Page 176 of 254

08 Car careWashing and cleaning the vehicle
08176
Washing the vehicle•
The vehicle should be washed at regular
intervals since dirt, dust, insects and tar
spots adhere to the paint and may cause
damage. It is particularly important to wash
the vehicle frequently in the wintertime to
prevent corrosion, when salt has been
used on the roads.
•
When washing the vehicle, do not expose
it to direct sunlight. Use lukewarm water to
soften the dirt before you wash with a
sponge, and plenty of water, to avoid
scratching.
•
Bird droppings: Remove from paintwork as
soon as possible. Otherwise the finish may
be permanently damaged.
•
A detergent can be used to facilitate the
softening of dirt and oil.
•
A water-soluble grease solvent may be
used in cases of sticky dirt. However, use
a wash place equipped with a drainage
separator.
•
Dry the vehicle with a clean chamois and
remember to clean the drain holes in the
doors and rocker panels.
•
Tar spots can be removed with kerosene
or tar remover after the vehicle has been
washed.
•
A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapy
water can be used to clean the wiper
blades. Frequent cleaning of the wind-shield and wiper blades improves visibility
considerably and also helps prolong the
service life of the wiper blades.
•
Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheel
housings, fenders, etc.).
•
In areas of high industrial fallout, more fre-
quent washing is recommended.CAUTION
•
When washing or steam cleaning the
engine, avoid spraying water or steam
directly on the electrical components or
toward the rear side of the engine.
•
Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights can
reduce lighting capacity considerably.
Clean the headlights regularly, for
example when refueling.
•
During high pressure washing, the
spray mouthpiece must never be closer
to the vehicle than 13 " (30 cm). Do not
spray into the locks.
Special moonroof cautions:
•
Always close the moonroof and sun
shade before washing your vehicle.
•
Never use abrasive cleaning agents on
the moonroof.
•
Never use wax on the rubber seals
around the moonroof.
•
After cleaning the engine, the spark plug
wells should be inspected for water and
blown dry if necessary.
Suitable detergents: Special vehicle washing
detergents should be used. A suitable mixture
is about 2.5 fl. oz. (8.5 cl) of detergent to 2.6 US
gal. (10 liters) of warm water. After washing
with a detergent the vehicle should be well
rinsed with clean water.
Exterior components
Volvo recommends the use of special cleaning
products, available at your Volvo retailer, for
cleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamental
components such as chromed strips on the
exterior of your vehicle. The instructions for
using these products should be followed care-
fully. Solvents or stain removers should not be
used.CAUTION
•
Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rub-
ber components
•
Polishing chromed strips can wear
away or damage the surface
•
Polishes containing abrasive sub-
stances should not be used
Page 185 of 254

09 Maintenance and servicing
Maintaining your vehicle
09
185 Owner maintenance
Periodic maintenance requirements and inter-
vals are described in your vehicle's Warranty
and Service Records Information booklet.
The following points can be carried out
between the normally scheduled maintenance
services.Each time the vehicle is refueled:•
Check the engine oil level
•
Clean the windshield, windshield wipers,
headlights, and tail lights
Monthly:•
Check cold tire pressure in all tires. Inspect
the tires for wear.
•
Check that engine coolant and other fluid
levels are between the indicated "min" and
"max" markings.
•
Clean interior glass surfaces with a glass
cleaner and soft paper towels.
•
Wipe driver information displays with a soft
cloth.
•
Visually inspect battery terminals for cor-
rosion. Corrosion may indicate a loose ter-
minal connector, or a battery near the end
of its useful service life. Consult a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician for
additional information.
As needed:•
Wash the vehicle, including the undercar-
riage, to reduce wear that can be caused
by a buildup of dirt, and corrosion that can
be caused by salt residues.
•
Clean leaves and twigs from air intake
vents at the base of the windshield, and
from other places where they may collect.NOTE
Complete service information for qualified
technicians is available online for purchase
or subscription at www.volvotechinfo.com.
Page 191 of 254

09 Maintenance and servicing
Engine oil
09
191
NOTE
Volvo uses different systems to indicate a
low oil level or pressure. Some models have
an oil pressure sensor, in which case a
warning symbol (see page 52) is used to
indicate low oil pressure. Other models have
an oil level sensor, in which case the driver
is alerted by the warning symbol in the cen-
ter of the instrument panel and a text in the
information display. Some models use both
systems. Contact a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for more informa-
tion.Changing engine oil and oil filterSee the information on oil specifications above
and page 240 for oil volumes. Refer to the
Warranty and Service Records Information
booklet for information on the oil change inter-
vals.
NOTE
•
Volvo does not recommend the use of
oil additives.
•
Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is
changed at the normal maintenance
intervals except at owner request and at
additional charge. Please consult a
trained and qualified Volvo service tech-
nician.
Checking and adding oilThe oil level should be checked every time the
vehicle is refueled. This is especially important
during the period up to the first scheduled
maintenance service.•
The vehicle should be parked on a level
surface when the oil is checked.
•
If the engine is warm, wait for at least
10-15 minutes after the engine has been
switched off before checking the oil.
Checking the oil
G020336
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a lint-
free rag.2. Reinsert the dipstick, pull it out, and check
the oil level.
3. Add oil if necessary. If the level is close to
theMINmark, add approximately
1 US quart (1 liter) of oil.
4. Run the engine until it reaches normal
operating temperature.
5. Switch off the engine and wait for at least
10-15 minutes and recheck the oil level. If
necessary, add oil until the level is near the
MAX mark.
CAUTION
•
Not checking the oil level regularly can
result in serious engine damage if the oil
level becomes too low.
•
Never fill oil above the MAX mark. This
could cause an increase in oil consump-
tion.
•
Not checking the oil level regularly can
result in serious engine damage if the oil
level becomes too low.
•
Always add oil of the same type and
viscosity as already used.WARNING
Do not allow oil to spill onto or come into
contact with hot exhaust pipe surfaces.
Page 193 of 254

09 Maintenance and servicing
Fluids
09
193
WARNING
•
Never remove the radiator cap while the
engine is warm. Wait until the vehicle
cools.
•
If it is necessary to top up the coolant
when the engine is warm, unscrew the
expansion tank cap slowly so that the
overpressure dissipates.
Clutch and brake fluid reservoir
G031030
The clutch and brake fluid should always be
above the MIN mark on the side of the reser-
voir. Check, without removing the cap, that
there is sufficient fluid in the reservoir.Fluid type: DOT 4+ boiling point >536 °F
(280 °C), P/N 9437433.
Replace: Every second year or 30,000 miles
(48,000 km). The fluid should be replaced once
a year or every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) when
driving under extremely hard conditions
(mountain driving, etc.).
Always entrust brake fluid changing to a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
Power steering fluid reservoir
ADD FULL
G027200
The fluid level should always be between the
ADD and FULL marks.Fluid type: Volvo synthetic power steering fluid
(Pentosin CHF 11S) P/N 1161529 or equiva-
lent.
Replace: No fluid change required.
NOTE
If a problem should occur in the power
steering system or if the vehicle has no elec-
trical current and must be towed, it is still
possible to steer the vehicle. However, keep
in mind that greater effort will be required to
turn the steering wheel.