How much power has my 460,000 mile Volvo 850 T5 lost? Dyno Day.

Now that the 462,000 mile Volvo 850 T5 has an MOT, it's time to find out just how many horses have escaped the stable in two decades and half a million miles.
In this video we pay a visit to Performance Remap in Gloucestershire to put the car on the rollers and get the true number for horsepower at the engine and at the wheels.
From the factory the Volvo 850 T5 should produce 222 or 225hp, but has time been kind to our high mile hero?
#Dyno #Volvo #cars #Volvo850 #HighMiles #HighMileHero
Watch the full series of videos on this car!
1. Getting it
• I bought the HIGHEST M...
2. MOTing it
• Highest mileage Volvo ...
3. Road trippin' in the Black Country
• Volvo 850 T5 in the Bl...
4. Dyno Day
• How much power has my ...
Dyno your car and map it with Chris:
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bit.ly/CheckYourCarLikeGeoff

[@paulillingworth1242]

Shows a decent motor that’s looked after can live on and keep going… well done Volvo

[@manfredschmalbach9023]

Just think about the tons of co2 that were spared by just going on using it instead of replacing it behind every other corner

[@annkristinbarnes4596]

Cheers from Sweden! We all have our childhood Volvo memories: When I was child in the 70's I sometimes went along with my uncle delivering groceries to the elderly in remote tiny villages in northern Sweden. He would drive his canary yellow Volvo 144 very fast on snowy dirt roads through enormous expanses of spruce forests, usually without bothering with a seatbelt. He would wear traditional wooden clogs and not bother with outdoor clothes despite freezing temperatures in winter. Always on the go from his rural grocery/ hardware store, he and his trusted Volvo were a very wellcome sight to many isolated people who were able to remain in their little cottages because of the service provided. Great to know Volvos are appreciated elsewhere too!

[@petewright2283]

Chris is amazing. Proper old school gentleman

[@ianchalklen1047]

It’s a real credit to how well these were built and maintenance is incredibly important but as Scotty Kilmer says…”You can’t fix stupid “ 😂

[@MarkieC1990]

Scotty Kilmer is a right annoying twat 😖

[@MontanaYeti406]

That means Scotty can't fix himself.

[@efrideetswrath7935]

​@@MontanaYeti406pretty sure that dude is actually on meth

[@Sarah-mg3gg]

That's amazing! I love Volvos. I have an XC40 at the moment, previous car was a V40, before that was a V50 and before that was an S40. My in-laws had an S40 and before that they had two Volvo 240s both with over 100k miles on the clock. I have a Volvo belt buckle that I wear on my belt from time to time. I'll stop there 😄

[@robertoautore9252]

I own an 2006 Volvo S60 2.5T AWD, with 322,000 km bulletproof engine, it's the best automobile I've owned, Volvo for life.

[@StuartOliver83]

What a lovely bloke that dunno guy was… all smiles and super chilled👍🏻

[@GeoffBuysCars]

He was great eh??

[@vwt3syncro140]

The test result speaks for the greatness of this car.

[@vizak20]

I loved my 850NA 10-valve, bought new in 1996. It made it to 380,000km before a clogged flame trap (thanks to poor servicing by the local Volvo dealer. I should've known better. He'd mounted rear shocks upside down on my previous 240!) blew out the valve guides and the car began blowing smoke profusely. An engine rebuild was cost prohibitive so I watched sadly as the low loader took it away to the wrecker, body perfect! It's rare to see an 850 or V70 on our roads today. 240's are more common. All great cars, if a little thirsty.

[@shieldaigbencher]

Love the green bar number plate and I totally agree.

[@robc5955]

Cracking result, and such a nice chap (as are you), wasn’t expecting 190 odd after almost 1/2 m miles!

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Wasn’t Chris great!!!

[@feedingfrenzy123]

Wow I thought I recognised that chap! Very sound guy. I took in my stock Fiesta ST mk7 to see what it would make after 10 years and 100k miles. Turns out 184bhp which I'm very happy with. Great video Geoff!

