2016 VOLVO XC60 towing

08 Starting and driving
08
273
Driving through water
The vehicle should be driven with extreme caution if it is necessary to drive throughstanding water. The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 13 in. (35 cm) atwalking speed to help prevent water fromentering the differential and the transmission.Water reduces the oil's lubricating capacityand may shorten the service life of thesecomponents.
• Take particular care when driving through flowing 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 approximately 13 in.(35 cm), water may enter the differen-tial and the transmission. This reducesthe oil's lubricating capacity and mayshorten the service life of these com-ponents.
• Damage to any components, theengine, transmission, turbo-charger,differential or its internal componentscaused by flooding, vapor lock orinsufficient oil is not covered underwarranty.
• 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.
Related information
•
Towing the vehicle (p. 285)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 286)

08 Starting and driving
08
274
Engine and cooling system
Under special conditions, for example when driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or withheavy loads, there is a risk that the engine andcooling system will overheat. Proceed as follows to avoid overheating the engine. •Maintain a low speed when driving with a trailer up long, steep hills. For informa-tion, see Towing a trailer (p. 282)
• Do not turn the engine off immediatelywhen stopping after a hard drive.
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 current
Keep 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.
• The optional 12-volt socket in the cargoarea (p. 141) area provides electrical cur-rent even with the ignition switched off,which drains the battery.
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo serv-ice technician before driving long distances.Your retailer will also be able to supply youwith bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiperblades for your use in the event that problemsoccur. 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 (p. 380)checked.
• Check condition of drive belts.
• Check state of the battery's charge.
• Examine tires carefully (the spare tire aswell), and replace those that areworn (p. 291). Check tire pres-sure (p. 298).
• 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

08 Starting and driving
08
}}
277
Refueling – octane rating
Volvo recommends premium fuel for best per- formance, but using 87 octane17
or above will
not affect engine reliability.
Minimum octane
G028920
Typical pump octane label
NOTE
Vehicles equipped with the high perform- ance 4-cylinder engines (B4204T9 and B4204T10) require premium fuel 18
.
TOP TIER Detergent GasolineVolvo endorses the use of “TOP TIER Deter- gent Gasoline” where available to help main-tain engine performance and reliability. TOPTIER Detergent Gasoline meets a new stand- ard jointly established by leading automotivemanufactures to meet the needs of today’sadvanced engines. Qualifying gasoline retail-ers (stations) will, in most cases, identify theirgasoline as having met the “TOP TIER Deter-gent Gasoline” standards.
NOTE
Information about TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is available atwww.toptiergas.com.
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.
17
AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number (RON) and the Motor Octane Number (MON), MON+RON/2.
18 Refer to your Warranty and Maintenance Records booklet for additional information.

08 Starting and driving
08
282
Towing a trailer
When towing a trailer, always observe the legal requirements of the state/province.
NOTE
For the maximum trailer and tongue weights recommended by Volvo, seeWeights (p. 374).
•All Volvo models are equipped with energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-ers. Trailer hitch installation should notinterfere with the proper operation of thisbumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any particular problems, but take into considera-tion: • Increase tire pressure to recommended full pressure, see Tire inflation – pressuretable (p. 301).
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towingheavy trailers during the first 620 miles(1,000 km).
• Maximum speed when towing a trailer:50 mph (80 km/h).
• Engine and transmission are subject toincreased loads. Therefore, engine cool-ant temperature should be closelywatched when driving in hot climates orhilly terrain. Use a lower gear and turn offthe air conditioner if the temperaturegauge needle enters the red range. •
If the automatic transmission begins tooverheat, a message will be displayed inthe text window.
• Avoid overload and other abusive opera-tion.
• Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-ity, and economy.
• It is necessary to balance trailer brakeswith the towing vehicle brakes to providea safe stop (check and observe state/local regulations).
• Do not connect the trailer's brake systemdirectly to the vehicle's brake system.
• More frequent vehicle maintenance isrequired.
• Remove the ball holder when the hitch isnot being used.
NOTE
• When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brakebefore putting the gear selector in
P.
Always follow the trailer manufactur-er's recommendations for wheelchocking.
• When starting on a hill, put the gearselector in
D before releasing the park-
ing brake.
• If you use the manual (Geartronic) shiftpositions while towing a trailer, makesure the gear you select does not puttoo much strain on the engine (usingtoo high a gear).
• The drawbar assembly/trailer hitchmay be rated for trailers heavier thanthe vehicle is designed to tow. Pleaseadhere to Volvo's recommended trailerweights.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclinesof more than 15%.

08 Starting and driving
08
}}
283
CAUTION
The maximum trailer weights listed are only applicable for altitudes up to 3,280 ft(1000 m) above sea level. With increasingaltitude the engine power and thereforethe car's climbing ability are impairedbecause of the reduced air density, so themaximum trailer weight has to be reducedaccordingly. The weight of the vehicle andtrailer must be reduced by 10% for everyfurther 3,280 ft (1000 m) (or part thereof).When towing 5,950 lbs (2,700kg) hill incli-nation is restricted to 14%.
WARNING
•Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor shouldsafety chains be attached to thebumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehiclerear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulicbrake system directly to the vehiclebrake system, nor a trailer's lightingsystem directly to the vehicle lightingsystem. Consult your nearest author-ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-tion.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer'ssafety chains or wire must be correctlyfastened to the attachment points pro-vided in the trailer hitch on the vehicle.The safety chain or wire must never befastened to or wound around the tow-ing ball.
Trailer cableAn adapter is required if the vehicle's trailer hitch has a 13-pin connector and the trailerhas 7 pins. Use an adapter cable approvedby Volvo. Make sure the cable does not dragon the ground.
Related information
•
Detachable trailer hitch (p. 283)
• Loading – general (p. 142)
Detachable trailer hitch
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer hitches that are specially designed for thevehicle.
A
C
EDBG010496
Ball holder
Locking bolt
Cotter pin
Hitch assembly
Safety wire attachment
Installing the ball holder1. If necessary, remove the cotter pin from
the locking bolt and slide the locking bolt out of the hitch assembly.
2. Slide the ball holder into the hitch assem- bly.

||
08 Starting and driving
08
284
3. Align the hole in the ball holder with theone in the hitch assembly.
4. Slide the locking bolt through the hitch assembly/ball holder.
5. Insert the cotter pin in the hole at the end of the locking bolt.
Removing the ball holder1. Remove the cotter pin from the lockingbolt and slide the locking bolt out of the ball holder/hitch assembly.
2. Pull the ball holder out of the hitch assembly.
NOTE
A cover for the hitch assembly is also included in the kit.
Related information
• Towing a trailer (p. 282)
Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
Trailer Stability Assist is a system designed to help stabilize a vehicle that is towing a trailerwhen the vehicle and trailer have begun tosway and is part of the stability system. Forinformation on the stability system, see Stabil-ity system – introduction (p. 174)
FunctionA vehicle towing a trailer may begin to swayfor various reasons. Normally this only occursat high speeds but, for example, if the traileris overloaded or if the load is unevenly dis-tributed in the trailer, there is risk of swayingat speeds between approximately 45-55 mph(70-90 km/h). Swaying may be caused by factors such as: •The vehicle and trailer are hit by a sud- den, strong crosswind
• The vehicle and trailer are traveling on anuneven road surface or drive over a bump
• Sudden movements of the steering wheel
Facts about TSA
• TSA intervenes at speeds above approxi-mately 40 mph (60 km/h)
• The stability system symbol in the instru-ment panel will flash when TSA is working
• If the driver switches off the stability sys-tem's Spin Control function, TSA will alsobe switched off (but will be on again thenext time the engine is started) •
TSA may not intervene when the vehicleand trailer begin to sway if the driver triesto compensate for the swaying motion bymoving the steering wheel rapidly
How TSA worksOnce swaying has begun, it can be very diffi- cult to stop, which makes it difficult to controlthe vehicle and trailer. The TSA system continuously monitors the vehicle's movements, particularly lateralmovement. If the system detects a tendencyto sway, the brakes are applied individuallyon the front wheels, which has a stabilizingeffect on the vehicle and trailer. This is oftenenough to enable the driver to regain controlof the vehicle. If this is not adequate to stop the swaying motion, the brakes are applied to all of thewheels on the vehicle and on the trailer if it isequipped with brakes, and engine power istemporarily reduced. As the swaying motionbegins to decrease and the vehicle-trailerhave once again become stable, TSA will nowstop regulating the brakes/engine power andthe driver regains control of the vehicle.
Related information
• Towing a trailer (p. 282)
• Loading – general (p. 142)

