2009 VOLVO XC60 towing

200 Driving recommendations
..................................................................... 202
Refueling ........................................................................\
....................... 206
Loading ........................................................................\
......................... 210
Cargo area ........................................................................\
.................... 213
Towing a trailer
........................................................................\
.............. 217
Emergency towing ........................................................................\
........ 220

05 During your trip
Refueling05
}}
207
Octane rating
Minimum octane
Typical pump octane label
Volvo engines are designed to run on unleaded
gasoline with an octane rating of 87
1
or above.
Please be aware that the engine specifications
for horsepower and torque listed on page
283 are based on the use of premium fuel.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as oper-
ating the vehicle in hot weather, towing a trailer,
or driving for extended periods at higher alti-
tudes 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\fs capacity, and for the smoothest pos-
sible operation.
NOTE When switching to higher octane fuel or
changing gasoline brands, it may be neces-
sary to fill the tank more than once before a
difference in engine operation is noticeable.
Fuel FormulationsDo not use gasoline that contains lead as a
knock inhibitor, and do not use lead additives.
Besides damaging the exhaust emission con-
trol systems on your vehicle, lead has been
strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent.
Unburned benzene has been strongly linked to
certain forms of cancer. If you live in an area
where you must fill your own gas tank, take
precautions. These may include:
\b
standing upwind away from the filler nozzle
while refueling
\b refueling only at gas stations with vapor
recovery systems that fully seal the mouth
of the filler neck during refueling
\b wearing neoprene gloves while handling a
fuel filler nozzle.
Use of AdditivesWith the exception of gas line antifreeze during
winter months, do not add solvents, thicken-
ers, or other store-bought additives to your
vehicle\fs fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems.
Overuse may damage your engine, and some
of these additives contain organically volatile
chemicals. Do not needlessly expose yourself
to these chemicals.
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
injury.
WARNING Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,
and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaust
gases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes
inside the vehicle, make sure the passenger
compartment is ventilated, and immediately
return the vehicle to a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for correction.
1
AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number (R\
ON) and the Motor Octane Number (MON), MON+RON/2.
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05 During your trip
Towing a trailer05
}}
217
Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the vehi-
cle.
NOTE
See page 282 for the maximum trailer and
tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
\b
Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
\b All Volvo models are equipped with
energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-
ers. Trailer hitch installation should not
interfere with the proper operation of this
bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any
particular problems, but take into considera-
tion:
\b Increase tire pressure to recommended
full. See the tire inflation tables beginning
on page 258.
\b When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
\b Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
\b 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 a lower gear and turn off the air con-
ditioner if the temperature gauge needle
enters the red range.
\b If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the text window.
\b Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
\b Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
\b It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
\b Do not connect the trailer\fs brake system
directly to the vehicle\fs brake system.
\b More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
\b Remove the ball and drawbar assembly
when the hitch is not being used.
\b Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.
WARNING \b
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must
not be used on Volvos, nor should
safety chains be attached to the
bumper.
\b Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle
rear axle must not be used.
\b Never connect a trailer\fs hydraulic
brake system directly to the vehicle
brake system, nor a trailer\fs lighting
system directly to the vehicle lighting
system. Consult your nearest author-
ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-
tion.
\b When towing a trailer, the trailer\fs safety
wire must be correctly fastened to the
hole or hook provided in the trailer hitch
on the vehicle. The safety wire should
never be fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.

