1 To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your vehicle's transmission fluid yourself. Have your vehicle's transmission fluid
level inspected by a qualified Volvo service technician.
125 06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
Octane rating
Volvo engines are designed to achieve rated horsepower, torque, and fuel economy performance using premium 91
octane fuel.
Volvo recommends premium for best performance, but using 87 octane or above will not affect engine reliability.
In demanding driving conditions, such as operating the vehicle in hot weather, towing a trailer, or driving for extended
periods at higher altitudes than normal, it may be advisable to switch to higher octane fuel (91 or higher) or to change
gasoline brands to fully utilize your engine's capacity, and for the smoothest possible operation.
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel or changing gasoline brands, it may be necessary to fill the tank more than
once before a difference in engine operation is noticeable.
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives)
ProCarManuals.com
Mode W reduces torque at the wheels, which helps improve traction when starting off on a slippery surface.
Press the button near the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage this driving mode.
A "W" will be displayed in the instrument panel when Winter/Wet driving mode is engaged.
Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the Drive (D) position.
Once underway, turn off mode W to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy.
Cold starts (turbo engines)
When driving before the engine has reached its normal operating temperature, the transmission will shift up at slightly
higher engine speeds to heat the three-way catalytic converter as quickly as possible.
137 06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing the accelerator pedal fully and briskly. An
upshift will occur when approaching the top speed for a particular gear or by releasing the accelerator pedal slightly.
Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleration or when passing at highway speeds.
NOTE
The gear selector must be in the D (Drive) position for kickdown to function.
138 06 Starting and driving
Shiftlock override
Overriding the shiftlock system
Shiftlock prevents the gear selector from being moved out of Park unless the ignition key is in position II and the
brake pedal is depressed.
In certain cases it may be necessary to move the gear selector from the Park position manually.
ProCarManuals.com
1 The engine specifications for horsepower and torque listed in this table are based on the use of premium fuel.
Charge air cooler (Intercooler)
Turbocharged engines employ a turbo-compressor to force air into the engine inlet manifold and a charge air cooler to
cool the compressed inlet air. The resulting increase in air flow raises pressure in the intake manifold and increases
engine power over that developed by the normally-aspirated engine. The charge air cooler (which resembles a radiator) is
located between the turbo-compressor and inlet manifold.
Fuel system
The engine is equipped with a multiport fuel injection system.
234 11 Specifications
Electrical system
General information
12-volt system with voltage controlled generator. Single wire system in which the chassis and engine block are used as
conductors, grounded on the chassis.
Bulbs
Please refer to page 195
for a list of the bulbs used in your car.
Battery
1
ProCarManuals.com
