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1996 Volvo 850
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a tendency to understeer, whic\
h means that the steering wheel
has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvature of a\
bend. This ensures good
stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these p\
roperties can alter with the
vehicle load. The heavier the load in the trunk (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg)\
, the less the tendency to
understeer.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design, and inflation pressure, all affect vehicle ha\
ndling. Therefore, check that the
tires are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehicle \
load. See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissib\
le axle loads are not
exceeded.
WARNING! It is recommended that tire of the same make and dimensions be \
used on all four wheels
(including the use of snow tires). Do not use bias ply tires as this w\
ill adversely alter vehicle handling
characteristics.
Holes for roof rack
Roof racks
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Page 184 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
mountainous areas.
NOTE: Refer to section "Automatic transmission" for additional trailer h\
auling tips.
WARNING!
l Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should s\
afety chains be attached to
the bumper.
l Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
l Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly to the vehicle\
brake system, nor a trailer's
lighting system directly to the vehicle lighting system. Consult your ne\
arest authorized Volvo retailer
for correct installation.
pg. 4:18 Winter driving
Cold weather precautions
l If you wish to check your car before the approach of cold weather, the f\
ollowing advice is worth
noting:
l Make sure that the engine coolant contains at least 50 percent antifreez\
e: that is, 3.7 qts. (3.5 liters)
Volvo Genuine Coolant/Antifreeze. This gives protection against freezing\
down to -31°F (-35°C). See
section "Coolant". The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not approved by V\
olvo. Different types of
antifreeze may not be mixed.
l Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this prevents the formation of c\
ondensation in the tank. In
addition in extremely cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add fu\
el line de-icer before refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (t\
hinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting as well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine\
is warming up. For winter use,
5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type, is recommended. Be sure to u\
se good quality oil but do not
use this cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See secti\
on "Engine oil" for more
information.
l The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the he\
ater, windshield wipers,
lighting etc. are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery\
decreases as the temperature
drops. In very cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be \
damaged. It is therefore
advisable to check the state of charge more frequently and spray an anti\
-rust oil on the battery posts.
l Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter dri\
ving - see section "Wheels
and tires".
l To prevent the washer reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents conta\
ining antifreeze (see page
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Page 259 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
Length (sedan) 183.5 in. (466 cm)
(wagon) 185.4 in. (471 cm)
Width 69.3 in. (176 cm)
Height (sedan) 55.7 in. (141 cm)
(wagon) 56.9 in. (145 cm)
Wheelbase 104.9 in. (266 cm)
Track, front 59.8 in. (152 cm)
Track, rear 57.9 in. (147 cm)
Turning circle (between
curbs) 33.5 ft. (10.2 m)
Cargo capacity
Sedan (seat up) 14.7 cu. ft. (0.44 m³)
Wagon (seat up) 37.1 cu. ft. (1.1 m³)
Sedan (seat down) 33.2 cu. ft. (0.99 m³)
Wagon (seat down) 67.0 cu. ft. (2.0 m³)
WARNING! When adding accessories, equipment, luggage and other cargo to \
your vehicle, the total
loaded weight capacity of the vehicle must not be exceeded.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) USA Canada
850 (sedan) 4180 lbs (1896 kg) 1900 kg
850 (wagon) 4340 lbs (1969 kg) 1970 kg
850 Turbo (sedan) 4250 lbs (1928 kg) 1930 kg
850 Turbo (wagon) 4340 lbs (1969 kg) 1970 kg
Capacity Weight *
850 (sedan) 920 lbs (417 kg) 415 kg
850 (wagon) 1005 lbs (456 kg) 460 kg
850 Turbo (sedan) 920 lbs (417 kg) 415 kg
850 Turbo (wagon) 950 lbs (431 kg) 430 kg
850 R Turbo (sedan) 880 lbs (399 kg) 400 kg
850 R Turbo (wagon) 880 lbs (399 kg) 400 kg
Curb weight USA Canada
850 sedan 3120-3250 lbs (1415-1519 kg) 1385-1520 kg
850 wagon 3230-3460 lbs (1465-1569 kg) 1465-1570 kg
Permissible axle weight, front
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