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Driving recommendations
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270
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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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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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
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Refueling
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Fuel requirements
Deposit control gasoline (detergentadditives)
Volvo recommends the use of detergent gas- oline to control engine deposits. Detergentgasoline is effective in keeping injectors andintake valves clean. Consistent use of depositcontrol gasolines will help ensure good driva-bility and fuel economy. If you are not surewhether the gasoline contains deposit controladditives, check with the service station oper-ator.
NOTE
Volvo does not recommend the use of external fuel injector cleaning systems.
Unleaded fuelEach Volvo has a three-way catalytic con- verter and must use only unleaded gasoline.U.S. and Canadian regulations require thatpumps delivering unleaded gasoline belabeled "UNLEADED". Only these pumpshave nozzles which fit your vehicle's fillerinlet. It is unlawful to dispense leaded fuelinto a vehicle labelled "unleaded gasolineonly". Leaded gasoline damages the three-way catalytic converter and the heated oxy-gen sensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasoline will lessen the effectiveness of theemission control system and could result inloss of emission warranty coverage. Stateand local vehicle inspection programs willmake detection of misfueling easier, possiblyresulting in emission test failure for misfueledvehicles.
NOTE
Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines con- tain an octane enhancing additive calledmethyl-cyclopentadienyl manganese tri-carbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used,your Emission Control System perform-ance may be affected, and the CheckEngine Light (malfunction indicator light)located on your instrument panel maylight. If this occurs, please return yourvehicle to a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician for service.
Gasoline containing alcohol and ethers, "Oxygenated fuels"
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing "oxygenates" which are usually alcohols orethers. In some areas, state or local lawsrequire that the service pump be marked indi- cating use of alcohols or ethers. However,there are areas in which the pumps areunmarked. If you are not sure whether there isalcohol or ethers in the gasoline you buy,check with the service station operator. Tomeet seasonal air quality standards, someareas require the use of "oxygenated" fuel. Volvo allows the use of the following "oxy- genated" fuels; however, the octane ratingslisted on page 275 must still be met.
Alcohol – EthanolFuels containing up to 10% ethanol by vol- ume may be used. Ethanol may also be refer-red to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol". Ethers – MTBE: Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.
MethanolDo not use gasolines containing methanol(methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). This practicecan result in vehicle performance deteriora-tion and can damage critical parts in the fuelsystem. Such damage may not be coveredunder the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
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Refueling
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Octane rating
Minimum octane
G028920
Typical pump octane labelVolvo recommends premium fuel for best performance, but using 87 octane 1
or above
will not affect engine reliability.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as operating the vehicle in hot weather, towing atrailer, or driving for extended periods athigher altitudes than normal, it may be advis-able to switch to higher octane fuel (91 orhigher) or to change gasoline brands to fullyutilize your engine's capacity, and for thesmoothest possible operation.
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel or changing gasoline brands, it may be nec-essary to fill the tank more than oncebefore a difference in engine operation isnoticeable.
Fuel FormulationsDo not use gasoline that contains lead as a knock inhibitor, and do not use lead addi-tives. Besides damaging the exhaust emis-sion control systems on your vehicle, leadhas been strongly linked to certain forms ofcancer. Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent. Unburned benzene has been strongly linkedto certain forms of cancer. If you live in anarea where you must fill your own gas tank,take precautions. These may include:
• standing upwind away from the filler noz- zle while refueling
• refueling only at gas stations with vaporrecovery systems that fully seal themouth of the filler neck during refueling
• wearing neoprene gloves while handling afuel filler nozzle.
Use of AdditivesWith the exception of gas line antifreeze dur- ing winter months, do not add solvents, thick-eners, or other store-bought additives to yourvehicle's fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems.Overuse may damage your engine, and someof these additives contain organically volatilechemicals. Do not needlessly expose yourselfto 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 infire and injury.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, color- less, and odorless gas. It is present in allexhaust gases. If you ever smell exhaustfumes inside the vehicle, make sure thepassenger compartment is ventilated, andimmediately return the vehicle to a trainedand qualified Volvo service technician forcorrection.
1 AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number (RON) and the Motor Octane Number (MON), MON+RON/2.
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Opening/closing the fuel cap
Fuel vapor expands in hot weather. Open the filler cap slowly. After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise until it clicks into place.
CAUTION
•Do not refuel with the engine running 2
.
Turn the ignition off or to position I. If
the ignition is on, an incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge.
• Avoid overfilling the fuel tank. Do notpress the handle on the filler nozzlemore than one extra time. Too muchfuel in the tank in hot weather condi-tions can cause the fuel to overflow.Overfilling could also cause damage tothe emission control systems.
Emission controls
Three-way catalytic converter
•
Keep your engine properly tuned. Certain engine malfunctions, particularly involvingthe electrical, fuel or distributor ignitionsystems, may cause unusually high three-way catalytic converter temperatures. Donot continue to operate your vehicle ifyou detect engine misfire, noticeable lossof power or other unusual operating con-ditions, such as engine overheating orbackfiring. A properly tuned engine will help avoid malfunctions that could dam-age the three-way catalytic converter.
• Do not park your vehicle over combusti-ble materials, such as grass or leaves,which can come into contact with the hotexhaust system and cause such materialsto ignite under certain wind and weatherconditions.
• Excessive starter cranking (in excess ofone minute), or an intermittently firing orflooded engine can cause three-way cat-alytic converter or exhaust system over-heating.
• Remember that tampering or unauthor-ized modifications to the engine, theEngine Control Module, or the vehiclemay be illegal and can cause three-waycatalytic converter or exhaust systemoverheating. This includes: altering fuelinjection settings or components, alteringemission system components or locationor removing components, and/or repea-ted use of leaded fuel.
NOTE
Unleaded fuel is required for vehicles with three-way catalytic converters.
2
If the fuel filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is running when the vehicle is refueled, the Check Engine Light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. However, your vehicle's performance will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fuel filler caps.
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Heated oxygen sensorsThe heated oxygen sensors monitor the oxy- gen content of the exhaust gases. Readingsare fed into a control module that continu-ously monitors engine functions and controlsfuel injection. The ratio of fuel to air into theengine is continuously adjusted for efficientcombustion to help reduce harmful emis-sions.
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Loading
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.279
Introduction
The load carrying capacity of your vehicle is determined by factors such as the number ofpassengers, the amount of cargo, the weightof any accessories that may be installed, etc. To increase loading space, the rear seat backrests can be folded down, see page 91. When loading the trunk, keep the following in mind:
The trunk lid can be unlocked anpopped open slightly via the buttonlocated on the lighting panel, see
page 70.
• Load objects in the trunk against the backrest whenever possible.
• Unstable loads can be secured to theload anchoring eyelets with straps or weblashings to help keep them from shifting.
• Stop the engine and apply the parkingbrake when loading or unloading longobjects. The gear selector can beknocked 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 longobjects.
• The vehicle's driving characteristicsmay change depending on the weightand distribution of the load.
• A 44-pound (20 kg) object produces aforce of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg) in ahead-on collision at 30 mph (50 km/h).
• The rear seat should not be loaded toa level higher than 2 in. (5 cm) belowthe upper edge of the rear side win-dows. Objects placed higher than thislevel could impede the function of theVolvo Inflatable Curtain.
Folding down the rear seat backrests
The rear seat backrests can be folded down for additional loading space, see page 92.
Load anchoring eyelets
The load anchoring eyelets on both sides of the vehicle are used to fasten straps, etc., tohelp anchor items in the trunk.