05 During your tripTowing a trailer 05
218
NOTE \b
When parking the vehicle with a trailer
on a hill, apply the parking brake before
putting the gear selector in
P. Always
follow the trailer manufacturer\fs recom-
mendations for wheel chocking.
\b When starting on a hill, put the gear
selector in
D before releasing the park-
ing brake. See page 116 for more
detailed information about starting off
on a hill while towing a trailer.
\b If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift
positions while towing a trailer, make
sure the gear you select does not put
too much strain on the engine (using too
high a gear).
\b The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may
be rated for trailers heavier than the
vehicle is designed to tow. Please
adhere to Volvo\fs recommended trailer
weights.
\b Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of
more than 15 %.
Trailer cableAn adapter is required if the vehicle\fs trailer
hitch has a 13-pin connector and the trailer has
7 pins. Use an adapter cable approved by
Volvo. Make sure the cable does not drag on
the ground. Detachable trailer hitch (accessory)
Ball holder
Locking bolt
Cotter pin
Hitch assembly
Safety wire attachment
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from
the locking bolt and slide the locking bolt
out of the hitch assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the hitch assem- bly.
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with the one
in the hitch assembly. 4. Slide the locking bolt through the hitch
assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end of the locking bolt.
Removing the ball holder1.Remove the cotter pin from the locking bolt
and slide the locking bolt out of the ball
holder/hitch assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assem-
bly.
NOTE A cover for the hitch assembly is also
included in the kit.
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer Stability Assist is a system designed to
help stabilize a vehicle that is towing a trailer
when the vehicle and trailer have begun to
sway.

TSA is part of the Dynamic Stability and
Traction Control system (DSTC). (See page
155 for information on this system.
FunctionA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to sway for
various reasons. Normally this only occurs at
high speeds but, for example, if the trailer is
overloaded or if the load is unevenly distributed
A
C
EDB
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05 During your trip
Towing a trailer05
219
in the trailer, there is risk of swaying at speeds
between approximately 45-55 mph
(70-90 km/h).
NOTE
\b
The TSA system intervenes at speeds
above approximately 40 mph
(60 km/h).
\b The DSTC symbol ( ) in the instru-
ment panel will flash when TSA is work-
ing.
\b If the driver switches off the

DSTC sys-
tem\fs Spin Control function (see
page 155), TSA will also be switched off.
\b TSA may not intervene when the vehicle
and trailer begin to sway if the driver
tries to compensate for the swaying
motion by moving the steering wheel
rapidly. Swaying may be caused by one of the following
factors:
\b
The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sudden,
strong crosswind
\b The vehicle and trailer are traveling on an
uneven road surface or drive over a bump
\b Sudden movements of the steering wheel
How TSA worksOnce swaying has begun, it can be very diffi-
cult to stop, which makes it difficult to control
the vehicle and trailer.
The TSA system continuously monitors the
vehicle\fs movements, particularly lateral
movement. If the system detects a tendency to
sway, the brakes are applied individually on the
front wheels, which has a stabilizing effect on
the vehicle and trailer. This is often enough to
enable the driver to regain control of the vehi-
cle.
If this is not adequate to stop the swaying
motion, the brakes are applied to all of the
wheels on the vehicle and on the trailer if it is
equipped with brakes, and engine power is
temporarily reduced. As the swaying motion
begins to decrease and the vehicle-trailer have
once again become stable, TSA will no stop
regulating the brakes/engine power and the
driver regains control of the vehicle.

05 During your tripEmergency towing 05
220 Towing eyelet
Location of the towing eyelet
Attaching the towing eyelet
The towing eyelet is located under the floor of
the cargo area, with the spare tire. This eyelet
must be screwed into the positions provided on the right sides of either the front or rear
bumper (see illustration).
CAUTION If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be used
to pull the vehicle up onto the flat bed.
NOTE
On certain models equipped with a trailer
hitch, the towing eyelet cannot be screwed
into the hole in the rear bumper. The towing
rope should be attached to the trailer hitch
instead. For this reason, the detachable
section of the trailer hitch should be safely
stowed in the vehicle at all times.
Attaching the towing eyelet
Use a coin to pry open the lower edge of
the cover.
Screw the towing eyelet in place, first by
hand and then using the tire iron until it is
securely in place.
After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet
should be removed and returned to its storage
location. Press the cover for the attachment point back
into position.
WARNING If the vehicle has no electrical current and
must be towed, the power steering and
brake systems will not function normally. It
will still be possible to steer the vehicle and
apply the brakes. However, keep in mind
that greater effort will be required to turn the
steering wheel and depress the brake pedal.
Precautions when the vehicle is in tow
\b
The steering wheel must be unlocked. The
remote key must be in the ignition slot 1
.
\b Attach jumper cables (see page 107) to
provide current for releasing the optional
electric parking brake and to move the gear
selector from the
P position.
\b The gear selector must be in position
N.
\b Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h). Do not
exceed the maximum allowable towing
speed.
\b Maximum distance with front wheels on
ground: 50 miles (80 km).
\b While the vehicle is being towed, try to
keep the tow rope taut at all times.
\b The vehicle should only be towed in the
forward direction. 1
On vehicles with the optional keyless drive, the remote key must be in t\
he passenger compartment. G031971

