down south mainly drive in MS-SC-FL area, and do not run the car hard. Up north the high test may make a bigger difference ??

[evilspoons]

I am a longtime fan/driver of Volvo, learned to drive on a 240 wagon and owned a 740 Turbo for a while. The 850 and later FWD models are completely different beasts than the 240, 740, 960 etc RWD cars.

The thing about a turbo is... you're accelerating under boost, the weather is juuuust right, you've got cheap fuel in it... and you get predetonation, PIIIING. Now you need a new piston, rods, blah blah, heck, maybe a block.

Not worth it in my books.

Driving 20,000 km a year with the much lower average fuel economy of my S60R (300 hp will do that - premium is absolutely critical in my car, but anyway, we're talking about the 2.5T)... I spend, I dunno, $2000 a year. The extra 10% for premium is therefore about $200 a year. When you're driving a high-end car, that's not a lot of money to sacrifice as preventative maintenance for very expensive engine internals, turbo replacements, etc... the turbo for my car is $2,299 before labour.

[tecrench]

Here is $2.89 and $3.49 today( $ Climbing), never had a ping or ping wear problem here. but something to consider. I run high test in a couple of my older cars (non Volvo) the little I drive them for that reason. and in your case a great idea

[Turk182]

In my 2009, the manual reads (and I was told) that it prefers Premium fuel, but that it would be fine with Regular fuel.

I've been putting nothing but Regular in it for almost 2 years now, and haven't noticed any issues (maintenance related or otherwise).

With P&G on the highway, I get 30-32 MPG. Without P&G and on local roads, I get 19-22.

However, I don't know if the 2006 MY is different than the 2009 MY.