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Driving recommendations
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General information
Economical driving conserves natural
resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts andstops and adjusting the speed of your vehicleto immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
• Bring the engine to normal operating tem- perature as soon as possible by drivingwith a light foot on the accelerator pedalfor the first few minutes of operation. Acold engine uses more fuel and is subjectto increased wear.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the vehi-cle for driving short distances. This doesnot allow the engine to reach normaloperating temperature.
• Drive carefully and avoid rapid accelera-tion and hard braking.
• Use the transmission's Drive (
D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-down.
• Using the transmission's Sport mode 1
may increase fuel consumption some-what. Use the transmission's Drive ( D)
position as often as possible. See page 125 for additional information about Sportmode.
• Do not exceed posted speed limits.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extraload) in the vehicle.
• Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tirepressure regularly (when tires are cold).
• Remove snow tires when threat of snowor 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 conditioningon and the windows closed than with theair conditioning off and the windowsopen.
• Using the onboard trip computer's fuelconsumption modes can help you learnhow 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 oth- ers are checked at the standard maintenanceintervals.WARNING
Driving with the trunk open:
Driving with
the trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passengercompartment. If the trunk must be keptopen 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 itshighest setting.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a tendency to understeer, which means thatthe steering wheel has to be turned morethan might seem appropriate for the curva-ture of a bend. This ensures good stabilityand reduces the risk of rear wheel skid.Remember that these properties can alterwith the vehicle load. The heavier the load inthe trunk, the less the tendency to under-steer.
1
Certain models only.
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271
Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pres- sure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore,check that the tires are inflated to the recom-mended pressure according to the vehicleload. See the "Tire pressure" section. Loadsshould be distributed so that capacity weightor maximum permissible axle loads are notexceeded.
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 throughflowing water.
• Clean the electrical connections for trailerwiring after driving in mud or water.
• When driving through water, maintain lowspeed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
•Avoid driving through standing or rushing water. Doing so can be dan-gerous and it may also be difficult todetermine the actual depth of thewater.
• If water cannot be avoided, after driv-ing through the water, press lightly onthe brake pedal to ensure that thebrakes are functioning normally. Wateror mud can make the brake liningsslippery, resulting in delayed brakingeffect.
CAUTION
• Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through waterdeeper than 10 in (25 cm), water mayenter the differential and the transmis-sion. This reduces the oil's lubricatingcapacity and may shorten the servicelife of these components.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand inwater up to the door sills longer thanabsolutely necessary. This could resultin electrical malfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped whilethe vehicle is in water, do not attemptto restart it. Have the vehicle towedout of the water.
Engine and cooling systemUnder special conditions, for example when driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or withheavy loads, there is a risk that the engineand cooling system will overheat. Proceed asfollows to avoid overheating the engine. •
Maintain a low speed when driving with a trailer up long, steep hills.
• Do not turn the engine off immediatelywhen stopping after a hard drive.
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272
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to operate (for up to 6 minutes) after theengine has been switched off.
•Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of the grille when driving in hot weatherconditions.
• Do not exceed engine speeds of4500 rpm if driving with a trailer in hillyterrain. The oil temperature could becometoo 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
systems (the audio system, the optionalnavigation 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 greatdeal of current when the engine is notrunning could result in the battery beingcompletely drained. Driving or having theengine running for approximately15 minutes will help keep the batterycharged.
Before a long distance tripIt is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician before driving long dis-tances. Your retailer will also be able to sup-ply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs andwiper blades for your use in the event thatproblems 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 aswell), and replace those that are worn.Check tire pressures.
• The brakes, front wheel alignment, andsteering gear should be checked by atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian only.
• Check all lights, including high beams.
• Reflective warning triangles are legallyrequired in some states/provinces.
• Have a word with a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician if you intend to drive in countries where it may be difficultto obtain the correct fuel.
• Consider your destination. If you will bedriving through an area where snow or iceare likely to occur, consider snow tires.
Cold weather precautionsIf you wish to check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather, the followingadvice is worth noting:
• Make sure that the engine coolant con- tains 50 percent antifreeze. Any othermixture will reduce freeze protection. Thisgives protection against freezing down to–31 °F (–35 °C). The use of "recycled"antifreeze is not approved by Volvo. Dif-ferent types of antifreeze must not bemixed.
• Volvo recommends using only genuineVolvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
• Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – thishelps prevent the formation of condensa-tion in the tank. In addition, in extremelycold weather conditions it is worthwhileto add fuel line de-icer before refueling.
• The viscosity of the engine oil is impor-tant. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil)improves cold-weather starting as well asdecreasing fuel consumption while theengine is warming up. Full synthetic
320
Volvo maintenance................................................................................ 322
Maintaining your car............................................................................. 323
Hood and engine compartment............................................................ 325Engine oil............................................................................................... 326Fluids..................................................................................................... 328
Replacing bulbs.................................................................................... 330
Wiper blades and washer fluid.............................................................. 337Battery................................................................................................... 339Fuses..................................................................................................... 343Vehicle care........................................................................................... 352
09 Maintenance and specifications
Maintaining your car09
323
Owner maintenance
Periodic maintenance requirements and inter- vals are described in your vehicle's Warrantyand Service Records Information booklet. The following points can be carried out between the normally scheduled maintenanceservices.
