Handling, Roadholding; Cold Weather Precautions - Volvo V50 User Manual

2006 Volvo V50
WARNING!
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with the tailgate open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases
entering the passenger compartment. If the tailgate 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.
CAUTION!
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flooded roadways, etc.). Damage to
the engine could result if excess water is drawn in through the air intake system. Never drive the
vehicle in water deeper than 18 inches (48 cm).
pg. 101 General information

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.

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). See section "Coolant".
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. Your Volvo
retailer stocks plenty of Volvo engine coolant to help protect your vehicle during cold weather.
Try to keep the fuel tank well filled - this prevents 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
use cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See
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 the chapter
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, is recommended. Be sure to use good quality oil but do not
page 187 for more information.