Page 163 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
CAUTION: Take care not to spill gasoline during refueling. Gasolines con\
taining alcohol can cause
damage to painted surfaces, which may not be covered under the New Vehic\
le Limited Warranty.
Do not use gasoline containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol)\
. This practice can result in
vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in the f\
uel system. Such damage may
not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
pg. 4:4 Driving economy
Economical driving does not necessarily mean driving slowly
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid\
starts and stops and
adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Obs\
erve the following rules:
l Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by \
driving with a light foot on
the accelerator pedal for the first minutes of operation. A cold engine \
uses more fuel and is subject to
increased wear.
l Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This\
does not allow the engine to
reach normal operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
l Do not exceed speed limit.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
l Check tire pressure regularly (check when tires are cold).
l Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and there\
by fuel consumption.
l Avoid using automatic transmission kick-down feature unless necessary.
l Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, \
the air conditioner's
compressor places places an additional load on the engine.
l If your car is equipped with the optional Trip Computer, utilizing the f\
uel consumption modes can
help you "learn" how to drive more economically.
Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:
l Low tire pressure
l Worn or dirty spark plugs
l Incorrect spark plug gap
l Dirty air cleaner
l Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
l Dragging brakes
l Incorrect front end alignment
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_401.htm (5 of 8)12/30/2006 9\
:59:32 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org
Page 175 of 265

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
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_406.htm (9 of 10)12/30/2006 \
9:59:34 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org
Page 176 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
Roof racks are available as Volvo accessories. Observe the following poi\
nts when is use:
l Avoid single-point loads. Distribute the load evenly.
l Place heavier cargo at bottom of load.
l Observe that center of gravity and handling are influenced by load weigh\
t.
l Increasing load size increases wind resistance and, thus, adversely affe\
cts fuel economy.
l Anchor the cargo correctly with appropriate tie-down equipment.
l Drive carefully. Avoid rapid starts, fast cornering and hard braking.
l Max. roof load is 220 lbs. (100 kg) when Volvo approved removable roof\
racks are attached to the
points indicated in the illustration. For permanent roof racks, check th\
e manufacturers weight
specifications.
WARNING! An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pe\
dal to catch. Check that the
movement of the accelerator pedal is not impeded. Not more than one prot\
ective floor covering may be
used at one time.
Contents | Top of Page
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_406.htm (10 of 10)12/30/2006\
9:59:34 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org
Page 260 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
850 (sedan) 2240 lbs (1016 kg) 1020 kg
850 (wagon) 2240 lbs (1016 kg) 1020 kg
850 Turbo (sedan) 2290 lbs (1039 kg) 1040 kg
850 Turbo (wagon) 2290 lbs (1039 kg) 1040 kg
Permissible axle weight, rear
850 (sedan) 1980 lbs (898 kg) 900 kg
850 (wagon) 2220 lbs (1007 kg) 1010 kg
850 Turbo (sedan) 1980 lbs (898 kg) 900 kg
850 Turbo (wagon) 2220 lbs (1007 kg) 1010 kg
Max. roof load ** 220 lbs (100 kg) 100 kg
Max. trailer weight
(w/o brakes) 1100 lbs (500 kg) 500 kg
(with brakes)
2" ball 3300 lbs (1500 kg) 1500 kg
1 7/8" ball 2000 lbs (908 kg) 900 kg
Max. tongue weight *** 165 lbs (75 kg) 75 kg
* The max permissible axle loads or the gross vehicle weight must not be\
exceeded.
** For permanent roof racks, check the manufacturer's weight specificati\
ons.
*** See also section "Trailer towing"
All specifications are subject to change without notice. pg. 9:8 Service manuals, Road assistance
Service Manuals for your Volvo are available for purchase. These are the\
same manuals used by
competent Volvo technicians.
Major sections within the Service Manual System include: 0- General Info\
rmation; 1- Lubrication and
Service; 2- Engine; 3- Electrical System; 4- Power Transmission; 5- Brak\
es; 6- Suspension and Steering;
file:///K|/ownersdocs/1996/1996_850/96850_906.htm (4 of 9)12/30/2006 9\
:59:57 AMClassic Cars & Cycles www.ClassicCycles.org