Volvo S80 -, Owner'S Manual

Page: 290 / 422

08 Starting and driving
08
288
Before a long journey
Before a long journey, it makes good sense to
go through the following points:
•
Check that the engine is working normally
and that fuel consumption (p. 404) is nor-
mal.
•
Make sure that there are no leaks (fuel, oil
or other fluid).
•
Check all bulbs and tyre tread depths.
•
Carrying a warning triangle (p. 316) is a
legal requirement in certain countries.
Related information
•
Engine oil - checking and filling (p. 346)
•
Changing wheels - removing wheels
(p. 312)
•
Lamp replacement (p. 352)
Winter driving
For winter driving it is important to perform
certain checks in order to ensure that the car
can be driven safely.
Check the following in particular before the
cold season:
•
The engine coolant (p. 349) must contain
at least 50% glycol. This mixture protects
the engine against frost erosion down to
approximately –35 °C. To achieve opti-
mum antifreeze protection, different types
of glycol must not be mixed.
•
The fuel tank must be kept filled to pre-
vent condensation.
•
Engine oil viscosity is important. Oils with
lower viscosity (thinner oils) facilitate star-
ting in cold weather and also reduce fuel
consumption while the engine is cold. For
more information on suitable oils, see
Engine oil - adverse driving conditions
(p. 396).
IMPORTANT
Low viscosity oil must not be used for hard
driving or in hot weather.
•
The condition of the starter battery and
charge level must be inspected. Cold
weather places great demands on the
starter battery and its capacity is reduced
by the cold.
•
Use washer fluid (p. 361) to avoid ice
forming in the washer fluid reservoir.
To achieve optimum roadholding Volvo rec-
ommends using winter tyres on all wheels if
there is a risk of snow or ice.
NOTE
The use of winter tyres is a legal require-
ment in certain countries. Studded tyres
are not permitted in all countries.
Slippery driving conditions
Practise driving on slippery surfaces under
controlled conditions to learn how the car
reacts.
Related information
•
Winter driving (p. 288)