2014 VOLVO XC90 Owner´s Manual

05 Locks and alarm

05
135

136* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction. General information............................................................................... 138
Fuel requirements................................................................................. 139Refueling............................................................................................... 141
Starting the vehicle............................................................................... 143
Ignition switch and steering wheel lock................................................ 145
Economical driving................................................................................ 146
Difficult driving conditions..................................................................... 147
Automatic transmission........................................................................ 149Jump starting........................................................................................ 152All Wheel Drive*..................................................................................... 153
Brake system........................................................................................154Parking brake........................................................................................ 157Stability system..................................................................................... 158
Front/rear park assist*........................................................................... 160Towing.................................................................................................. 162Towing a trailer...................................................................................... 164
Detachable trailer hitch......................................................................... 167
Load carriers (accessory)...................................................................... 168
Cold weather precautions..................................................................... 169
Before a long distance trip.................................................................... 170
Blind Spot Information System*............................................................ 171

S T A R T I N G A N D D R I V I N G

06 Starting and driving
General information
06
138
Engine oil
Although some oil consumption occurs dur- ing normal engine operation, more oil is con-sumed when the engine is new as the internalparts generate higher friction while wearing-into each other. From the time the engine isnew until the first maintenance is performed,the oil consumption could be higher than nor-mal. For this reason, it is especially importantto check the oil regularly during this period,see page 222.
Fuel requirements
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives)
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 be label-led "UNLEADED". Only these pumps havenozzles which fit your vehicle's filler inlet. It isunlawful to dispense leaded fuel into a vehiclelabelled "unleaded gasoline only". Leadedgasoline damages the three-way catalyticconverter and the heated oxygen sensor sys-tem. Repeated use of leaded gasoline willlessen the effectiveness of the emission con-trol system and could result in loss of emis-sion warranty coverage. State and local vehi-cle inspection programs will make detectionof misfueling easier, possibly resulting inemission test failure for misfueled vehicles.
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 lamp)located on your instrument panel maylight. If this occurs, please return yourvehicle to a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician for maintenance.
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 139 must still be met. Alcohol – Ethanol: Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol by volume may be used. Ethanolmay also be referred to as Ethyl alcohol, or"Gasohol". Ethers – MTBE: Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.

06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
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139
Octane rating
Minimum octane
G028920
Typical pump octane labelVolvo recommends premium for best per- formance, 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
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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Fuel requirements
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140
WARNING
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving
with the tailgate open could lead to poi- sonous exhaust gases entering the pas-senger compartment.
• If the tailgate must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:
• Close the windows
• Set the ventilation system control to airflow to floor, windshield and side win-dows and blower control to its highestsetting.
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 139 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.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle hasa 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 stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that theseproperties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavier the load in the cargo area, the less the tendency to understeer.
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 "Tire pressure" section. Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissible axle loadsare not exceeded.
Conserving electrical currentKeep the following in mind to help minimizebattery drain:
• When the engine is not running, avoid turning the ignition key to position
II (see
page 145). Many electrical systems (theaudio system, the optional infotainment/navigation systems, power windows, etc)will function with the ignition key in posi-tion I. This position reduces 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.
NOTE
A warning message will be displayed in the text window in the instrument panel whenthe battery charge is low.

06 Starting and driving
Refueling
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141
Fuel filler door
G027073
The fuel filler cap can be placed on the hook on the fuel filler door while refuelingPress the button on the light switch panel (see the illustration on page 67) when thevehicle is at a standstill to unlock the fuel fillerdoor. Please note that the fuel filler door willremain unlocked until the vehicle begins tomove forward. An audible click will be heardwhen the fuel filler door relocks. If you intend to leave your vehicle while it is being refueled, this feature enables you tolock the doors/tailgate while leaving the fuelfiller door unlocked. You can also keep the vehicle locked if youremain inside it during refueling. The centrallocking button does not lock the fuel fillerdoor. Be sure the fuel filler door is notobstructed and is completely closed afterrefueling. Open the fuel filler cap slowly during hot weather.
NOTE
During a transitional period, a small num- ber of service stations may still have fuelnozzles that are not compatible with thefuel filler neck on vehicles equipped withthe evaporative control system.
RefuelingThe fuel tank is designed to accommodate possible expansion of the fuel in hot weather.See page 288 for fuel tank volume. Be awarethat the "usable" tank capacity will be some-what less than the specified maximum. Whenthe fuel level is low, such factors as ambienttemperature, the fuel's "Reid vapor pressure"characteristics, and terrain can affect the fuelpump's ability to supply the engine with anadequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advis-able to refuel as soon as possible when the
needle nears the red zone, or when the fuelwarning light comes on.
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched on while refueling your vehicle. If thephone rings, this may cause a spark thatcould ignite gasoline fumes, resulting infire and injury.

06 Starting and driving
Refueling
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142
CAUTION
•Do not refuel with the engine running 1
.
Turn the ignition off or to position I. If
the ignition is on, an incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge.
• After refueling, close the fuel filler capby turning it clockwise until it clicks into place 1
.
• Avoid overfilling the fuel tank. Do not press 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.
• Avoid spilling gasoline during refueling.In addition to causing damage to theenvironment, gasolines containingalcohol can cause damage to paintedsurfaces, which may not be coveredunder the New Vehicle Limited War-ranty.
• Do not use gasolines containing meth-anol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol).This practice can result in vehicle per-formance deterioration and can dam-age critical parts in the fuel system.Such damage may not be covered
under the New Vehicle Limited War- ranty.
1
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.