2014 VOLVO XC90 fuel

06 Starting and driving
Fuel requirements
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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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Fuel filler door
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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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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.

06 Starting and driving
Economical driving
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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 thefollowing 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
D (Drive) position
as often as possible and avoid using"kickdown" to help improve fuel econ-omy.
• 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 MaintenanceService intervals.
CAUTION
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flooded roadways,etc.). Damage to the engine could result ifexcess water is drawn in through the airintake system. Never drive the vehicle inwater deeper than 18 inches (48 cm).

06 Starting and driving
Difficult driving conditions
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Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on- road driving, and it has excellent handlingcharacteristics on very rough or unpavedroads. When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the following inmind:
• Reduce speed on rough surfaces to mini- mize possible damage to the vehicle'sunderbody.
• When driving on soft surfaces such as drysand or snow, try to avoid stopping if atall possible.
WARNING
•Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase the riskof a roll-over. Try to drive straight upor down the slope.
• If the road is very steep, avoid turningthe vehicle around to help avoid therisk of rolling over. Back the vehicle upor down the incline instead.
NOTE
Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If the flow of fuel tothe engine is interrupted due to the vehi-cle's angle of inclination, this could resultin damage to the three-way catalytic con-verter. We recommend keeping the fueltank at least half full when driving on steepinclines.
Driving through water
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 16 inches (40 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 wir- ing after driving in mud or water. When driving through water, maintain low speed 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.

06 Starting and driving
Automatic transmission
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P (Park)Use this position when starting the engine or parking the vehicle. Never use P while the vehicle is in motion.
The parking brake should also be set when- ever the vehicle is parked. The gear selector is mechanically locked in the P position (SHIFTLOCK). To release
the gear selector from this position, the engine must be running (or the ignition keymust be in position II) and the brake pedal
must be depressed.
N (Neutral)Neutral – no gear engaged. Use the parkingbrake.
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistake, thegear selector is moved from P, the vehicle
may start moving.
R (Reverse)Never engage R while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible to help improve fueleconomy. The vehicle should not be movingwhen shifting from R to the D position.
NOTE
The transmission has 6 forward speeds.
Automatic transmission – shift gate positions
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Shift gate positions
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move between the R, N, D,
and P positions.
CAUTION
The transmission’s temperature is moni- tored to help prevent damage to the trans-mission or other drivetrain components. Ifthere is a risk of overheating, the warningsymbol on the instrument panel will illumi-nate and a text message will be displayed.Follow the instructions provided there.

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Automatic transmission
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KickdownAutomatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing the accelerator pedalfully and briskly. An upshift will occur whenapproaching the top speed for a particulargear or by releasing the accelerator pedalslightly. Kickdown can be used for maximum acceler- ation or when passing at highway speeds.
NOTE
The gear selector must be in the D (Drive)
position for kickdown to function.
Manual shifting – Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the MAN (Manual) and D (Drive)
positions to select forward gears while driv-ing. Gears 3, 4, 5, and 6 have a "lock-up"function which reduces engine speed andhelps save fuel.
NOTE
Reverse, Neutral, and Park cannot be selected in Geartronic mode.
• A "lock-up" feature 1
reduces engine
speed and help saves fuel.
The currently selected gear will be displayed in the instrument panel (see page 58). • To access the
MAN shifting position from
D , move the gear selector to the left to
MAN .
• To return to the
D positions from MAN,
move the gear selector to the right.
While driving
If you select the MAN position while driving,
the gear that was being used in the D posi-
tion will also initially be selected in MAN posi-
tion. • Move the gear selector forward (toward "
+ ") to shift to a higher gear or rearward
(toward " – ") to shift to a lower gear.
• If you hold the gear selector toward "
–",
the transmission will downshift one gearand will utilize the braking power of theengine. If the current speed is too high forusing a lower gear, the downshift will notoccur until the speed has decreasedenough to allow the lower gear to beused.
• If you slow down to a very low speed, thetransmission will automatically shift down. •
When starting in the
MAN position, 3rd
gear is the highest gear that may beselected.
W – Winter/Wet driving mode – enhanced vehicle traction
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Press the W button at the base of the gear
selector to engage/disengage this driving mode (see illustration). The
W symbol will
appear in the display (see page 58) when the function is activated. This mode may be selected for starting/ moving off on slippery roads. The vehicle
1 Six-speed transmission: gears 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

06 Starting and driving
Jump starting
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G030860
Follow these instructions to jump start your vehicle's dead battery or to jump startanother vehicle's dead battery using yourvehicle. Although your vehicle's battery islocated under the floor of the cargo area,jumper cables should be connected in theengine compartment, to the points shown in
the illustrations. If the 12-volt auxiliary battery to be used is in another vehicle, check that the vehicles arenot touching to prevent premature comple-tion of a circuit. Be sure to follow jump star-ting instructions provided for the other vehi-cle.
To jump start your vehicle:1. Switch off the ignition.
2. First connect the auxiliary battery positive (+) terminal (1) to the positive (+) terminal in your vehicle's engine compartment (2),located under a small black plastic coverattached to the fuse box cover, markedwith a "+" sign. Remove the cover on themain fuse box if necessary to access thisterminal. Then connect the auxiliary bat-tery's negative (–) terminal (3) to theground point in your vehicle's enginecompartment (4).
3. Start the engine in the assisting vehicle, then start the engine in the vehicle withdead battery.
4. After the engine has started, first remove the negative (–) terminal jumper cable.Then remove the positive (+) terminaljumper cable.
WARNING
PROPOSITION 65 WARNING! Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead com-pounds, chemicals known to the state ofCalifornia to cause cancer and reproduc-tive harm. Wash hands after handling.
WARNING
•Do not connect the jumper cable to any part of the fuel system or to anymoving parts. Avoid touching hotmanifolds.
• Never expose the battery to openflame or electric spark.
• Do not smoke near the battery.
• Batteries generate hydrogen gas,which is flammable and explosive.
• Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Donot allow battery fluid to contact eyes,skin, fabrics or painted surfaces. Ifcontact occurs, flush the affected areaimmediately with water. Obtain medi-cal help immediately if eyes are affec-ted.
• Failure to follow the instructions forjump starting can lead to personalinjury.