How Excavator Work Modes Boost Productivity and Reduce Costs
These settings are known as work modes. A common misconception is that running at the highest mode automatically results in more power. In reality, operating in the highest mode all the time can unnecessarily waste fuel and push the machine beyond optimal efficiency levels. By choosing the right work mode, you get the perfect balance of power and speed for the job at hand while burning as little fuel as possible — you’ll also put less stress on your machine over time.
Key Takeaways
- It’s important to understand the relationship between hydraulic pressure and flow in order to select the optimal excavator work mode — more pressure = more force, more flow = more speed.
- In 2024 and older Volvo excavators, work modes are designated with letters (I, F, G and H). The higher you go, the more flow (speed) you’ll get.
- In new Volvo excavators, work modes are selected using a simple jog wheel with 10 different settings. Remember, scaling back slightly can yield significant fuel savings — up to 10% in some cases.
Integrated work modes on Volvo excavators have evolved over the years, and in 2024 we made an adjustment to simplify them further — so in this article, I’ve first put together a quick overview of hydraulic pressure and flow so that you understand what’s happening inside your machine. Then I’ve provided details on the specific work modes depending on which Volvo excavators you operate. Feel free to skip to the section(s) that apply to you.
Understanding Excavator Hydraulics: Fluid Pressure and Flow
The first thing you should understand is that fuel combustion is what makes hydraulic fluid movement happen. Excavator work modes then control the amount of hydraulic fluid flow you’re getting throughout your machine, which in turn impacts fluid pressure. This matters because sometimes you need equal amounts of both, and sometimes you need more of one or the other in certain parts of your excavator for specific tasks.
Pressure controls excavator power:
- Think of pressure as the "muscle" of your excavator. Higher pressure allows your machine to exert more force, which is crucial for tasks like breaking through tough materials, lifting heavy loads or digging in heavy/dense material. As an example, when you're using a hydraulic breaker to demolish concrete, you need high pressure to deliver powerful impacts.
- In simpler terms, more pressure = more force.
Flow controls excavator speeds:
- Flow determines how quickly the hydraulic oil moves through the system, which directly impacts the speed of your excavator's movements.
- Higher flow translates to faster boom, arm and bucket movements, allowing you to complete tasks more quickly. For example, when you're grading or backfilling, you might prioritize higher flow to move material more quickly.
- In simpler terms, more flow = more speed.
Work Modes for Volvo Excavators Older Than 2024
The work modes on previous generations of Volvo excavators include four letter designations specific to the amount of pressure and/or flow you need. A picture of the work modes dial is below.
Let’s break them down:
IDLE (I) MODE MINIMIZES FUEL CONSUMPTION
Idle mode features two settings designed to keep the engine running at low RPMs when your machine isn’t actively working. These modes are used for warm up and help reduce fuel consumption while allowing your machine to remain ready for use.
When should I use it?
The lower idle setting runs at approximately 800 RPM, offering the most fuel savings possible short of shutting your machine down. A slightly higher setting, around 1,000 RPM, allows for quicker warm-up times while still maintaining fuel efficiency.
What’s my benefit?
Lower RPM directly translates into lower fuel consumption. Volvo excavators also include an auto-idle function which automatically shifts into idle after a preset time, further simplifying fuel management.
FINE (F) MODE INCREASES PRECISION & POWER
Fine mode includes three settings that balance lower pump flow throughout your excavator with high pressure where you need it.
When should I use it?
Fine mode gives you optimized power to lift heavy objects like concrete blocks or large steel pipes and slowly place them into position. So here, you’re not necessarily looking for speed — you’re looking for directed power with higher precision.
What’s my benefit?
The fine modes help you achieve high-quality results with less rework. Yes, you could dial it all the way up to Heavy mode for lifting something really heavy, but when you do that, you’re asking for more flow (which controls speed), not pressure (which controls power). With excavator hydraulic systems, it's hard to have both. Fine mode gives you the power you need without wasting energy elsewhere.
GENERAL (G) MODE BALANCES POWER AND EFFICIENCY
General mode offers four settings — ranging from approximately 1,400 RPM to 1,700 RPM — and gives you a good range of pressure and flow.
When should I use it?
These modes are optimal for standard excavation and grading jobs, allowing you to match power output to the task while conserving fuel. If you have multiple operators at different skill levels, you can each select the setting that provides the right amount of power and speed to work more accurately.
What’s my benefit?
Scaling back even slightly in the general modes can yield significant fuel savings — up to 10% in some cases — while still maintaining strong digging performance. Burning less fuel also means less engine strain, which can extend the life of your excavator. As you’re working, try out the different settings to see if you can dial it down a notch or two and still get the job done.
