Volvo V70 Owner's Manual page 202

Do not overload the battery
The electrical functions in the car load the bat-
tery to varying degrees. Avoid using the ignition
position II when the engine is switched off. Use
ignition position I instead, as less power is con-
sumed.
Also, be aware of different accessories that
load the electrical system. Do not use functions
which use a lot of power when the engine is
switched off. Examples of functions that use a
lot of power:
•
ventilation fan
•
windscreen wipers
•
audio system (high volume)
•
parking lamps
If the battery voltage is low, a message appears
on the information display. The energy-saving
function shuts down certain functions or
reduces certain functions such as the ventila-
tion fan and audio system. Charge the battery
by starting the engine.
Before a long journey
•
Check that the engine is working normally
and that fuel consumption is normal.
•
Make sure that there are no leaks (fuel, oil
or other fluid).
•
Check all bulbs and tyre tread depths.
•
Carrying a warning triangle is a legal
requirement in certain countries.
Winter driving
Check the following in particular before the
cold season:
•
The engine coolant must contain at least
50% glycol. This mixture protects the
engine down to approximately –35 °C. To
achieve optimum antifreeze protection,
different types of glycol must not be mixed.
•
The fuel tank must be kept filled to prevent
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
page 276.
IMPORTANT
Low viscosity oil must not be used for hard
driving or in hot weather.
•
The condition of the battery and charge
level must be inspected. Cold weather pla-
ces great demands on the battery and its
capacity is reduced by the cold.
•
Use washer fluid to avoid ice forming in the
washer fluid reservoir.
05 During your journey
Recommendations during driving
To achieve optimum roadholding Volvo rec-
ommends using winter tyres on all four wheels
if there is a risk of snow or ice.
NOTE
The use of winter tyres is a legal requirement
in certain countries. Studded tyres are not
permitted in certain countries.
Slippery driving conditions
Practise driving on slippery surfaces under
controlled conditions to learn how the car
reacts.
05
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