Volvo trucks are designed to be extremely fuel efficient. However, once the truck is delivered to the customer, maximum fuel economy depends on making sure the engine parameters are correctly set for operating conditions, the truck is correctly maintained and it is driven in the most efficient manner.

The following are areas where Volvo operators could turn to for improved fuel economy, starting with resetting the engine electronic parameters.

Slow Down
Reset the road speed limiter to a lower speed. The rule of thumb is you gain one tenth of a mile per gallon for every one mile per hour reduction in speed. Slowing from 73 mph to 68 mph can save as much as a half-mile per gallon. In an older fleet of company trucks, many trucks may no longer be set at the same RSL as when they were new. Lower speeds may be more acceptable to drivers today as they see fillups hit $1200 or more.

Use the Right Gear
Make sure drivers aren't spending too much time in lower gears, such as cruising in 9th instead of 10th gear. This can be eliminated by enabling the Volvo Differential Road Speed Governor function. Set the maximum speed for one gear down ("RSL-X") to a speed that will encourage the driver to use the top gear, thereby lowering engine rpm and saving fuel (and avoiding unnecessary wear on the engine).

Engine Brake Settings
If the engine brake is set to engage with the cruise control, consider disabling this feature. This will allow the truck to roll out farther after a downgrade, so the driver doesn't have to go back on the accelerator as quickly. Another tip with the same effect for highway applications is to disable the fan-on setting with engine brake.