STARTING AND DRIVING
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Fuel consumption is increased at high speeds - air resistance increases with speed.
• Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle- the heavier the load, the higher the fuelconsumption.
• Maintain the correct pressure in the tires andcheck pressure regularly.
• The type of tires used could affect fuel con-sumption - consult a retailer for advice onsuitable tires.
• Do not use winter tires after the winter sea-son has ended.
• Roof loads increase air resistance andincrease fuel consumption. Remove roofboxes, ski racks, etc. that are not in use.
• Avoid driving with the windows open.
• Using the trip computer's fuel consumptionindicators can help you learn how to drivemore economically.
Other factors that decrease fuel
consumption
• Dirty air cleaner.
• Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter.
• Incorrect front-end alignment.
• Incorrect wheel alignment.
Some of the above items and others are checked as part of Volvo's standard maintenance sched-ule.
Related information
• Drive-E
‒ purer driving pleasure (p. 27)
• ECO drive mode (p. 420)
• Checking tire pressure (p. 529)
Preparing for a long trip
It is important to have the vehicle's systems and equipment checked carefully before driving longdistances.
Check that:
• the engine is running properly and that fuel consumption is normal
• there are no leaks (fuel, oil or other fluid)
• the brake pedal is functioning optimally
• all lights are working
‒
adjust the headlight
height if the vehicle is carrying a heavy load
• tire tread depth and air pressure are at cor-rect levels. Change to snow tires when driv-ing in areas where there is a risk of snowy oricy roads.
• the start battery is sufficiently charged
• the wiper blades are in good condition
Related information
• Checking tire pressure (p. 529)
• Filling washer fluid (p. 626)
• Winter driving (p. 434)
• Economical driving (p. 432)
• Vehicle modem settings (p. 505)
• Loading recommendations (p. 561)
• Driving with a trailer (p. 443)
• Pilot Assist (p. 303)
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STARTING AND DRIVING
* Option/accessory.
444 •
Follow applicable regulations regarding per- mitted speed and weight.
• Drive slowly when towing a trailer up a longand steep incline.
• The maximum trailer weights given only applyto altitudes up to 1000 meters (3280 feet)above sea level. At higher altitudes, enginepower (and thus the vehicle's climbing ability)is decreased due to the reduced air density,and the maximum trailer weight must there-fore be reduced. The weight of the vehicleand trailer must be decreased by 10% foreach additional 1000 m (3280 feet) or partthereof.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines of morethan 12%.
• Avoid overloading and other incorrect use.
• The trailer's brakes must be balanced withthe vehicle's brakes to help ensure safestops (follow applicable local regulations).
CAUTION
•Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should safetychains be attached to the bumper.
• Trailer hitches attaching to the vehiclerear axle must not be used.
• Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brakesystem directly to the vehicle brake sys-tem, nor a trailer's lighting system directlyto the vehicle lighting system. Consultyour nearest authorized Volvo retailer forcorrect installation.
• When towing a trailer, the trailer's safetychains or wire must be correctly fastenedto the attachment points provided in thetrailer hitch on the vehicle. The safetychain or wire must never be fastened toor wound around the towing ball.
NOTE
The optional detachable trailer hitch may not be available in all markets or on all models.Consult your Volvo retailer.
NOTE
Extreme weather conditions, towing a trailer, driving at high altitudes and fuel quality arefactors that significantly increase a vehicle'sfuel consumption.
Trailer weights
WARNING
Please adhere to the recommendations provi- ded for trailer weight. If the recommendationsare not followed, the vehicle and trailer maybe difficult to control during evasive maneu-vers and braking.
NOTE
The specified maximum trailer weights are those permitted by Volvo. National vehicleregulations may set additional restrictions ontrailer weight and speed. The trailer hitchesmay be certified for higher towing weightsthan the vehicle is permitted to tow.
Self-leveling suspension
*The vehicle's self-leveling system attempts to keep the vehicle at a constant level, regardless ofload (up to the maximum permitted weight).When the vehicle is stationary, the rear end of thevehicle will be slightly lowered, which is normal.
Driving in hilly terrain or hot weatherIn certain conditions, there is a risk of overheat-ing when driving with a trailer. If overheating ofthe engine and drive system is detected, a warn-ing symbol will illuminate in the instrument panelalong with a message.
WHEELS AND TIRES
522
Tires
The function of the tires is to carry loads, provide traction on road surfaces, reduce vibrations andprotect the wheels from wear.
