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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 238 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
Park the car on a level surface and wait for at least 3 minutes after th\
e engine has been switched off. Be
sure the oil level is maintained between the upper and lower marks on th\
e dipstick. Low oil level can
cause internal damage to the engine and over-filling can result in high \
oil consumption. The distance
between the dipstick marks represents approx. 1 US qts (1 liter)*. The\
oil should preferably be checked
when cold, before the engine has been started.
* Certain models: 1.6 US qts (1.5 liters)
NOTE: The engine must be stopped when checking the oil.
Draining the oil
Drain the oil after driving while it is still warm.
WARNING! The oil may be very
hot.
If you change the engine oil and filter yourself, your Volvo retailer ca\
n assist you in disposing of the
used oil. Engine oil can be harmful to your skin - gloves should worn wh\
en performing this work.
To add or change oil
Add oil of the same kind as already used. Capacity (including filter):\
5.6 US qts (5.3 liters) (certain
models: 6.1 US qts/5.8 liters). Turbo models: 5.6 US qts (5.3 liters)\
.** The oil filter should be replaced
at every oil change
** Add 0.95 qts (0.9 liters) if the oil cooler has been drained.
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1996 Volvo 850
Normally, the coolant does not need to be changed. If the system must be\
drained, use the following
procedure:
1 Remove the expansion tank cap.
2 Move the temperature adjustment control to max. heat. Open the drain c\
ocks at the rear left of the
engine block and at the bottom right corner of the radiator.
3 Disconnect the lower right radiator hose.
Filling:
4 Close the drain cocks and reconnect the hose.
5 Fill the expansion tank to the MAX mark or slightly above.
6 Run the engine until hot. Check the cooling system connections for tig\
htness. Recheck the coolant
level.
Capacity: Approx. 7.6 US qts. (7.2 liters)
Turbo - 7.4 US qts. (7.0 liters)
Coolant: Volvo Genuine Coolant/Antifreeze only
NOTE: Do not top up with water only. Water by itself reduces the rust-pr\
otective and anti-freeze
qualities of the coolant and has a lower boiling point. It can also caus\
e damage to the cooling system if it
should freeze.
WARNING: If the engine is warm and you are going to top up coolant, unsc\
rew the cap slowly in
order to allow any excess pressure to escape.
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Page 251 of 265
1996 Volvo 850
Engine oil Quality: Meeting API specification SG
or SH Capacity (incl. filter): 850 (5-
cyl. engine) 5.6 US qts./5.3
liters (certain models: 6.1 US
qts./5.8 liters)
850 Turbo - 5.6 US qts. (5.3
liters)*
Automatic transmission
fluid Quality: ATF Dexron IIE/ III and
Mercon Capacity: 8 US qts. (7.6 liters)
Manual transmission fluid Quality: Volvo synthetic gearbox oil
1161423 Capacity: 2.2 US qts (2.1
liters)
Power steering fluid Quality: ATF Capacity: 0.85 US qts. (0.8
liters)
Brake fluid Quality: DOT 4+ Capacity: 0.64 US qts. (0.6
liters)
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
* Add 0.95 qts. (0.9 liters) if the oil cooler has been drained Capaci\
ty: 8 US qts (7.6 liters)
pg. 9:3 Specifications
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