05 During your trip
Emergency towing05
221
NOTEDuring towing, ignition mode
II should be
used so that the lighting can be switched on.
CAUTION Vehicles with AWD (All Wheel Drive) with the
front wheels off the ground should not be
towed at speeds above 50 mph (70 km/h) or
for distances longer than 30 miles (50 km).
CAUTION
\b
Please check with state and local
authorities before attempting this type
of towing, as vehicles being towed are
subject to regulations regarding maxi-
mum towing speed, length and type of
towing device, lighting, etc.
\b If the vehicle\fs battery is dead, do not
attempt to start the vehicle by pushing
or pulling it as this will damage the
three-way catalytic converter(s). The
engine must be jump started using an
auxiliary battery (see page 107).
\b If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be
used to pull the vehicle up onto the flat
bed or to secure the vehicle on the flat
bed. Consult the tow truck operator.
Towing vehicles with front wheel drive/
All Wheel Drive
Volvo recommends the use of flat bed equip-
ment.
\b
If wheel lift equipment must be used,
please use extreme caution to help avoid
damage to the vehicle.
In this case, the
vehicle should be towed with the rear
wheels on the ground if at all possible.
\b If it is absolutely necessary to tow the vehi-
cle with the front wheels on the ground,
please refer to the towing information on
page 220.
CAUTION \b
Sling-type equipment applied at the
front will damage radiator and air con-
ditioning lines.
\b It is equally important not to use sling-
type equipment at the rear or apply lift-
ing equipment inside the rear wheels;
serious damage to the rear axle may
result.
\b If the vehicle is being towed on a flat bed
truck, the towing eyelets must not be
used to secure the vehicle on the flat
bed. Consult the tow truck operator.

06 Maintenance and specifications
Wheels and tires06
}}
261
Vehicle loading
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maxi-
mum return of vehicle design performance.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself
with the following terms for determining your
vehicle\fs weight ratings, with or without a
trailer, from the vehicle\fs Federal/Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/
CMVSS) label, and the vehicle\fs tire informa-
tion placard:
Curb weightThe weight of the vehicle including a full tank
of fuel and all standard equipment. It does not
include passengers, cargo, or optional equip-
ment.
Capacity weightAll weight added to the curb weight, including
cargo and optional equipment. When towing,
trailer hitch tongue load is also part of cargo
weight.
NOTE
For trailer towing information, please refer to
the section "Towing a trailer"

on page 217.
Permissible axle weightThe maximum allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear). These
numbers are shown on the Federal/Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/
CMVSS) label. The total load on each axle must
never exceed its maximum permissible weight.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW)The vehicle\fs curb weight + cargo + passen-
gers.
NOTE \b
The location of the various labels in your
vehicle can be found on page 279

.
\b A table listing important weight limits for
your vehicle can be found on page
282.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
1. Locate the statement "the combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX pounds" on your vehi-
cle\fs placard. 2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or
XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 – 750
(5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual 1
to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle. 1
See the section "Trailer Towing on page
217.