Volvo S60: Driving recommendations

Volvo S60: Driving recommendations

• Economical driving conserves natural resources

Economical driving conserves natural resources

Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops and adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions.

Observe the following rules:

• Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by driving with a light foot on the accelerator pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach normal operating temperature.
• Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
• Use the transmission's Drive (D) position as often as possible and avoid using kickdown.
• Using the transmission's Sport mode1 may increase fuel consumption somewhat. Use the transmission's Drive (D) position as often as possible. See page 119 for additional information about Sport mode.
• Do not exceed posted speed limits. • Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle.
• Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold). • Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
• Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also fuel consumption.
• At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air conditioning on and the windows closed than with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
• Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how 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 others are checked at the standard maintenance intervals.

WARNING

Driving with the trunk open: Driving with the trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passenger compartment. If the trunk must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:

• Close the windows
• Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side windows and the blower control to its highest setting.

Weight distribution affects handling

At the specified curb weight your vehicle has a tendency to understeer, which means that the steering wheel has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvature of a bend. This ensures good stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these properties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavier the load in the trunk, the less the tendency to understeer.

Handling, roadholding

Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check that the tires are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehicle load. See the "Tire pressure" section. Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissible axle loads are not exceeded.

Driving through water

• The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 10 in. (25 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
• Take particular care when driving through flowing water.
• Clean the electrical connections for trailer wiring after driving in mud or water.
• When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the water.

WARNING

After driving through water, press lightly on the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes are functioning normally. Water or mud can make the brake linings slippery, resulting in delayed braking effect.

CAUTION

• Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 10 in (25 cm), water may enter the differential and the transmission. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorten the service life of these components.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer than absolutely necessary. This could result in electrical malfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped while the vehicle is in water, do not attempt to restart it. Have the vehicle towed out of the water.

Engine and cooling system

Under special conditions, for example when driving in hilly terrain, extreme heat or with heavy loads, there is a risk that the engine and cooling system will overheat. Proceed as follows to avoid overheating the engine.

• Maintain a low speed when driving with a trailer up long, steep hills.
• Do not turn the engine off immediately when stopping after a hard drive.

WARNING

The cooling fan may start or continue to operate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine has been switched off.

• Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of the grille when driving in hot weather conditions.
• Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm if driving with a trailer in hilly terrain. The oil temperature could become too 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 optional navigation 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 great deal of current when the engine is not running could result in the battery being completely drained. Driving or having the engine running for approximately 15 minutes will help keep the battery charged.

Before a long distance trip

It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician before driving long distances. Your retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for your use in the event that problems 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 as well), and replace those that are worn. Check tire pressures.
• The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician only.
• Check all lights, including high beams.
• Reflective warning triangles are legally required in some states/provinces.
• Have a word with a trained and qualified Volvo service technician if you intend to drive in countries where it may be difficult to obtain the correct fuel.
• Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where snow or ice are likely to occur, consider snow tires.

Cold weather precautions

If you wish to 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 will reduce freeze protection. This gives protection against freezing down to –31 °F (–35 °C). The use of "recycled" antifreeze is not approved by Volvo. Different types of antifreeze must not be mixed.
• Volvo recommends using only genuine Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
• Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – this helps prevent the formation of condensation in the tank. In addition, in extremely cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add fuel line de-icer before refueling.
• The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-weather starting as well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine is warming up. For winter use, 5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type, is recommended. Be sure to use good quality oil but do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather, see page 339 for more information on engine oil.

NOTE

Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maintenance intervals except at owner request and at additional charge.

• The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the windshield wipers, lighting, etc. are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery decreases as the temperature drops. In very cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is therefore advisable to check the state of charge more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts.
• Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter driving, see page 282.
• To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents containing antifreeze. This is important since dirt is often splashed on the windshield during winter driving, requiring the frequent use of the washers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solvent should be diluted as follows: Down to 14 °F (–10 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 parts water Down to 5 °F (–15 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 3 parts water Down to 0 °F (–18 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 parts water Down to –18 °F (–28 °C): 1 part washer solvent and 1 part water.
• Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
• Avoid using de-icing sprays as they can cause damage to the locks.

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