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Ah cool! Was a nice video this wasn’t it :)

[@HOMEHUBBY2]

Great stuff,would love to put my 1998 V70 TDI mk1 on the rolling road,at 180000 miles it still pulls like a train on the tarmac,brilliant cars and great mpg

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I think I’ll take my 850 TDi next...!

[@HOMEHUBBY2]

@@GeoffBuysCars you must,be good to see how the tdi does,great vids by the way 👍

[@dcasteaux9181]

Love the green number plate sticker! 🤣

[@aeoteroa818]

the more i look into volvos the more sure i am that ill be buying one this fall.

[@mcglovera]

You should

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

Bloody hell Geoff, what a corker! My guess was 190 so nearly bang on, you know I'll be down for the 15car meet!

[@hondablack1]

Totally original video mate. Well done ! Love the car btw.

[@danielmarshall4587]

THAT IS VERY GOOD, thank you both.

[@visionsinblue7093]

Dyno day sounds great! Put me on the list! 😁 Golf GTI 🥰

[@liammedler]

count me in for the dyno day, will bring my 850 manual T5 with some mild mods. Looking forward to it!

[@johnp9235]

I'm waiting for someone to drag my D5 V70 to these guys for me to get it mapped!!

[@alanchurchill7305]

Well that's really interesting,I have an x5,and often wondered what difference it would make having it remapped,your car has done really well,not lost very much has it , testimony to a good car,great video again thanks Geoff.

[@kieranokeeffe1363]

Brilliant lads 👏👏

[@stephenlawrenson2380]

3:28 - something went flying over his head. Did you see it?? It was Geoff’s joke 😂

[@bryanbailey1476]

Hahaha nice 1

[@chevchelios8582]

I totally get the love for those old things and the mileage suits it perfectly. Kinda wish I hadn’t bottled buying a W124 diesel Merc I viewed with over 600k. It’s set me off wanting a C70 T5 again now!

[@carsandcustard]

It did you proud ! I’m slightly more jealous. I might pop along with my high mileage 330d to the Geoff buys cars dyno day, if you’ll have me haha.

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

I watch your videos too! That would be great to see two of my favourite channels together aha! 🤙🏻

[@Sprtclssc]

We need a collaboration between you two!!!

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@Sprtclssc let’s do it!! Half million mile BmW and Volvo @carsandcustard

[@marktownsend9333]

That’s still impressive 👏👏👏

[@alanfaultless]

Brilliant result and everything still in 1 piece. 👍

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Much tamer than I expected!

[@bobbyfraser9515]

I had my fingers crossed for you there Geoff, love the 850s still classy motors. After I passed my test at 18, I learned to drive properly in my bosses red 850 glt estate, what a thing it was too 😁

[@GeoffBuysCars]

They’re solid old things!

[@TheKafinjers]

Loving the KEF HTB2 in the corner 🔈

[@parkecorepersonaltrainingp2601]

What a great car and and Chris is such a cool gent. Love it ❤❤still plenty of life left

[@GeoffBuysCars]

He's a good lad isn't he this Chris!

[@dudeleboski2692]

Another great Vid😊

[@rogerbradbury9713]

Very impressive! A good category for a dyno day award might be for the most surprising output... 🙂

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yup, I like that!

[@hoggmotorsport]

Good old Volvo 👍

[@robinforrest7680]

I want to dyno my 9-5!! I’ll be up for dyno day if it happens while I’m in holiday in the UK this summer.

[@garywebster6453]

This guy done my car, spot on tuning.

[@kevinmartin5960]

That’s an Incredible, awesome, super fantastic, amazing, car Geoff.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Cheers!!

[@VolvoT5Golf]

If you check the boost pressure it will most likely be low. The actuator spring goes weak on these after 20+ years. If you put a new one on you will probibly have all the power its supposed to have.

[@mrnordyk1125]

What a car! One of cool bricks ever🤟

[@pellepp9628]

Inspiration to tune our 850 t5🙂🙂

[@ralphsmotodiary]

Bagsie a spot on the GBC Dyno Day! Not that I have anything particularly interesting to bring along, mind you.

