
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
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
Only use wheel lift or flat bed equipment.
CAUTION:
Sling-type equipment applied at the front will
damage radiator and air conditioning lines.
It is equally important not to use slingtype
equipment at the rear or apply lifting equipment
inside the rear wheels: serious damage to the
rear axle may result.
WARNING!
Do not use the towing eyelets on the car to pull
the car up onto a flat bed tow truck.
Jump starting pg. 65
Jump starting Check that cars are not touching to prevent
premature completion of negative circuit. Note the position
of the battery terminals and using jumper cables, first
connect booster battery positive (+) terminal (1) to car
battery positive (+) terminal (2). Then connect the 12 volt
booster battery negative (-) terminal (3) to a stationary solid
metal part on the engine at a point away from the battery
(4).
Do not connect booster cable to any part of fuel system or
any moving parts. Avoid touching hot manifolds. After
engine has started, remove first the negative (-) terminal
jumper cable. Then remove the positive (+) terminal jumper
WARNING!
l To reduce the possibility of
explosion, never expose battery to
open flame or electric spark.
l Do not smoke near battery.
l Batteries generate hydrogen gas
which is flammable and explosive.
l Battery fluid contains sulfuric
acid. Do not allow battery fluid to
contact eyes, skin, fabrics or painted
surfaces. If contact occurs, flush
affected area immediately with
water.
l Obtain medical attention
immediately if eyes are affected.
Failure to follow the instructions for
jump starting can lead to personal
injury.
CAUTION: Improper hook-up of
jumper cables or use of other than 12-
volt batteries could result in damage
to equipment and/or battery.
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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
Maintenance service
Volvo advises you to follow the
service program which is
outlined in the "Maintenance
Records Manual". This
maintenance program contains
inspections and services
necessary for the proper
function of your car.
The maintenance services
contain several checks which
require special instruments and
tools and therefore must be
performed by a qualified
technician.
To keep your Volvo in top
condition, specify time tested
and proven Genuine Volvo Parts
and Accessories.
The Federal Clean Air
Act - U.S.
The Clean Air Act requires
vehicle manufacturers to furnish
written instructions to the
ultimate purchaser to assure the
proper functioning of those
components that control
emissions.
The maintenance instructions
listed in the "Servicing" section
of this Manual represent the
minimum maintenance required.
These services are not covered
by the warranty. You will be
required to pay for labor and
material used. Refer to your
Warranty booklet for further
details.
Maintenance services
Your Volvo has passed several
major inspections before being
delivered to you, according to
Volvo specifications. The
maintenance services outlined in
this book should be performed
as indicated. The extended
maintenance service intervals
make it even more advisable to
follow this program. Inspection
and service should also be
performed any time a
malfunction is observed or
suspected.
It is recommended that receipts
for vehicle emission services be
retained in the event that
questions arise concerning
maintenance. See your
"Maintenance Records Manual".Applicable warranties -
U.S.
In accordance with U.S. Federal
Regulations, the following list of
applicable U.S. warranties is
provided. For Canadian
specification vehicles, see your
separate warranty booklet.
l New Car Limited Warranty
l Parts and Accessories Limited
Warranty
l Corrosion Protection Limited
Warranty
l Seatbelt and Supplemental
Restraint Systems Limited
Warranty
l Emission Design and Defect
Warranty
l Emission Performance
Warranty
These are the Federal warranties;
other warranties are provided as
required by state law.
Refer to your separate Warranty
booklet for detailed information
concerning each of the warranties.
Maintenance Schedule pg. 106
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1998 Volvo S90
Maintenance schedule
A= Adjust (Correct if necessary) I= Inspect (Correct or Replace if ne\
cessary)
R= Replace L= Lubricate
Maintenance Operation thousand
miles
(thousand km) 5
(8)
10
(16) 15
(25) 20
(32) 25
(40) 30
(48) 35
(56) 40
(64) 45
(72) 50
(80) 55
(88) 60
(96)
EMISSION SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE
Engine oil and filter R R R R R R R R R R R R
Engine drive belt (accessory belt) I R
Air cleaner filter R R
Spark plugs R R
Automatic transmission fluid I I I I I I
Timing belt - B 6304 S
4
1) See section "Engine oil" for detailed information.
