
1998 Volvo S90
lock, the cruise control will
disengage automatically.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning pg. 25
ECC - Electronic Climate Control
This is an automatic system that also permits
manual operation. The in-car temperature is
automatically monitored by two sensors located in
the passenger compartment.
One sensor is located on the top of the dashboard
where it can sense sunlight. The second sensor is
located on the courtesy light fixture where it can
sense the temperature in the center of the car. The
following pages describe how ECC works and
how it can be used most effectively.
Refrigerant
Volvo cares about the environment. The air
conditioning system in your car contains a CFC-
free refrigerant - R134a. This substance will not
deplete the ozone layer. The system contains 2 lbs
(0.9 kg) R134a and uses Sanden SP-20 (type
PAG) oil.
Air vents (dash)
A Open
B Closed
C Directing air flow horizontally
D Directing air flow vertically
NOTE:All maintenance on the climate control
systems should be carried out by an authorized
Volvo service technician only.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (cont.) pg. 26
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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
Volvo allows the use of the
following "oxygenated fuels";
however, the octane ratings
listed on this page must still be
met. of fuel. Therefore, it is
advisable to refuel as soon as
possible when the needle nears
the red zone, or when the fuel
warning light comes on.
Driving economy pg. 56
Economical driving
conserves natural
resources
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. Observe 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 few 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
l Remove snow tires when
threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski
racks, etc., increase air
resistance and thereby 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. However, please
note that fuel consumption is
lower with the air conditioning
on than it is when driving with
the air conditioning switched
off and the windows down.
Other factors which decrease
gas mileage are:
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
Some of the above mentioned
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1998 Volvo S90
(check when tires are cold). items and others are checked at
the standard Maintenance
Service intervals.
NOTE: Since using (D)rive
improves fuel economy, it
should be used as often as
possible.
Starting the engine pg. 57
Starting and stopping a
car equipped with
automatic transmission
1 Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING! Before
starting, check that the seat
is adjusted properly. Make
sure the brake pedal can be
depressed completely. Move
the seat closer if necessary.
Refer to section "Front
seats".
2 Apply the parking brake, if
not already set. The gear
selector is locked in the (P)ark
position (SHIFTLOCK).
3Without touching the
accelerator pedal ,turn the
ignition key to the starting
position. Allow the starter to
operate for 5-10 seconds.
Release the key as soon as the
engine starts. If the engine fails
to start, repeat step 3.
5 Select desired gear. The gear
engages after a slight delay,
especially noticeable when
selecting R.
CAUTION: Engine should
be idling; never accelerate
until after you feel the gear
engage! Too rapid
acceleration immediately
after selecting a gear will
cause harsh engagement and
premature transmission
wear.
NOTE:Your car is equipped
with a KEYLOCK system.
When the engine is switched
off, the gear selector must be in
the (P)ark position before the
key can be removed from the
ignition switch.
Engine warm-up - initial
driving procedure
Engines in vehicles driven short
distances are subject to
abnormally rapid wear because
the engine never reaches normal
operating temperature. It is
therefore beneficial to reach
normal operating temperature as
soon as possible. This is best
achieved by driving with a light
foot on the accelerator pedal for
a few minutes after starting,
rather than prolonged idling.
B6304 S Engine
This engine features hydraulic
valve lifters which means that
valve clearance is adjusted
automatically. It is possible that
the valve lifters will produce a
ticking sound for the first few
seconds after the engine is
started, while the oil pressure is
increasing.
If the car has not been used for a
long period of time, this ticking
sound may last for up to 15
minutes. This is entirely normal.
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1998 Volvo S90
Special Tips - automatic transmission
l For driving down steep hills and when driving
for prolonged periods at low speeds, position L
should be selected. Avoid, however, repeated
changes since this can cause overheating of the
transmission oil. For driving on long continuous
uphill gradients, select position 3.
l Do not hold the car stationary on an incline by
using the accelerator pedal. Instead, apply the
hand brake (parking brake). This prevents the
transmission oil from becoming overheated.
l When towing a trailer, select shift position 3.
l The (E)conomy mode should be selected when
the cruise control is engaged.
l Never select P or R while the car is in motion.
l When initially selecting positions D, 3, L or R,
your right foot should press firmly on the brake
pedal to ensure that the car is standing still with
the engine idling.
l The gear selector should not be downshifted to
L at speeds above 75 mph (125 km/h). Always
observe posted speed limits. Cooling system
The risk for overheating is greatest, especially in
hot weather, when:
l towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged
periods at wide open throttle and low engine rpm.
l stopping the engine suddenly after high speed
driving (so-called "after-boiling" can occur).
To avoid overheating, the following rules should
be followed:
l Reduce speed and downshift when towing a
trailer up long, steep inclines. The risk of
overheating can be reduced by switching off the
air conditioning system for a short time.
l Do not let the engine idle unnecessarily for
prolonged periods.
l Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front of the
grill.
When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in
the event of overheating, (the temperature gauge
goes repeatedly into, or stays continually in, the
red section) the following precautions should be
taken:
l Switch off the air conditioning system.
l Pull off the road, away from traffic, stop the car
and put the gear lever into neutral. Do not stop the
engine!
l Switch the heater to full (maximum) position.
Increase the engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm
(twice idling speed) until the temperature begins
to drop.