[@1live2]

Awesome

[@richardbartholomew7924]

I love these cars utter brilliant I hope u sort this car out and get it looking like new

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Keep watching the channel...! Cosmetics coming next

[@stones4879]

this vid gives me hope that my 2009 focus st will go on and on. (it has the same engine I believe). Cheers Geoff

[@Formula1-Dave]

😂😂😂😂😂you tallk so much man, let the expert speak. I love this car

[@barriewilliams4526]

Well done Volvo👍

[@Joke9972]

My s60 t5 is still a baby with his 16 years and 180 000 miles

[@JParkes43]

Liking the ‘green’ plate

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Cheers!

[@titankilla7095]

Chris is my uncle

[@soundseeker63]

196, and I'm guessing thats on the original turbo as well...? That's pretty damn good for a 27 year old car! In fact that works out at just 1hp lost for every year the car has been on the road....! Amazing. I bet you could get it back up to 225bhp as well with just a recon turbo, injector clean and maybe a new muffler/cat. Old Volvos really are the business when it comes to durability!

[@850glt]

Chapeau

[@jeremywentworth1833]

This must be a very rare colour for a T5 Don't remember ever seeing a T5 , T5R , or an R in Goldish.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yes I only know of a couple in the UK 👍

[@therealdojj]

i reckon i could be up for that dyno day, depending on where about in the country it was

[@jakejago5732]

Really can't complain with what the old girl is still managing to put down. Would absolutely love another 850. Very well done indeed. I'd be very interested in seeing what my latest purchase could do. Will get some picture up on Facebook group when I've actually cleaned it. Hopefully the Geoff Buys Cars Dyno day falls on a day I'm not working.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

More details coming soon on that, be great to have you there!

[@markbray2988]

Volvo For Life!

[@realvolvofreak]

Very good. :) With some good ecu programm you can easy get around 300 HP on these engines

[@GeoffBuysCars]

We will see what’s next :)

[@titankilla7095]

That’s my uncle

[@titankilla7095]

No chris

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@bryanbailey1476 the one who went to Gloucester in a shower of rain?

[@Topsiekku]

Hieno video=) Kunnioitettava kilometrimäärä. Mietin vaan että olikohan jotakin vikaa kun noin alhainen teho tuli. Nyt laitat vaan moottorin hoitoainetta, RVS:ää niin puristukset nousee ja sen käsittelyn jälkeen X1R.

[@celtic1522]

Not so worried about mine now... what were the boost figures? Is it fitteded with a 15G, 16T or something else?

[@MS-yy2dh]

Would be interested to hear how you get on with the ABS issue as I also have the ABS light coming on intermittently. Actually very intermittently in my case as it is only on every few hundred miles (then resets when I stop the engine). A couple of quick easy thing you might try are - checking the condition of the wire that connects the engine to the bulkhead (top rear of the engine) and if you have the older metal plug-in ABS unit, unplugging and cleaning the contacts (with a spray contact cleaner).

[@zloychechen5150]

As far as i know, there are two common problems with abs in the p80 cars - the abs control module, which you can try to re-solder, sosmetimes this helps, and the rear abs sensors, which are combined into a single part that cost an arm and a leg, and few bothered replacing this. Of course, this can also be caused by the front abs sensors, but they are nothing special to have replaced. Abs is a bitch in these. If it is poorly, your speedo can start cutting off, and you lose cruise control with it. One of the many reasons why i prefer the rwd models.

[@MS-yy2dh]

@@zloychechen5150 Thanks but I think you are talking about the later ABS system. I have the earlier type, for which the controller is a metal pug-in unit. The speedo is mechanical drive and not electrical. There is no cruise.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Wouldn't mind seeing what the 850 TDi has power wise.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yes that's going to come next :-)

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@GeoffBuysCars Volvo truck turbo and remap 👍

[@markrainford1219]

Make the 'well done' sticker a, I dunno, say a green rectangle?

[@jonboy9912]

I got a 2007 Mercedes CLS 320 diesel that I have owned for 10 years and a 1999 SL320 that has resided with me for 9 years that I never intend to sell irrespective of what the London Mayor or the Green Party chuck at me. Elf the bloody lot of them!

