2010 VOLVO S80 brake

05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05
196
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.
Observe the following rules:
•Bring the engine to normal operating tem-
perature 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.
•Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle
for driving short distances. This does not
allow the engine to reach normal operating
temperature.
•Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration
and hard braking.
•Use the transmission's Drive (D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-
down.
•Do not exceed posted speed limits.
•Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra
load) in the vehicle.
•Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire
pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
•Remove snow tires when threat of snow or
ice has ended.
•Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc,
increase air resistance and also fuel con-
sumption.
•At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-
tion will be lower with the air conditioning
on and the windows closed than with the
air conditioning off and the windows open.
•Using the onboard trip computer's fuel
consumption modes can help you learn
how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage
are:
•Dirty air cleaner
•Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
•Dragging brakes
•Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others
are checked at the standard maintenance
intervals.
WARNING
Driving with the trunk open: Driving with
the trunk open could lead to poisonous
exhaust gases entering the passenger com-
partment. If the trunk must be kept open for
any reason, proceed as follows:
•Close the windows
•Set the ventilation system control to air
flow to floor, windshield and side win-
dows and the blower control to its high-
est setting.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt 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 curvature of a
bend. This ensures good stability and reduces
the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that
these properties can alter with the vehicle load.
The heavier the load in the trunk, the less the
tendency to understeer.
Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure
all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check
that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See the
"Tire pressure" section. Loads should be dis-
tributed so that capacity weight or maximum
permissible axle loads are not exceeded.

05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05

197
Driving through water
•The vehicle can be driven through water up
to a depth of approximately 10 in. (25 cm),
at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
•Take particular care when driving through
flowing water.
•Clean the electrical connections for trailer
wiring after driving in mud or water.
•When driving through water, maintain low
speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
After driving through water, press lightly on
the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes
are functioning normally. Water or mud can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is
drawn into the air cleaner.
•If the vehicle is driven through water
deeper than 10 in (25 cm), water may
enter the differential and the transmis-
sion. This reduces the oil's lubricating
capacity and may shorten the service
life of these components.
•Do not allow the vehicle to stand in
water up to the door sills longer than
absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
•If the engine has been stopped while the
vehicle is in water, do not attempt to
restart it. Have the vehicle towed out of
the water.
Engine and cooling systemUnder special conditions, for example when
driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or with
heavy loads, there is a risk that the engine and
cooling system will overheat. Proceed as fol-
lows to avoid overheating the engine.
•Maintain a low speed when driving with a
trailer up long, steep hills.
•Do not turn the engine off immediately
when stopping after a hard drive.
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to
operate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine
has been switched off.
•Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of
the grille when driving in hot weather con-
ditions.
•Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm
if driving with a trailer in hilly terrain. The oil
temperature could become too high.
Conserving electrical currentKeep the following in mind to help minimize
battery drain:
•When the engine is not running, avoid
using ignition mode II. Many electrical sys-
tems (the audio system, the optional navi-
gation system, power windows, etc) will
function in ignition modes 0 and I. These
modes reduce drain on the battery.
•Please keep in mind that using systems,
accessories, etc., that consume a great
deal of current when the engine is not run-
ning could result in the battery being com-
pletely drained.
Before a long distance tripIt is always worthwhile to have your vehicle
checked by a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician before driving long distances.

05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05
198
Your retailer will also be able to supply you with
bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for
your use in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be
checked before any long trip:
•Check that engine runs smoothly and that
fuel consumption is normal.
•Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
•Have the transmission oil level checked.
•Check condition of drive belts.
•Check state of the battery's charge.
•Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as
well), and replace those that are worn.
Check tire pressures.
•The brakes, front wheel alignment, and
steering gear should be checked by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian only.
•Check all lights, including high beams.
•Reflective warning triangles are legally
required in some states/provinces.
•Have a word with a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician if you intend to
drive in countries where it may be difficult
to obtain the correct fuel.
•Consider your destination. If you will be
driving through an area where snow or ice
are likely to occur, consider snow tires.
Cold weather precautionsIf you wish to check your vehicle before the
approach of cold weather, the following advice
is worth noting:
•Make sure that the engine coolant contains
50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture
will reduce freeze protection. This gives
protection against freezing down to
–31 °F (–35 °C). The use of "recycled" anti-
freeze is not approved by Volvo. Different
types of antifreeze must not be mixed.
•Volvo recommends using only genuine
Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
•Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – this
helps prevent the formation of condensa-
tion in the tank. In addition, in extremely
cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to
add fuel line de-icer before refueling.
•The viscosity of the engine oil is important.
Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves
cold-weather starting as well as decreas-
ing fuel consumption while the engine is
warming up. For winter use, 5W-30 oil, par-
ticularly the synthetic type, is recom-
mended. Be sure to use good quality oil but
do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving
or in warm weather, see page 276 for more
information on engine oil.
NOTE
Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is
changed at the normal maintenance inter-
vals except at owner request and at addi-
tional charge.
•The load placed on the battery is greater
during the winter since the windshield wip-
ers, lighting, etc. are used more often.
Moreover, the capacity of the battery
decreases as the temperature drops. In
very cold weather, a poorly charged bat-
tery can freeze and be damaged. It is there-
fore advisable to check the state of charge
more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil
on the battery posts.
•Volvo recommends the use of snow tires
on all four wheels for winter driving, see
page 254.
•To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from
freezing, add washer solvents containing
antifreeze. This is important since dirt is
often splashed on the windshield during
winter driving, requiring the frequent use of
the washers and wipers. Volvo Washer
Solvent should be diluted as follows: Down
to 14 °F (–10 °C): 1 part washer solvent and
4 parts water Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part
washer solvent and 3 parts water Down to
0 °F (–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and

