1998 Volvo S90
Volvo Canada Ltd.
175 Gordon Baker Road
Willowdale, Ontario M2H 2N7
800-663-8255
Volvo and the environment
Volvo is committed to the well being of our
customers. As a natural part of this
commitment, we care about the environment in
which we all live. Caring for the environment
means an everyday involvement in reducing
our environmental impact.
Volvo's environmental activities are based on a
holistic view, which means we consider the
overall environmental impact of a product
throughout its complete life cycle. In this
context, design, production, product use, and
recycling are all important considerations.
In production, Volvo has partly or completely
phased out several chemicals including freons,
lead chromates, naphtanates, asbestos, mercury
and cadmium; and reduced the amount of
chemicals used in our plants 50% since 1991.
In use, Volvo was the first in the world to
introduce into production a three-way catalytic
converter with a Lambda sond, now called
oxygen sensor, in 1976. The current version of
this highly efficient system reduces emissions
of harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from
the exhaust pipe by approximately 95% and
the search to eliminate the remaining
emissions continues. Volvo is the only
automobile manufacturer to offer CFC-free
retrofit kits for the air conditioning system for
all models back to the M/Y 1975 240.
Advanced electronic engine controls, refined
purification systems and cleaner fuels are
In addition to continuous environmental
refinement of conventional gasoline-powered
internal combustion engines, Volvo is actively
looking at advanced technology alternative-
fuel vehicles.
When you drive a Volvo, you become our
partner in the work to lessen the car's impact
on the environment.
To reduce your vehicle's environmental
impact, you can:
l Maintain proper air pressure in your
tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel
economy with improperly inflated tires
l Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule
l Drive at a constant speed
l See an authorized Volvo retailer as
soon as possible for inspection if the
check engine (malfunction indicator)
lamp illuminates, or stays on after the
vehicle has started
l Properly dispose of any vehicle related
waste such as used motor oil, used
batteries, brake pads, etc.
l When cleaning your car, use Volvo's
own car care products, all of which
have systematically been adapted to the
environment
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 4 - Starting and driving
pg. 53
Starting and driving
This section on starting and driving contains items
such as starting the engine, operating gear selector, towing, trailers.
Break-in period pg. 54
Fuel requirements, Refueling pg. 54
Driving economy pg. 56
Starting the engine pg. 57
Automatic Transmission pg. 58
Points to remember pg. 60
Emergency towing pg. 63
Vehicle Towing Information pg. 64
Jump starting pg. 65
Three-way catalytic converter pg. 66
Brake system, ABS pg. 67
Trailer towing pg. 68
Winter driving pg. 69
Before a long distance trip pg. 70
Break-in period, Fuel requirements pg. 54
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1998 Volvo S90
A new car should be broken-in!
Refrain from utilizing your car's full driving
potential, e.g. full-throttle acceleration, during the
first 1,200 miles (2,000 km).
Automatic transmission
Do not use "kick-down" during the first 1,200
miles (2,000 km).
NOTE - ENGINE OIL:
Although some oil consumption during normal
engine operation, more oil is consumed when the
engine is new as the internal parts generate higher
friction while wearing-in to each other. From the
time the engine is new until the first service is
performed, the oil consumption could be
higher than normal. For this reason, it is
especially important to check the oil every time
you refuel your car during this period. See
page 108.
In general, the rate of oil consumption depends on
such factors as: engine temperature, length of trip,
driving conditions, oil viscosity and quality,
engine speed and acceleration/deceleration.
Checking your engine oil level each time the car
is refuelled is one of the most important items
you can perform to help keep your car in good
running order.
Deposit control gasoline (detergent
additives)
Volvo recommends the use of gasoline containing
deposit control additives. These additives have
shown to be efficient in keeping injectors and
intake valves clean. Consistent use of deposit
control gasolines will help ensure good
driveability and fuel economy. If you are not sure
whether the gasoline contains deposit control
additives, check with the service station operator.
Unleaded Fuel
Each Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter
and must use only unleaded gasoline. U.S. and
Canadian regulations require that pumps
delivering unleaded gasoline be labeled
"UNLEADED". Only these pumps have nozzles
which fit your car's filler inlet. It is unlawful to
dispense leaded fuel into a vehicle labeled
"unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline
damages the three-way catalytic converter and the
heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated use of
leaded gasoline will lessen the effectiveness of
the emission control system and could result in
loss of emission warranty coverage. State and
local vehicle inspection programs will make
detection of misfueling easier, possibly resulting
in emission test failure for misfueled vehicles.
NOTE: Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines
contain an octane enhancing additive called
methyl-cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). If such fuels are used, your Emission
Control System performance may be affected,
and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp located on
your instrument panel may light. If this occurs,
please return your vehicle to an authorized Volvo
retailer for service.