HEAVY (H) MODE DELIVERS MAXIMUM FLOW
Heavy mode runs the engine at approximately 1,800 RPM to allow for the fastest speeds while providing high flow output.
When should I use it?
This mode is reserved for tough jobs where maximum speed is essential, such as heavy truck loading.
What’s my benefit?
While fuel consumption in heavy mode is highest, the sheer speed and power (as needed) can be essential for certain applications. But like I mentioned, returning to lower modes when possible helps balance productivity with optimized fuel efficiency.
If you need max power in Heavy mode, though, you do have the option to turn on a manual power boost (indicated on your screen while activated) to get added power when you need it.
Work Modes for Volvo Excavators 2024 and Newer
Our newly redesigned lineup of Volvo excavators now features selectable work modes designed to match engine speed and pump flow to specific tasks. With these new excavators, the work mode rotary switch and letter indicators have been replaced with a simple jog wheel (shown below) that has 10 different settings — the higher you go, the more flow (speed) you’ll get.
Modes 1 and 2 (800 and 1,000 RPM)
The two lowest modes keep the engine running at low RPMs when the machine isn’t actively working. They’re primarily used for warm up and help reduce fuel consumption while allowing your machine to remain ready for use. Volvo excavators also include an auto-idle function that automatically shifts into idle after a preset time, further simplifying fuel management.
The lower idle setting offers the most fuel savings possible short of shutting your machine down. The slightly higher setting allows for quicker warm-up times while still maintaining fuel efficiency.
Modes 3 and 4 (1,100 and 1,200 RPM)
These modes balance lower pump flow throughout your excavator with high pressure where you need it. This gives you more precise control of your attachments, or optimized power to lift heavy objects like concrete blocks or large steel pipes and slowly place them into position. So here, you’re not necessarily looking for speed — you’re looking for directed power with higher precision.
Mode 4 provides added pump flow while maintaining power — perfect for tasks like placing large pipes or culverts in trenches, where both precision and power are essential.
Dialing in to 3 or 4 helps you achieve high-quality results with less rework. Yes, you could dial it all the way up to 9 or 10 for lifting something really heavy, but when you do that, you’re asking for more flow (which controls speed), not pressure (which controls power). With excavator hydraulic systems, it's hard to have both. Fine mode gives you the power you need without wasting energy elsewhere.
Modes 5 through 8 (1,250 – 1,400 RPM)
In these modes, you’re getting a good range of pressure and flow. They’re optimal for standard excavation and grading jobs, allowing you to match power output to the task while conserving fuel. If you have multiple operators at different skill levels, you can each select the mode that provides the right amount of power and speed to work more accurately.
Scaling back even slightly in these modes can yield significant fuel savings — up to 10% in some cases — while still maintaining strong digging performance. Burning less fuel also means less engine strain, which can extend the life of your excavator. As you’re working, try out the different settings to see if you can dial it down a notch or two and still get the job done.
Modes 9 and 10 (1,500 and 1,600 RPM)
When you dial your excavator up to 9 or 10, you’re asking for maximum flow — so you’re essentially looking for speed. A lot of operators confuse 9 and 10 for maximum power, but that’s not really the case.
If you need max power in these modes, though, you do have the option to select a power boost mode (automatic or manual) to get added power at max speed. The auto-boost function gives you 9 seconds of max power and will automatically add 9 more seconds as long as you need it.
These top two modes are reserved for tough jobs where maximum speed is essential, such as heavy truck loading. While fuel consumption here is highest, the sheer speed and power (as needed) can be essential for certain applications. But like I mentioned, returning to lower modes when possible helps balance productivity with optimized fuel efficiency.
I should also mention that with our new series of Volvo excavators, we optimized our pumps to provide added hydraulic flow and pressure at lower RPMs while in these high modes. You get the same speed and on-demand power, but at 200 fewer revolutions per minute, which burns less fuel and helps your excavators last longer.
Smarter Work Modes Mean Smarter Operations
With a range of integrated work modes tailored to specific tasks, you get more control over power, speed, precision and fuel consumption, helping to optimize your excavator’s performance across a wide variety of tasks. When used correctly, they help you lower your operating costs to improve your total cost of ownership.
Watch Volvo excavator work modes in action to get a better idea of how the right mode can make a measurable difference on your jobsites.
Danny Freeman
Sales Training and Product Support Manager
Before working for Volvo, Danny began his career within his family construction business. Currently, he’s a sales training and product support manager with several decades of construction and demolition experience.