Each time the car is refueled:
•Check the engine oil level.
• Clean the windshield, windshield wipers, headlights, and taillights.
Monthly:
• Check cold tire pressure in all tires.Inspect the tires for wear.
• Check that engine coolant and other fluidlevels are between the indicated "min"and "max" markings.
• Clean interior glass surfaces with a glasscleaner and soft paper towels.
• Wipe driver information displays with asoft cloth.
• Visually inspect battery terminals for cor-rosion. Corrosion may indicate a looseterminal connector, or a battery near theend of its useful service life. Consult yourVolvo retailer for additional information.
As needed:Wash the car, including the undercarriage, to reduce wear that can be caused by a buildupof dirt, and corrosion that can be caused bysalt residues. Clean leaves and twigs from air intake vents at the base of the windshield, and from otherplaces where they may collect.
NOTE
Complete service information for qualified technicians is available online for purchaseor subscription at www.volvotechinfo.com.
Hoisting the vehicle
If a garage jack is used to lift the vehicle, the two jack attachments points should be used. They are specially reinforced to bear theweight of the vehicle. A garage jack can alsobe placed under the front of the engine sup-port frame. Take care not to damage thesplash guard under the engine. Ensure thatthe jack is positioned so that the vehicle can-not slide off it. Always use axle stands or sim-ilar structures. If a two-post hoist is used to lift the vehicle, the front and rear lift arm pads should becentered under the reinforced lift plates onthe inboard edge of the sill rail (see illustra-tion).
Emission inspection readiness
What is an Onboard Diagnostic System
(OBD II)?
OBD II is part of your vehicle's computerized engine management system. It stores diag-nostic information about your vehicle's emis-sion controls. It can light the Check Enginelight (MIL) if it detects an emission control"fault." A "fault" is a component or systemthat is not performing within an expectedrange. A fault may be permanent or tempo-rary. OBD II will store a message about anyfault.
09 Maintenance and specifications
Hood and engine compartment09
325
Opening and closing the hood
Turn the handle located under the left side of the dash approximately 20-25degrees clockwise to release the hoodlock.
Lift the hood slightly. Press the release control (located under the right front edgeof the hood) to the left, and lift the hood.
WARNING
Check that the hood locks properly when closed.
Engine compartment, overview
Coolant expansion tank
Power steering fluid reservoir
Dipstick-engine oil
Filler cap-engine oil
Cover over brake fluid reservoir
Battery
Relay/fuse box
Washer fluid reservoirThe appearance of the engine compartment may vary depending on engine model.
WARNING
The cooling fan (located at the front of the engine compartment, behind the radiator)may start or continue to operate (for up to6 minutes) after the engine has beenswitched off.
WARNING
Before performing any operations in the engine compartment, the ignition shouldalways be completely switched off (inmode
0, see page 87) and there should be
no remote keys in the passenger compart-ment. The gear selector should be in the P
(park) position. If the engine has been run-ning, wait until it has cooled before touch-ing any components in the engine com-partment. The distributor ignition system operates at very high voltages. Special safety precau-tions must be followed to prevent injury.Always turn the ignition off when:
• Replacing distributor ignition compo- nents e.g. plugs, coil, etc.
• Do not touch any part of the distributorignition system while the engine is run-ning. This may result in unintendedmovements and body injury.
09 Maintenance and specifications
Engine oil 09
326
Checking the engine oil
The oil level should be checked at regular intervals, particularly during the period up tothe first scheduled maintenance service.• See page 366 for oil specifications.
• Also, refer to the Warranty and Service Records information booklet for informa-tion on oil change intervals and oil speci-fications.
CAUTION
•Not checking the oil level regularly can result in serious engine damage if theoil level becomes too low.
• Oil that is lower than the specifiedquality can damage the engine.
• Volvo does not recommend the use ofoil additives.
• Always add oil of the same type andviscosity as already used.
• Never fill oil above the
MAX mark. This
could cause an increase in oil con-sumption.
• Oil changes should be carried out by atrained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician.
Checking and adding oil
G021734
Location of the filler cap and dipstick
Volvo recommends Castrol oil products
NOTE
Before checking the oil: •The car should be parked on a level surface.
• If the engine is warm
, wait for at least
10 – 15 minutes after the engine hasbeen switched off.
G021737
The oil level must be between the MIN and MAX
marks on the dipstick
Checking the oil1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
lint-free rag.
2. Reinsert the dipstick, pull it out, and check the oil level. The level must be between the MIN and MAX marks.
09 Maintenance and specifications
Engine oil09
327
3. Add oil if necessary. If the level is close to
the MIN mark, add approximately
0.5 US quarts (0.5 liters) of oil.
4. Recheck the level and add more oil if necessary until the level is near the MAX
mark.
WARNING
Do not allow oil to spill onto or come into contact with hot exhaust pipe surfaces.