See "Coolant" to check and top-up the coolant
level if necessary.
WARNING! Do not remove coolant expansion
tank cap. The coolant will be extremely hot.
Points to remember pg. 61
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1998 Volvo S90
Observe legal requirements of
the state in which the vehicles
are registered.
WARNING! Bumper-
attached trailer hitches must
not be used on Volvos, nor
should safety chains be
attached to the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to
the vehicle rear axle must
not be used. kgs) a top speed of 50 mph (80
km/h) should never be
exceeded.
l Increase tire pressure to
recommended full-load
pressure. See section "Wheels
and tires".
l Engine and transmission are
subject to increased loads.
Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely
watched when driving in hot
climates or hilly terrain. Use
lower gear and turn off air
conditioner if temperature gauge
pointer enters the red range.
towing a trailer to ensure that the
max. permissible axle load or
gross vehicle weight are not
exceeded.
NOTE: Refer to section
"Automatic transmission" for
additional trailer hauling tips.
Winter driving pg. 69
Cold weather precautions
l If you wish to check your car before the
approach of cold weather, the following advice is
worth noting:
Make sure that the engine coolant contains at least
50 percent antifreeze: that is, 5.3 qts. (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 Volvo. Different types of antifreeze may not be
mixed.
l Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this
prevents the formation of condensation in the
tank.
In addition in extremely cold weather conditions it
is worthwhile to add fuel line de-icer before
refueling.
l The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil
with low viscosity (thinner 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 use good quality oil but do not use this
l The Volvo Washer Solvent should be diluted as
follows:
Down to 14°F (-10°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 4
parts water
Down to 5°F (-15°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 3
parts water
Down to 0°F (-18°C): 1 part anti-freeze and 2
parts water
Down to -18°F (-28°): 1 part anti-freeze and 1
part water
l Use lock spray or grease in the locks.
NOTE: Avoid the use of de-icing spray as they
can cause damage to the locks.
Automatic differential lock (certain
models)
The differential automatically locks at speed
between 3 - 25 mph (5 - 40 km/h) if either of the
drive wheels begins to lose traction. The
differential lock improves power distribution to
the drive wheels in slippery conditions, shifting
power to the wheel with best traction. It also
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1998 Volvo S90
cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm
weather. See section "Engine oil" for more
information.
l The load placed on the battery is greater during
the winter since the heater, 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 driving - see section
"Wheels and tires".
l To prevent the washer reservoir from freezing,
add washer solvents containing antifreeze. This is
important since dirt is often splashed on the
windshield during winter driving, thus requiring
frequent use of the washers and wipers.
functions when the transmission is in reverse.
Also see "Winter/Wet" mode on page 59.
Winter/Wet mode
Enhanced Vehicle Traction
This mode may be selected for starting/moving
off on slippery roads or to lower downshift speeds
if the transmission is in "L".
Mode W
*In position D, the gearbox starts in third gear and
changes up to fourth gear.
*In position 3, second gear is locked and there is
no change up to third gear. In position L, first gear
is locked.
*These positions always offer the kick-down
feature.
Long distance trip pg. 70
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your car checked at a Volvo retailer
before driving long distances. Your retailer will also be able to supply\
you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for your use in the \
event that problems occur.
If you prefer to check the car yourself, please note the following:
l Check that the engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is
normal.
l Check engine oil, coolant levels, and for possible fuel leakage.
l Check transmission oil level and rear axle for leakage.
l Check condition of drive belts.
l Check state of charge of battery.
l Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as well), and replace those
that are worn. Check tire pressures.
l The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be
checked by your Volvo retailer only.
l Check all lights, including high beams.
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If you change the engine oil and filter
yourself, your Volvo retailer can assist you
in disposing of the used oil. Engine oil can
be harmful to your skin - gloves should
worn when performing this work.
Engine oil pg. 109
Oil quality
Meeting API specification SG, SG/CD, SH or
Energy Conserving (EC) II
For best fuel economy and engine protection
consult with your authorized Volvo retailer for
recommended oils. Oils with a different quality
rating may not provide adequate engine
protection.
Viscosity (stable ambient
temperatures):
Do not use oils with other viscosity ratings. The
use of incorrect viscosity oil can shorten engine
life.
Volvo recommends the use of energy-conserving
oils. Look for the API label. Synthetic oils
complying with oil quality requirements are
recommended for: driving in areas of sustained
temperature extremes (hot or cold), when towing
a trailer over long distances or for prolonged
driving in mountainous areas.
Extra oil additives must not be used unless
advised by an authorized Volvo retailer.
NOTE: SAE 15W/40 should only be used in
Changing oil and oil filter
Oil and oil filter changes should be made as
specified in the following table:
If driving conditions
include: Then the correct oil/oil
filter change interval
is:
l Extended periods of
idling and/or low-
speeds operation
l Frequent short trips
(less than 7 miles = 11
km)
l Extended periods of
driving in dusty and/or
sandy areas
l Trailer towing
l Driving in
mountainous areas EVERY 6 MONTHS
OR EVERY
5,000 miles= 8,000 km
WHICHEVER
COMES FIRST
l Primarily highway
driving
l Frequent trips of
longer than 7 miles =
11 km EVERY 12 MONTHS
OR EVERY
10,000 miles = 16,000
km
WHICHEVER
COMES FIRST
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