The tires significantly influence the vehicle's driv- ing characteristics. The type, dimensions, tirepressure and speed rating have a considerableimpact on how the vehicle performs. Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the vehicle's tire information placard on the B-pil-lar (the structural member at the side of the vehi-cle, at the rear of the driver's door opening).
WARNING
A damaged tire could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
CAUTION
Some Volvo models are equipped with an Ultra High Performance tire and wheel com-bination designed to provide maximum drypavement performance with consideration forhydroplaning resistance. They may be moresusceptible to road hazard damage and,depending on driving conditions, may achievea tread life of less than 30,000 km (20,000miles). Even if this vehicle is equipped withVolvo's advanced AWD or stability system,these tires are not designed for winter driving,and should be replaced with winter tires whenweather conditions dictate.
The tires have good road holding characteristics and offer good handling on dry and wet surfaces.It should be noted however that the tires havebeen developed to give these features on snow/ice-free surfaces. Most models are equipped with "all-season" tires, which provide a somewhat higher degree of road-holding on slippery road surfaces than tires with-out the "all-season" rating. However, for optimalroadholding on icy or snow-covered roads, werecommend snow tires on all four wheels. When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires are the same size designation, type (radial) andpreferably from the same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Otherwise there is a risk of alteringthe vehicle's roadholding and handling characte-ristics.
Recommended tiresOn delivery, the car is equipped with Volvo origi- nal tires that have the VOL
1
marking on the side
of the tires. These tires have been designed spe- cifically for your vehicle. It is therefore importantwhen replacing tires that the new tires have thissame marking to help maintain the vehicle's driv-ing characteristics, comfort and fuel consumption.
New tires
Tires are perishable goods. After a few years, they will begin to harden and their friction proper-ties will gradually deteriorate. Always replace tireswith the freshest tires possible. This is particularlyimportant for snow tires. A series of numbers is
1 This may vary for certain tire dimensions.
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MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
584If the engine oil is not checked regularly and the level becomes low, this could cause seriousengine damage.
CAUTION
To satisfy the requirements for the engine's service intervals, all engines are factory-filledwith a specially adapted synthetic engine oil.Great care has been put into the choice of oil,with consideration given to service life, starta-bility, fuel consumption and environmentalimpact. For the recommended service intervals to apply, an approved engine oil must be used.Only use the prescribed oil grade to top off orchange the oil. Otherwise, there is a risk ofthe vehicle's service life, startability, fuel con-sumption and environmental impact beingaffected. Failure to use engine oil of the prescribed grade and viscosity could cause damage toengine-related components. Volvo Car Corpo-ration disclaims warranty liability for such typeof damage. Volvo recommends entrusting oil changes to an authorized Volvo workshop.
Volvo uses different systems to warn if the oil level is too low/high or the oil pressure is low. Onengine variants with an oil pressure sensor, a
warning symbol is displayed in the instrument panel when oil pressure is low
. On engine
variants with an oil level sensor, the
warn-
ing symbol in the instrument panel and display messages are used to alert the driver. Someengine variants have both systems. Contact aVolvo retailer for more information. Change the engine oil and oil filter according to the schedule specified in the Warranty and Main-tenance Records Information booklet. Oils of ahigher grade than that specified may be used. Ifthe vehicle is driven in adverse conditions, Volvorecommends using an oil with a higher gradethan that specified.
Related information
• Checking and filling engine oil (p. 584)
• Engine oil specifications (p. 638)
Checking and filling engine oil
The engine oil level is monitored by an electronic oil level sensor.
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
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Support battery In addition to the start battery, vehicles equipped with the Start/Stop function also have a supportbattery.
Vehicles with the Start/Stop function are equip- ped with two 12-volt batteries ‒ a heavy-duty
start battery and a support battery that provides extra current during the Start/Stop function'sstart sequence.
The support battery is located in a box next to the spring strut in the engine compartment.
NOTE
• The higher the current consumption in the vehicle, the more the alternator has towork and the batteries have to becharged = increased fuel consumption.
• When the starter battery capacity hasdropped below the lowest permissiblelevel, the Start/Stop function is disen-gaged.
When the Start/Stop function is temporarily reduced due to high current consumption:
• The engine will auto-start, even if the driverdoes not lift their foot from the brake pedal.
The support battery does not normally requiremore service than the start battery. If you have any questions or concerns, consult a workshop ‒
an authorized Volvo workshop is recommended.
CAUTION
If the following is not observed, the Start/ Stop function may temporarily stop workingafter connection of an external starter batteryor battery charger: • The negative battery terminal of the vehi- cle's starter battery must
never be used
to connect an external starter battery orbattery charger – only the vehicle's neg-
ative charging point should be used as
a grounding point.