08 Starting and driving
08
}}
285
Towing the vehicle
Always check with state and local authorities before attempting to tow another vehiclebecause this type of towing is subject to reg-ulations regarding maximum towing speed,length and type of towing device, lighting, etc.
1. With the remote key fully pressed into theignition slot 22
, press START/STOP
ENGINE for approximately 2 seconds to
activate ignition mode II.
2. The remote key must remain in the igni- tion slot 23
for the entire time that the vehi-
cle is being towed.
3. Keep the tow rope taut when the towing vehicle slows down by applying light pressure on the brake pedal. This willhelp prevent jarring movements of thevehicle being towed.
4. Be prepared to apply the brakes to stop the vehicle being towed.CAUTION
General towing precautions:
• Please check with state and local authorities before attempting this typeof towing, as vehicles being towed aresubject to regulations regarding maxi-mum towing speed, length and type oftowing device, lighting, etc.
• If the vehicle's battery is dead, seeJump starting (p. 251) to provide cur-rent for releasing the electric parkingbrake and to move the gear selectorfrom the
P position to N. If this is not
possible, see Transmission – shiftlockoverride (p. 256) for information aboutmanually overriding the shiftlock sys-tem to move the gear selector from P
to N.
• Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h).Do not exceed the maximum allowabletowing speed.
• Maximum distance with front wheelson ground: 50 miles (80 km).
• The vehicle should only be towed inthe forward direction.
Related information
•
Towing eyelet (p. 285)
• Remote key – functions (p. 153)
Towing eyelet
When used, the towing eyelet should always be securing attached.
Location of the towing eyelet
Attaching the towing eyelet
22
Not necessary in vehicles with the optional keyless drive.
23 For vehicles with the optional keyless drive, the remote key must be in the vehicle.

||
08 Starting and driving
08
286
Attaching the towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located under the floor of the cargo area, with the spare tireand may be partially concealed. This eye-let must be screwed into the positionsprovided on the right sides of either thefront or rear bumper (see illustration).
There are two different types of covers over the openings for the towing eyeletand they have to be opened differently.
• If the cover has a notch, insert a coin, etc., into the notch and pry open theedge of the cover. Open the covercompletely and remove it.
• If the cover has a mark along one edgeor in a corner, press the mark whileprying out the opposite side/cornerusing a coin, etc. Open the cover andremove it.
Screw the towing eyelet in place, first by hand and then using the tire iron until it issecurely in place. After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet should be removed and returned to its stor-age location. Press the cover for the attachment point back into position.
WARNING
• When the vehicle is being towed, the ignition should be in mode
II (in mode
I , all of the vehicle's airbags are deac-
tivated). For more information, seeIgnition modes (p. 79)
• Never remove the remote key from theignition slot when the vehicle is beingtowed. For vehicles with keyless drive,the remote key must remain inside thevehicle.
• The power brakes and power steeringwill not function when the engine is notrunning. Approximately 5 times morepressure will be required on the brakepedal and the steering wheel will beconsiderably harder to turn.
• The towing eyelets must not be usedfor pulling the vehicle out of a ditch orfor any similar purpose involvingsevere strain.
Related information
•
Towing the vehicle (p. 285)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 286)
Towing by tow truck
When necessary, call for professional help from an authorized towing company. Volvorecommends the use of flat bed equipment.
CAUTION
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet may be used to pull the vehicle onto aflatbed tow truck.
• The vehicle's position and ground clearance determine if it can be pulledup onto a flatbed tow truck using thetowing eyelet.
• If the angle of the tow truck’s ramp istoo steep or the ground clearanceunder the vehicle is insufficient, dam-age could occur by attempting to pullthe vehicle using the towing eyelet.
• If necessary, lift the vehicle using thetow truck’s lifting device.
WARNING
No person or object should be behind the tow truck while the vehicle is being pulledup onto the flatbed.