Economical Driving - Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual

Starting and driving
General

Economical driving

Economical driving results from driving gently
with anticipation and adapting your driving
style and speed to the situation.
Keep in mind the following:
• Drive the engine to operating temperature
as soon as possible! That is to say: do not
let the engine idle, but drive with a light
load as soon as you can.
• A cold engine consumes more fuel than a
warm one.
• