
2006 VOLVO XC90
pg. 86 Starting and driving 
Refueling
ENGINE OIL 
Although some oil consumption occurs during normal engine operation, mor\
e oil is consumed when the 
engine is new as the internal parts generate higher friction while weari\
ng-in to each other. From the time 
the engine is new until the first maintenance is performed, the oil cons\
umption could be higher than 
normal. For this reason, it is especially important to check the oil eve\
ry time you refuel your vehicle 
during this period. See 
page 149.
Fuel requirements 
Octane rating 
Volvo engines are designed for optimum performance on unleaded premium g\
asoline with an AKI 
octane rating of 91 or above. AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of \
the Research Octane 
Number, RON, and the Motor Octane Number, MON. ((RON + MON)/2). The \
minimum octane 
requirement is AKI 87 (RON 91).
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives) 
Volvo recommends the use of detergent gasoline to control engine deposit\
s. Detergent gasoline is 
effective in keeping injectors and intake valves clean. Consistent use o\
f deposit control gasolines will 
help ensure good driveability and fuel economy. If you are not sure whet\
her the gasoline contains 
deposit control additives, check with the service station operator. 
NOTE: Volvo does not recommend the use of external fuel injector cleaning syst\
ems.
Unleaded fuel 
Each Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter and must use only unleade\
d gasoline. U.S. and Canadian 
regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded gasoline be labelled \
"UNLEADED". Only these 
pumps have nozzles which fit your vehicle's filler inlet. It is unlawful\
 to dispense leaded fuel into a 
vehicle labelled "unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline damages the t\
hree-way catalytic converter 
and the heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasoline wil\
l lessen the effectiveness of 
the emission control system and could result in loss of emission warrant\
y coverage. State and local 
vehicle inspection programs will make detection of misfueling easier, po\
ssibly resulting in emission test 
failure for misfueled vehicles. 
NOTE: Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing additive ca\
lled methyl-
cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used, \
your Emission Control System 
performance may be affected, and the Check Engine Light (malfunction in\
dicator lamp) located on your 
instrument panel may light. If this occurs, please return your vehicle t\
o an authorized Volvo retailer for 
maintenance.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
engine with an adequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advisable to re\
fuel as soon as possible when the 
needle nears the red zone, or when the fuel warning light comes on. 
WARNING! 
Never carry a cell phone that is switched on while refueling your vehicle. If the phone rings, this may 
cause a spark that could ignite gasoline fumes, resulting in fire and in\
jury. 
CAUTION 
- Do not refuel with the engine running *. Turn the ignition off or to p\
osition I. If the ignition is on, 
an incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge 
- After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise unt\
il it clicks into place*. 
- Allow for fuel expansion by not overfilling the tank. Overfilling coul\
d also cause damage to the 
emission control systems. 
- Avoid spilling gasoline during refueling. In addition to causing damag\
e to the environment, 
gasolines containing alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which\
 may not be covered under 
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. 
- Do not use gasolines containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcoho\
l). This practice can result 
in vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in th\
e fuel system. Such damage 
may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. 
* If the fuel filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is runni\
ng when the vehicle is refueled, the 
Check Engine Light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. \
However, your vehicle's 
performance will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fu\
el filler caps. 
pg. 89 Starting and driving 
Starting the engine 
1. Fasten the seat belt. 
WARNING! 
Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors are adj\
usted properly. Make sure the 
brake pedal can be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. S\
ee 
pages 58, 60. 
2. Apply the parking brake if not already set. The gear selector is lock\
ed in the (P)ark position 
(Shiftlock). 
Manual transmission: the clutch must be fully depressed.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
Autostart (V8 AWD only) 
This function makes it possible to start the vehicle without holding the\
 key in the start position (position 
III) until the engine starts. Turn the key to position III and release \
it. The starter motor will then operate 
automatically (for up to ten seconds) until the engine starts. 
Steering wheel lock 
The steering wheel lock might be under tension when the vehicle is parke\
d.
Turn the steering wheel slightly to free the ignition key. 
In order to help reduce vehicle theft, make sure the steering wheel lock\
 is engaged before leaving 
the vehicle. 
WARNING! 
Never switch off the ignition (turn the ignition key to position 0) or\
 remove the key from the ignition 
switch while the vehicle is in motion. This could cause the steering whe\
el to lock, which would make 
the vehicle impossible to steer. 