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1998 Volvo S90
Chapter 4 (cont)
Emergency towing (pulling of vehicles)
pg. 63
Precautionary steps to observe when car is in tow
l Steering must be unlocked.
l Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this typ\
e of towing, as vehicles being
towed are subject to regulations regarding maximum towing speed, length \
and type of towing device,
lighting, etc.
l Remember that power brake and power steering assists will not be availab\
le when engine is
inoperative. Brake pedal pressure required is 3 - 4 times above normal a\
nd greater steering effort must
be exerted.
l Gear selector in position N. Check transmission oil level (see section \
titled "Transmission oil").
l Maximum speed: 20 mph (30 km/h).
l Maximum distance with rear wheels on ground: 20 miles (30 km).
l If the battery is dead, it is not possible to release the gear selector \
by pressing the brake pedal.
Release the gear selector manually, see page 61.
Cars equipped with automatic transmission/three-way catalytic converters\
cannot be started by pushing
or pulling the car.
CAUTION: The towing eyelets must not be used for pulling another vehicle\
out of a ditch or any
similar purpose involving severe strain.
Do not attempt to start the car by pushing or pulling it as damage to th\
e three-way catalytic converter
can result.
Vehicle towing information pg. 64
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1998 Volvo S90
cable.
Three-way catalytic converter cautions pg. 66
l Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions,
particularly involving the electrical, fuel or distributor ignition syst\
ems,
may cause unusually high three-way catalytic converter temperatures. Do \
not continue to operate your vehicle if you detect engine misfire,
noticeable loss of power or other unusual operating conditions, such as \
engine overheating or backfiring. Aproperly tuned engine will help avoid\
malfunctions that could damage the three-way catalytic converter.
l Remember that tampering or unauthorized modification to the engine or
the vehicle may be illegal and can cause three-way catalytic converter o\
r
exhaust system overheating. This includes:
-Altering fuel injection settings or components.
-Altering emission system components or location or removing
components -Repeated use of leaded
fuel.
l Do not park your car
over combustible
materials, such as grass
or leaves, which can
come into contact with
the hot exhaust system
and cause such materials
to ignite under certain
wind and weather
conditions.
l Excessive starter
cranking (in excess of
one minute), with an
intermittently firing or
flooded engine, can
cause three-way catalytic
converter or exhaust
system overheating.
NOTE: Unleaded fuel is
required for cars with
three-way catalytic
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1998 Volvo S90
SFI is all-electronic and microprocessor-
controlled. It can continually compensate for
variations in engine load, speed and temperature
to give the best economy and power. An
important feature of the system is a mass air flow
sensor that measures the mass of the inducted air
instead of the volume. In this way the system can
make instantaneous adjustments for changes in air
temperature or density, thus always assuring the
best economy with the lowest possible exhaust
emissions.
Heated oxygen sensor
This is an emission control system designed to
reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. The
heated oxygen sensors monitor the composition of
the exhaust gases leaving the engine. The exhaust
gas analysis is fed into an electronic module. This
adjusts the air-fuel ratio to provide optimum
conditions for combustion and efficient reduction
of the three major pollutants (hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen) by a
three-way catalytic converter.
Air pump system
During cold starts, an electric pump is activated
which directs air to the exhaust channels. This
initiates a secondary combustion of exhaust gases
which helps minimize hydrocarbon and carbon
monoxide levels and reduces warm-up time for
the three-way catalytic converter. The pump
begins to function when the engine is started. It
remains in operation until the three-way catalytic
converter has reached normal operating
temperature. A sound may be audible from the air
pump during this warm-up period. This is normal.
When idling, the air pump performs a self-
diagnosis. A soft whining noise can be heard,
which is also normal.
Emissions systems pg. 113
Evaporative control system (EVAP)
The engine is equipped with a fuel evaporation
system which prevents the emission of fuel vapor
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1998 Volvo S90
Engine
Liquid-cooled, gasoline, 6-
cylinder, in-line engine.
Aluminum alloy cylinder
block with cast-iron cylinder
liners cast directly into block.
Aluminum alloy cylinder head
with double overhead
camshafts and separate intake
and outlet channels.
Engine lubrication is provided
by an eccentric pump driven
from the crankshaft. Full-flow
type oil filter. Exhaust
emission control
accomplished by fuel
injection, heated oxygen
sensors and three-way
catalytic converter.
Type designation
Output (SAE J 1349)
Max. torque (SAE J 1349) at
rpm
Number of cylinders
Bore
Stroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Valve clearance:Volvo B 6304 S
181 hp at 5200 rpm
(135 kW at 73 rps)
199 ft. lbs. (274 Nm) at 4100
rpm
6
3.27" (83 mm)
3.54" (90 mm)
2.92 liters
10.7:1
Self-adjusting
All specifications are subject
to change without notice.
Specifications (cont.) pg. 124
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