[@trevorockwell8764]

I don’t think my 850 could even get on that ramp. If you want to more power get a remapped ECU from Shem.

[@jimboprzza]

Not bad for the mileage my 1995 850r 190k miles wagon made 248 at the flywheel 196 whp good for another 190k hopefully

[@markjarvis7637]

Hi Geoff, would be interested in a dyno run, 2012 Volvo V70 D5, ex Met police interceptor

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Nice one Mark, keep an eye on social media, i'll start getting some ideas and dates together but it won't be for a few months anyway.

[@cruxc4459]

Dyno day has to have a dinosaur them badge

[@GeoffBuysCars]

It should you’re right..

[@matthewwiddows6319]

is there a way of narrowing........ yeah fit a manual gearbox!!!!!

[@ashleywhiteman2684]

Did you do that dyno day

[@J18BES]

Oh yes I’m in for the V70 on a dyno

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yeah man!

[@SimonWallwork]

I sold these new (for Linn Volvo) in Glasgow- and was at the 850 product launch. These had 225 bhp, and Volvo said the engines were assembled by machine and ought to do 250k miles without attention.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Love it

[@SimonWallwork]

I should say, the most powerful version we got to drive on the product launch (in 1989) was the 2.5. There were no turbo things then.

[@vrager1564]

196 HP is really good... only 20 HP lost after 460,000 miles!

[@ashleywhiteman2684]

Did you get the lpg sorted

[@pauldavies6037]

Should have done a remap on that old girl those engines are tough enough

[@daliborsacaric5258]

Have same km on a T5 250hp. So I expect still 220 hp of it... Good video, thanks for any 400+km volvo drivers.. the 500 is the target, min.... 😅

[@AlfaBmwKarma]

Great Video Geoff, the Volvo done well. I would like to be one of the 15 cars on the summer Dyno day, how do I sign up?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

When a date is set, I’ll announce more details on KZbin and there willl be a form to fill in and then payment :) love the response to this tho. It’ll be a combined car meet / coffee / cake day, imagine if every car brings a ‘share’ cake... it’ll be epic.

[@AlfaBmwKarma]

@@GeoffBuysCars Okie dokie then, that sounds fantastic!! and I like cake 🤣

[@tomkelly9801]

196 Hamster Power is not bad for such age and mileage car. Old Valerie keeps rolling

[@teampipe]

I'd bring our 200K+mile 9-5 along, but last time I put a Saab (stage 3, 9000) on the Dyno it killed the big end shells so slightly wary now 😐

[@GeoffBuysCars]

It’ll be fun to have you there...!

[@teampipe]

@@GeoffBuysCars it's not too far away so yeah, will have to keep an eye out when you have a date sorted 👍

[@madwiganer]

It's probably never been at that RPM in it's life 🤣🤣

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Oh it did both today and yesterday 😂😂😂

[@mcglovera]

My 940 has a million miles. I am curious to test it.

[@bentullett6068]

That isn't bad for a over 20 year old high mileage Volvo. Just shows that if a regularly maintain engine is serviced regularly it will not lose much power. Next week Volvo gets power increase modifications.

[@nickrudd2568]

I thought 146whp and blow me. Not far out. Still not bad for a 462k engine. Hone and new rings She'd go forever.

[@titankilla7095]

No chris

[@peterdavies5358]

What can you do to an SLK?

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I am really not sure why old cars should lose any power unless they have particular issues. I remember when my friend's 850 Mini died (cracking up pistons) it had exactly the same top speed however it lost lots of low-down torque. Direct injection cars will lose power with the carbon build-up. I would like to see a repeat of this test after fitting new plugs and all fluids (including the gearbox) and any other work that may be required on these old Volvos followed by a long motorway cruise to clean out the CATs.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I like this suggestion...

[@GoldenCroc]

You are right; they dont. Its almost certainly one of those really old "truths" that might have been true at least 60 odd years ago when cars still wore out their cams, piston rings etc etc to a meaningful extent. But once its taken hold in the public consciousness it wont go away easily. Its the same as even "car people" and motoring journalists still thinks a max engine torque number in isolation has any direct influence on the performance of the car, and therefore still quote those numbers.

