STARTING AND DRIVING
340•
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
• Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increaseair resistance and also fuel consumption.
• At highway driving speeds, fuel consumptionwill be lower with the air conditioning on andthe windows closed than with the air condi-tioning off and the windows open.
• Using the onboard trip computer's fuel con-sumption modes can help you learn how todrive 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 others are checked at the standard maintenance inter-vals.
Handling and roadholding
• Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pres- sure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore,check that the tires are inflated to the rec-ommended pressure according to the vehicleload. Loads should be distributed so thatcapacity weight or maximum permissible axleloads are not exceeded.
• At the specified curb weight your vehicle hasa tendency to understeer, which means thatthe steering wheel has to be turned more than 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 cargo compartment, the less the ten-dency to understeer.
Driving through standing water
The vehicle should be driven with extreme cau- tion if it is necessary to drive through standingwater.
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 17.7 in. (45 cm) at walk-ing speed to help prevent water from enteringthe differential and the transmission. Thisreduces the oil's lubricating capacity and mayshorten the service life of these components.
• Take particular care when driving through flowing water.
• After driving through water, apply the brakesand check that they are functioning correctly.
• 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.
STARTING AND DRIVING
342•
The air conditioning may be switched off temporarily.
• After a prolonged period of driving, do notturn off the engine immediately after stop-ping.
• The engine cooling fan commonly continuesto run for several minutes after the enginehas been turned off.
WARNING
The cooling fan (located at the front of the engine compartment, behind the radiator) maystart or continue to operate (for up to6 minutes) after the engine has beenswitched off.
Related information
•
Driving with a trailer (p. 351)
• Before a long distance trip (p. 339)
Winter driving
Check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather.
The following advice is worth noting:
• Make sure that the engine coolant contains 50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture willreduce freeze protection. This gives protec-tion against freezing down to –31 °F(–35 °C). The use of "recycled" antifreeze isnot approved by Volvo. Different types ofantifreeze must not be mixed.
• Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvoantifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
• Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – thishelps prevent the formation of condensationin the tank. In addition, in extremely coldweather conditions it is worthwhile to addfuel line de-icer before refueling.
• The viscosity of the engine oil is important.Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improvescold-weather starting as well as decreasingfuel consumption while the engine is warm-ing up. Full synthetic 0W-30 oil is recom-mended for driving in areas with sustainedlow temperatures.
• The load placed on the battery is greater dur-ing the winter since the windshield wipers,lighting, etc., are used more often. Moreover,the capacity of the battery decreases as thetemperature drops. In very cold weather, apoorly charged battery can freeze and bedamaged. It is therefore advisable to check the state of charge more frequently andspray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts.
• Volvo recommends the use of snow tires onall four wheels for winter driving.
• To prevent the washer fluid reservoir fromfreezing, add washer solvents containingantifreeze. This is important since dirt is oftensplashed on the windshield during winterdriving, requiring the frequent use of thewashers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solventshould be diluted as follows: Down to 14 °F(–10 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 partswater Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part washersolvent and 3 parts water Down to 0 °F(–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 partswater Down to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 partwasher solvent and 1 part water.
• Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
• Avoid using de-icing sprays as they cancause damage to the locks.
Related information
• Snow tires and chains (p. 473)
STARTING AND DRIVING
358If
Vehicle key not found is displayed in the
instrument panel, place the remote key in the back-up reader in the tunnel console (see theillustration) and try again to start the engine.
CAUTION
If the engine does not start after the third try, wait for approximately 3 minutes before tryingto start it again to give the battery time torecover its starting capacity.
WARNING
• Always remove the remote key from the passenger compartment when leaving thevehicle and ensure that the ignition in mode
0.
• On vehicles with the optional Passive Entry, never remove the remote key fromthe vehicle while it is being driven ortowed.
• Always place the gear selector in Parkand apply the parking brake before leav-ing the vehicle. Never leave the vehicleunattended with the engine running.
• Always open garage doors fully beforestarting the engine inside a garage toensure adequate ventilation. The exhaustgases contain carbon monoxide, which isinvisible and odorless but very poisonous.
NOTE
After a cold start, idle speed may be noticea- bly higher than normal for a short period. Thisis done to help bring components in theemission control system to their normal oper-ating temperature as quickly as possible,which enables them to control emissions andhelp reduce the vehicle's impact on the envi-ronment.
CAUTION
•
When starting in cold weather, the auto- matic transmission may shift up at slightlyhigher engine speeds than normal untilthe automatic transmission fluid reachesnormal operating temperature.
• Do not race a cold engine immediatelyafter starting. Oil flow may not reachsome lubrication points fast enough toprevent engine damage.
• The engine should be idling when youmove the gear selector. Never accelerateuntil after you feel the transmissionengage. Accelerating immediately afterselecting a gear will cause harsh engage-ment and premature transmission wear.
• Selecting
P or N when idling at a stand-
still for prolonged periods of time will helpprevent overheating of the automatictransmission fluid.
Related information
• Ignition modes (p. 355)
• Turning the engine off (p. 359)
• Changing the remote key's battery (p. 222)
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
525
Related information
•Opening and closing the hood (p. 518)
• Engine compartment overview (p. 519)
Cleaning the exterior
The vehicle should be washed at regular inter- vals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spotsadhere to the paint and may cause damage. Tohelp prevent corrosion, it is particularly importantto wash the car frequently in the wintertime.
Hand washingThe following points should be kept in mind when washing and cleaning the car: • Avoid washing your car in direct sunlight. Doing so may cause detergents and wax todry out and become abrasive. To avoidscratching, use lukewarm water to soften thedirt before you wash with a soft sponge, andplenty of sudsy water.
• Bird droppings
: Remove from paintwork as
soon as possible. Otherwise the finish maybe permanently damaged.
• A car washing detergent can be used tofacilitate the softening of dirt and oil.
• Dry the car with a clean chamois andremember to clean the drain holes in thedoors and rocker panels.
• Tar spots can be removed with tar removerafter the car has been washed.
• A stiff-bristle brush and lukewarm soapywater can be used to clean the wiper blades.Frequent cleaning of the windshield andwiper blades improves visibility considerablyand also helps prolong the service life of thewiper blades. •
Wash off the dirt from the underside (wheelhousings, fenders, etc).
• In areas of high industrial fallout, more fre-quent washing is recommended.
CAUTION
• During high pressure washing, the spray mouthpiece must never be closer to thevehicle than 13" (30 cm). Do not sprayinto the locks.
• Dirt, snow, etc., on the headlights canreduce lighting capacity considerably.Clean the headlights regularly, for exam-ple when refueling.
Special laminated panoramic roof cau-
tions:
• Always close the laminated panoramicroof and sun shade before washing yourvehicle.
• Never use abrasive cleaning agents onthe laminated panoramic roof.
• Never use wax on the rubber sealsaround the laminated panoramic roof.
NOTE
When washing the car, remember to remove dirt from the drain holes in the doors and sills.