* The gear selector must be in the (P)ark position (automatic transmission). 
** Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase b\
attery drain. 
pg. 91 Starting and driving 
General information
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. 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 few minutes of operation. A cold eng\
ine uses more fuel and is subject 
to increased wear. 
l     Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle 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     Use the transmission's (D)rive position as often as possible and avoid using "kickdown" to help 
improve fuel economy. 
l     Do not exceed posted speed limits. 
l     Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle. 
l     Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tir\
es are cold). 
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2006 VOLVO XC90
l     Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended. 
l     Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also f\
uel consumption. 
l     At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air c\
onditioning on and the 
windows closed than with the air conditioning off and the windows open. \
l     Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you le\
arn how to drive more 
economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are: 
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 items and others are checked at the standard\
 Maintenance intervals.
Weight distribution affects handling 
At the specified curb weight your vehicle has a tendency to understeer, \
which means that the steering 
wheel has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvatur\
e 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 cargo area, the less the tende\
ncy to understeer. 
WARNING! 
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with the tailgate open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases 
entering the passenger compartment. If the tailgate must be kept open fo\
r any reason, proceed as 
follows 
- Close the windows 
- Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield an\
d side windows and blower 
control to its highest setting. 
CAUTION 
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. floode\
d roadways, etc.). Damage to 
the engine could result if excess water is drawn in through the air inta\
ke system. Never drive the 
vehicle in water deeper than 18 inches (48 cm). 
pg. 92 Starting and driving 
General information (contd)
Handling, roadholding 
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2006 VOLVO XC90
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle hand\
ling. 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.
Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces  
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for onroad driving, and it has exce\
llent handling characteristics 
on very rough or unpaved roads.
When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the foll\
owing in mind: 
l     Reduce speed on rough surfaces to minimize possible damage to the vehicl\
e's underbody. 
l     When driving on soft surfaces such as dry sand or snow, try to avoid sto\
pping if at all possible. 
WARNING! 
Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase th\
e risk of a roll-over. Try to 
drive straight up or down the slope. 
If the road is very steep, avoid turning the vehicle around to help avoi\
d the risk of rolling over. Back 
the vehicle up or down the incline instead. 
NOTE: Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If the\
 flow of fuel to the engine 
is interrupted due to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could res\
ult in damage to the three-way 
catalytic converter. We recommend keeping the fuel tank at least half fu\
ll when driving on steep inclines.
Driving through water 
l     The vehicle should not be driven through water that is deeper than 18 in\
ches (48 cm). Driving through 
deeper water could result in damage to transmission components or the di\
fferential, or to the engine if 
excess water is drawn in through the air intake system. 
l     Drive slowly and avoid stopping when driving through water. 
l     After having driven through water, apply the brakes lightly several time\
s to remove water, mud, etc 
from the brake discs. 
l     Never allow the vehicle to stand in water above the door sills. This cou\
ld result in damage to the 
electrical system.
Conserving electrical current 
Keep the following in mind to help minimize battery drain: 
l     When the engine is not running, avoid turning the ignition key to positi\
on II (see page 90). Many 
electrical systems (the audio system, the optional infotainment/navigat\
ion systems, power windows, etc) 
will function with the ignition key in position I. This position reduces\
 drain on the battery. 
l     Please keep in mind that using systems, accessories, etc that consume a \
great deal of current when the 
engine is not running could result in the battery being completely drain\
ed. 
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2006 VOLVO XC90
Driving in rain and slush or passing through an automatic car wash can c\
ause water to collect on the 
brake discs and pads. This will cause a delay in braking effect when the\
 pedal is depressed. To avoid 
such a delay when the brakes are needed, depress the pedal occasionally \
when driving through rain, 
slush, etc. This will remove the water from the brakes. Check that brake\
 application feels normal. This 
should also be done after washing or starting in very damp or cold weath\
er.