[@frenchenstein]

Would love to dyno my Citroen C2 2008 1124 cc 111k miles 😁

[@HardiHolpus]

D5252T can do even more than that

[@spacecowboy4997]

My guess of 150 whp was pretty close.

[@nickyrules8670]

Was close 197

[@johnminshell6532]

I would like to know what my CLK CDI condition is after covering 250,000 miles

[@chevchelios8582]

270 CDI? The intakes clog up over time and is a pig to remove, that could lose some power. Indestructible engine though, T1N Sprinters hitting a million is not unheard of.

[@S1d-ney]

Is it the original engine ? I don't know if you checked that it was

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I have no reason to believe it’s not 👍

[@matthewwiddows6319]

why did the tv show 155 whp? did it kick down? at what boost was your hp figure quoted at? as at 1psi it would be good, and 1 bar bad.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I think the 155 was from a kick down yeah, I did my best to edit together the footage to make it real and honest with out being totally boring

[@matthewwiddows6319]

@@GeoffBuysCars used to help a friend with his dyno, did volvo days, 850 autos wernt very accurate to dyno, if you load the rollers to much they kick down, if you go to fast on the pedal they kick down, can't go wot as you hit kick down switch on throttle cable, you cant just open the throttle from 1500 and let it rev out like you can with manual. Plus you can easy tweak correction factors so no dyno is the same, dynos best for before and after gains. What would have been better to see is boost and af.

[@performanceremap9727]

Yes it kick downed a gear, really hard to dyno these old school autoboxes. Have to hold the throttle at exactly the right place.

[@torehanem]

My experience with these is that the TCV gets worn and you lose turbo pressure. And then they give over 10 hp more with 98 oct instead of 95 oct.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yeah this was running on E5

[@torehanem]

@@GeoffBuysCars If you want to go further tuning it, then you have to change the cat back exhaust due to too high back pressure in Volvo's oem exhaust. I would recommend you BSR or MTE/TME software and exhaust, developed in Sweden, if you can get it in the UK? I live in Norway so I have easy access to this.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

@@torehanem Sounds expensive! I think the first thing is to address and resolve the oil leaks, it's not running the original cat but yeah, maybe a good quality high flow exhaust will help, but in my experience that's where it gets costly!

[@torehanem]

@@GeoffBuysCars Yes, its 600€ for both parts, exhaust and ECU tune. 189€ for the BSR chip alone. The nice thing is that you can pick it off and put it in another 2.3 T5 if you wreck this one one day.?

[@omaliveatlast4688]

Try again with E5 fuel and run redex for a tank

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Yeah this was E5, the redex would be interesting though

[@andy530i]

If you want less power loss through the transmision, then swap it to manual.

[@volvo850enjoyer8]

why is that?

[@andy530i]

@@volvo850enjoyer8 mainly due to power losses in the torque converter. I had a Vauxhall Senator 2.5 auto that I converted, using a donor car. The car was a totally different animal with the manual box in it, way quicker off the mark, & power delivery throughout the rev range was increased, scared my gf of the time lol.

[@Andrew-yb1uv]

Hope my Volvo ages so well. (It will 😝)

[@grahamheath3799]

Not bad for an old girl!!

[@paulf2529]

I'm not that shocked as these were very well built, regular oil and filter changes, and they would go on and on. My father had a high mileage 740 estate and the only thing that had gone on it when he changed it was the suspension, according to the mot check website someone kept it for another 4 years after he traded it in.

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Is it still around?

[@dudeleboski2692]

Geoff, do you still surf?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

I try to but I haven’t been in ages :-( Bring on the summer!!

[@crazyforcars]

Wow, 195.6 hp, the old lady is still at impressively good strength. With my estimate of 193 I almost matched it. @GBC: was anyone closer to the real figures with his guess?

[@GeoffBuysCars]

Nathaniel Warden I think said 196!

[@crazyforcars]

Congrats Nate 👍