05 During your trip
Loading
05
204
Introduction
The load carrying capacity of your vehicle is
determined by factors such as the number of
passengers, the amount of cargo, the weight
of any accessories that may be installed, etc.
To increase loading space, the rear seat backr-
ests can be folded down, See page 85.
When loading the trunk, keep the following in
mind:
The trunk lid can be unlocked an pop-
ped open slightly via the button
located on the lighting panel, see page 64.
•Load objects in the trunk against the back-
rest whenever possible.
•Unstable loads can be secured to the load
anchoring eyelets with straps or web lash-
ings to help keep them from shifting.
•Stop the engine and apply the parking
brake when loading or unloading long
objects. The gear selector can be knocked
out of position by long loads, which could
set the vehicle in motion.
WARNING
•Stop the engine, put the gear selector in
P, and apply the parking brake when
loading or unloading long objects.
•The vehicle's driving characteristics
may change depending on the weight
and distribution of the load.
•A 44-pound (20 kg) object produces a
force of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg) in a
headon collision at 30 mph (50 km/h).
•The rear seat should not be loaded to a
level higher than 2 in. (5 cm) below the
upper edge of the rear side windows.
Objects placed higher than this level
could impede the function of the Volvo
Inflatable Curtain.
Load anchoring eyelets
G021462
The load anchoring eyelets on both sides of the
vehicle are used to fasten straps, etc., to help
anchor items in the trunk.

05 During your trip
Loading
05

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.205
WARNING
•Cover sharp edges on long loads to help
prevent injury to occupants. Secure the
load to help prevent shifting during sud-
den stops.
•Always secure large and heavy objects
with a seat belt or cargo retaining
straps.
•Always secure the load to help prevent
it from moving in the event of sudden
stops.
•Switch off the engine, apply the parking
brake and put the gear selector in P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
Grocery bag holder*
G021463
Grocery bag holder under the floor of the trunk
The grocery bag holder holds shopping bags
in place.
1. Open the hatch in the floor of the trunk.
2. Secure the shopping bags with the strap.
Ski hatch
There is a hatch in the right section of the rear
seat backrest that can be opened for transpor-
tation.
Fold the right backrest forward.
Release the hatch in the rear seat backrest
by sliding the catch up while folding the
hatch forward.
Return the backrest to the upright position
with the hatch open.
Use the seat belt to prevent the load from mov-
ing.

05 During your trip
Loading
05
206
WARNING
•Always secure the load to help prevent
it from moving in the event of sudden
braking.
•Switch off the engine, apply the parking
brake and put the gear selector in P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
NOTE
If the vehicle is equipped with the optional
integrated booster cushion, fold it out first.
The cover on the rear seat armrest/child seat
has no hinge. The cover must be removed
before the ski hatch is used.
Removal:

Open the cover 30 degrees and lift straight
up.
Installation:

Insert the cover in the grooves behind the
upholstery and close the cover.
Roof loads
Using load carriersLoad carriers are available as Volvo accesso-
ries. Observe the following points when in use:
•To avoid damaging your vehicle and to
achieve maximum safety when driving, we
recommend using the load carriers that
Volvo has developed especially for your
vehicle.
•Volvo-approved removable roof racks are
designed to carry the maximum allowable
roof load for this vehicle: 220 lbs (100 kg).
For non-Volvo roof racks, check the man-
ufacturer's weight limits for the rack.
•Never exceed the rack manufacturer's
weigh limits and never exceed the maxi-
mum rated roof load of 220 lbs (100 kg).
•Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loads
evenly.
•Place heavier cargo at the bottom of the
load.
•Secure the cargo correctly with appropri-
ate tie-down equipment.
•Check periodically that the load carriers
and load are properly secured.
•Remember that the vehicle's center of
gravity and handling change when you
carry a load on the roof.
•The vehicle's wind resistance and fuel con-
sumption will increase with the size of the
load.
•Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fast
cornering and hard braking.

05 During your trip
Towing a trailer
05

207 Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the vehi-
cle.
NOTE
See page 274 for the maximum trailer and
tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
•Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
•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:
•Increase tire pressure to recommended
full. See the tire inflation tables on pages
249 and 250.
•When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
•Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
•Engine and transmission are subject to
increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely watchedwhen 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.
•If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the text window.
•Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
•Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
•It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
•Do not connect the trailer's brake system
directly to the vehicle's brake system.
•More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
•Remove the ball and drawbar assembly
when the hitch is not being used.
•Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.
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.
•Never connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to the vehicle
brake system, nor a trailer's lighting
system directly to the vehicle lighting
system. Consult your nearest author-
ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-
tion.
•When towing a trailer, the trailer's 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 trip
Towing a trailer
05
208
NOTE
•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's recom-
mendations for wheel chocking.
•When starting on a hill, put the gear
selector in D before releasing the park-
ing brake. See also page 117 for more
detailed information about starting off
on a hill while towing a trailer.
•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).
•The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch may
be rated for trailers heavier than the
vehicle is designed to tow. Please
adhere to Volvo's recommended trailer
weights.
•Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of
more than 15 %.
Trailer cableAn adapter is required if the vehicle's 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)
A
C
EDBG010496
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.