NOTE: The oil should be changed at these intervals or after 750 hours of\
driving or after 12 months
which ever occurs first. See "Service Reminder indicator", page 19.
2) For services beyond 60,000 miles (96,000 km), consult your "Mainte\
nance Records booklet".
3) These intervals may apply, depending on actual driving conditions (\
see page 109 for details)
4) For proper functioning of the vehicle and its emission control syste\
m, Volvo recommends that the
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1998 Volvo S90
extreme operating conditions such as trailer
towing in sustained ambient temperatures over
104° F (40° C). However, SAE 10W-30 synthetic
oil would be a better alternative in such
conditions.
SAE 15W-40 should not be used under normal
operating conditions.
American Petroleum Institute
(API) labels. These labels certify
the oil conforms to the applicable
standards and specifications of
the API.
Servicing pg. 110
Torque exhaust and
intake manifold nuts
A loose manifold could alter air/
fuel ratio and cause an increase
in emissions and/or poor
driveability.
Air cleaner
Replace the air cleaner cartridge
with a new one every 30,000
miles (48,000 km). The
cartridge should be replaced
more often when driving under
dirty and dusty conditions, The
filter cannot be cleaned and,
therefore, should always be
replaced with a new one.
Vacuum fittings, hoses
and connections
Unstable idle, misfiring, or poor
emission control is often caused
by leaking vacuum hoses or
connections. Check hoses and
connections on distributor
vacuum unit, connections on
heater control servo systems and
hydraulic brake servo.
Fuel system cap, tank
and lines, and
connections
The effectiveness of the fuel
system to contain hydrocarbons
is dependent largely on a
leakfree system. Check for
proper sealing of gasoline filler
cap which contains "O" ring-
type seals. Check all
evaporative hoses in vehicle for
tightness. Check fuel lines under
vehicle and repair if necessary.
Fuel (line) filter
The fuel line filter is located
next to the fuel pump. This filter
should be replaced every
100,000 miles (160,000 km).
The filter is replaced as one
complete unit.
Replace more frequently if
contaminated fuel is introduced
into the tank (or if there is
reason to suspect that this has
occurred).
Timing belt
WARNING!
The distributor ignition
system operates at very high
voltages. Special safety
precautions must be followed
to prevent injury.
Always turn the ignition off
when:
l Replacing distributor
ignition components e.g.
plugs, coil, etc.
l Do not touch any part of
the distributor ignition system
while the engine is running.
This may result in unintended
movements and body injury.
Replacing spark plugs
The spark plugs should be
changed every 30,000 miles
(48,000 km). However, city
driving or fast highway driving
may necessitate changing after
15,000 miles (24,000 km) of
driving. When installing new
plugs, be sure to fit the right type
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1998 Volvo S90
Idle air control system
Your Volvo is equipped with an
electronically-controlled idle air
control system that requires no
checking or adjustment.
Volvo recommends that the
timing belt be replaced every
70,000 miles (112,000 km).
PCV system
The orifice nipple in the intake
manifold and the filter at the
end of the PCV hose in the
aircleaner should be inspected
every 60,000 miles (96,000 km).
Check/replace rubber hoses at
the same time.
and use correct torque, see
Specifications. When changing
the plugs, check that the
suppressor connectors are in
good condition. Cracked or
damaged connectors should be
replaced.
When changing the spark plugs,
clean the terminals and the
rubber seals.
Battery maintenance pg. 111
Battery maintenance
Driving habits and conditions, climate, the
number of starts, etc. all affect the service life and
function of the battery. In order for your battery to
perform satisfactorily, keep the following in mind:
l Check the fluid level in the battery every 6
months or every 10,000 * miles (16,000 km).
The fluid level in each battery cell should be
checked - use a screw driver to open the caps and
a flashlight to inspect the level.
*More frequently in warm climates.
l If necessary, add distilled water to
approximately 0.4 in. (10 mm) above the plates in
the cell or to the level indicator. See the
illustrations above.
l Check that the battery cables are correctly
connected and properly tightened.
l Never disconnect the battery when the engine is
running, for example when changing the battery.
l The battery should be disconnected when a
boost charger is used.
l Switch off the radio before disconnecting the
battery. If your radio has an antitheft code and the
battery is disconnected, the radio code has to be
reentered in order for the radio to function.
Fuel/emissions systems pg. 112
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