Severe strain on the brake system 
The brakes will be subject to severe strain when driving in mountains or\
 hilly areas, or when towing a 
trailer. Vehicle speed is usually slower, which means that the cooling o\
f the brakes is less efficient than 
when driving on level roads. To reduce the strain on the brakes, shift i\
nto a lower gear and let the engine 
help with the braking. Do not forget that if you are towing a trailer, t\
he brakes will be subjected to a 
greater than normal load. 
pg. 97 Starting and driving 
Brake system (contd)
 Anti-lock brakes (ABS) 
If the warning lamp lights up there is a malfunction of the ABS system (\
the standard braking system will 
however function) and the vehicle should be driven cautiously to a Volv\
o retailer for inspection. The 
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stop\
ping and steering) during severe 
braking conditions by limiting brake lockup. When the system "senses" im\
pending lockup, braking 
pressure is automatically modulated in order to help prevent lockup, whi\
ch could lead to a skid. 
This system performs a self-diagnostic test when the engine is started a\
nd when the vehicle first 
reaches a speed of approximately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a 
sound may be audible from the ABS control module. This is normal.
To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system, constant pressure should b\
e kept on the brake pedal. Do 
not pump the brake pedal.
The switching of the ABS modulator will be audible and the brake pedal w\
ill pulsate during braking. 
Please be aware that ABS does not increase the absolute braking potentia\
l of the vehicle. While control 
will be enhanced, ABS will not shorten stopping distances on slippery su\
rfaces.
ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) 
EBD is an integrated part of the ABS system. EBD regulates the hydraulic\
 pressure to the rear brakes to 
help provide optimal braking capacity. The brake pedal will pulsate duri\
ng braking, which is normal.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could\
 indicate a fault in the brake 
system. 
l     Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and switch off the engine. 
l     Restart the engine. 
l     If both warning lights go off, no further action is required. 
l     If both lights are still on after the engine has been restarted, switch \
off the engine again and check the 
brake fluid level (see 
page 147 for the location of the brake fluid reservoir). 
l     If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an au\
thorized Volvo retailer and 
have the brake system inspected. 
WARNING! 
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
 failure - Service urgent" 
message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle \
towed to a Volvo 
retailer and have the brake system inspected. 
Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA) 
EBA is designed to provide full brake effect immediately in the event of\
 sudden, hard braking. The 
system is activated by the speed with which you depress the brake pedal.\
 
NOTE: 
l     When the EBA system is activated, the brake pedal will go down and press\
ure in the brake system 
immediately increases to the maximum level. You must maintain full press\
ure on the brake pedal in 
order to utilize the system completely. EBA is automatically deactivated\
 when the brake pedal is 
released. 
l     When the vehicle has been parked for some time, the brake pedal may sink\
 more than usual when the 
engine is started. This is normal and the pedal will return to its usual\
 position when it is released. 
pg. 98 Starting and driving 
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC)
 The DSTC system on the Volvo XC90 consists of a number of functions:
1. Traction control (TC) 
This function is designed to help reduce wheel spin by transferring powe\
r from a drive wheel that begins 
to lose traction to the wheel on the opposite side of the vehicle (on t\
he same axle). TC monitors and 
compares the rotational speed of the drive wheels. If one of the drive w\
heels shows a tendency to spin, 
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2006 VOLVO XC90
The button must be pressed for at least a half second to prevent SC from\
 being switched off 
inadvertently.
When the system has been switched off, the green indicator lamp in the b\
utton will go out and "DSTC 
SPIN CONTROL OFF" will be displayed in the text window.
All DSTC functions are (re)activated each time the engine is started.
pg. 99 Starting and driving 
Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) (contd)
 The Stability Control indicator light 
The Stability Control indicator light will come on for approximately 2 s\
econds when the ignition is 
switched on as the system performs a self-diagnostic test.
The Stability Control indicator light will flash when: 
l     Traction Control is actively functioning to help avoid drive-wheel spin.\
 
l     Spin Control is actively functioning to help avoid loss of traction duri\
ng acceleration. 
l     Active Yaw Control is actively functioning to help avoid skids or latera\
l slides. 
l     Roll Stability Control is actively functioning to help avoid a roll-over\
 situation.
The warning symbol in the instrument panel
A steady yellow glow indicates: 
l     That the system has been automatically disengaged due to a fault. "ANTI \
SKID SERVICE 
REQUIRED" will be displayed in the text window. If this occurs, stop the\
 vehicle in a suitable place, 
switch off and restart the engine. If the light remains on, an authorize\
d Volvo retailer should check the 
system. 
l     In the event of high brake temperature, "TRACTION CONTROL TEMPORARILY OF\
F" will be 
displayed in the text window. 
The system will automatically switch on again when the brakes have coole\
d. 
pg. 100 Starting and driving 
Park assist
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