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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 engine's optional Eco function 1
can help improve fuel economy. Seepage 128 for additional information.
• 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.
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 vehicle
1
Available on certain 4-cyl. engines
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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 synthetic0W-30 oil is recommended for driving inareas with sustained low temperatures. •
The load placed on the battery is greaterduring the winter since the windshieldwipers, lighting, etc., are used moreoften. Moreover, the capacity of the bat-tery decreases as the temperature drops.In very cold weather, a poorly chargedbattery can freeze and be damaged. It istherefore advisable to check the state ofcharge more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts.
• Volvo recommends the use of snow tireson all four wheels for winter driving, seepage 307.
• To prevent the washer fluid reservoir fromfreezing, add washer solvents containingantifreeze. This is important since dirt isoften splashed on the windshield duringwinter driving, requiring the frequent useof the washers and wipers. Volvo WasherSolvent should be diluted as follows:Down to 14 °F (–10 °C): 1 part washersolvent and 4 parts water Down to 5 °F(–15 °C): 1 part washer solvent and3 parts water Down to 0 °F (–18 °C):1 part washer solvent and 2 parts waterDown to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 part washersolvent and 1 part water.
• Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
• Avoid using de-icing sprays as they cancause damage to the locks.
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Use the seat belt to prevent the load from moving.
WARNING
•Always secure the load to help prevent it from moving in the event of suddenbraking.
• Switch off the engine, apply the park-ing brake and put the gear selector inP
when loading and unloading the
vehicle.
The cover on the rear seat armrest/child seat has no hinge. The cover must be removedbefore 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 inuse:
• To avoid damaging your vehicle and to achieve maximum safety when driving,we recommend using the load carriersthat Volvo has developed especially foryour vehicle.
• Volvo-approved removable roof racks aredesigned to carry the maximum allowableroof 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'sweigh limits and never exceed the maxi-mum rated roof load of 220 lbs (100 kg).
• Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loadsevenly.
• Place heavier cargo at the bottom of theload.
• Secure the cargo correctly with appropri-ate tie-down equipment.
• Check periodically that the load carriersand load are properly secured.
• Remember that the vehicle's center ofgravity and handling change when youcarry a load on the roof. •
The vehicle's wind resistance and fuelconsumption will increase with the size ofthe load.
• Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fastcornering and hard braking.