INTRODUCTION
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Volvo and the environment Volvo is committed to the well-being of its cus- tomers. As a natural part of this commitment, wecare about the environment in which we all live.Concern for the environment means an everydayinvolvement in reducing our environmentalimpact.
Volvo's environmental activities are based on a holistic view, which means we consider the over-all environmental impact of a product throughoutits complete life cycle. In this context, design, pro-duction, product use, and recycling are all impor-tant considerations. In production, Volvo haspartly or completely phased out several chemicalsincluding CFCs, lead chromates, asbestos, andcadmium; and reduced the number of chemicalsused in our plants 50% since 1991. Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into production a three-way catalytic converter with aLambda sond, now called the heated oxygen sen-sor, in 1976. The current version of this highlyefficient system reduces emissions of harmfulsubstances (CO, HC, NOx) from the exhaust pipeby approximately 95 – 99% and the search toeliminate the remaining emissions continues.Volvo is the only automobile manufacturer tooffer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air conditioningsystem of all models as far back as the 1975model 240. Advanced electronic engine controlsand cleaner fuels are bringing us closer to ourgoal. In addition to continuous environmentalrefinement of conventional gasoline-poweredinternal combustion engines, Volvo is activelylooking at advanced technology alternative-fuelvehicles. When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the car's impact on theenvironment. To reduce your vehicle's environ-mental impact, you can:
• Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel economywith improperly inflated tires.
• Follow the recommended maintenanceschedule in your Warranty and ServiceRecords Information booklet.
• Drive at a constant speed whenever possible.
• See a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician as soon as possible for inspectionif the check engine (malfunction indicator)light illuminates, or stays on after the vehiclehas started.
• Properly dispose of any vehicle-related wastesuch as used motor oil, used batteries, brakepads, etc.
• When cleaning your vehicle, please use gen-uine Volvo car care products. All Volvo carcare products are formulated to be environ-mentally friendly.
Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Plug-in Hybrid
• If possible, precondition the vehicle with the charging cable before driving.
• If preconditioning is not possible in coldweather, use the seat and steering wheelheating primarily. Avoid heating the entirepassenger compartment, which reduces thehybrid battery's charge level.
• Choose the
Pure drive mode to help mini-
mize electric power consumption.
• In hilly terrain, put the gear selector in mode B
to utilize the electric motor's braking func-
tion when the accelerator pedal is released. This helps charge the hybrid battery.
• Select the
Save drive mode for higher
speeds when driving farther than is possible using the electric motor only.
Related information
• Driving economically (p. 355)
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.511
Refilling the windshield washer fluid reservoir
Washer fluid helps keep the windshield and headlights clean.
The windshield and headlight washers * share a
common reservoir. Open the blue cap to refill washer fluid (see the illustration for the locationof the reservoir). During cold weather, the reservoir should be filled with windshield washer solvent containing anti-freeze. Use Volvo Original Washer Fluid or theequivalent with a recommended pH valuebetween 6 and 8 in a 1:1 solution. When there is approx. 1 qt (1 liter) of washer fluid remaining in the reservoir, a text message and the
symbol will be displayed in the
instrument panel.
Related information
• Opening and closing the hood (p. 504)
• Engine compartment overview (p. 505)
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.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
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CAUTION
•Before driving into an automatic car wash, turn off the optional rain sensor toavoid damaging the windshield wipers.
• Make sure that side view mirrors, auxiliarylamps, etc, are secure, and that anyantenna(s) are retracted or removed. Oth-erwise there is risk of the machine dis-lodging them.
• Chromed wheels:
Clean chrome-plated
wheels using the same detergents usedfor the body of the vehicle. Aggressivewheel-cleaning agents can permanentlystain chrome-plated wheels.
WARNING
• When the vehicle is driven immediately after being washed, apply the brakes,including the parking brake, several timesin order to remove any moisture from thebrake linings.
• Engine cleaning agents should not beused when the engine is warm. This con-stitutes a fire risk.
Exterior componentsVolvo recommends the use of special cleaning products, available at your Volvo retailer, forcleaning colored plastic, rubber, or ornamentalcomponents such as chromed strips on the exte- rior of your vehicle. The instructions for usingthese products should be followed carefully. Sol-vents or stain removers should not be used.
CAUTION
•
Avoid waxing or polishing plastic or rub- ber components
• Polishing chromed strips can wear awayor damage the surface
• Polishes containing abrasive substancesshould not be used
Related information
•Paint damage (p. 516)
• Corrosion protection (p. 516)
• Polishing and waxing (p. 518)
• Windshield wipers in the service position (p. 508)
Cleaning the interior
Only use cleaning agents and car care products recommended by Volvo. Clean regularly and fol-low the instructions included with the car careproduct.
CAUTION
• Under no circumstances should gasoline, naphtha or similar cleaning agents beused on the plastic or the leather sincethese can cause damage.
• Take extra care when removing stainssuch as ink or lipstick since the coloringcan spread.
• Use solvents sparingly. Too much solventcan damage the seat padding.
• Start from the outside of the stain andwork toward the center.
• Sharp objects (e.g. pencils or pens in apocket) or Velcro fasteners on clothingmay damage the textile upholstery.
• Clothing that is not colorfast, such asnew jeans or suede garments, may stainthe upholstery.
Fabric upholstery and ceiling linerClean with soapy water or a detergent. For more difficult spots caused by oil, ice cream, shoe pol-ish, grease, etc., use a clothing/fabric stainremover. Consult your Volvo retailer.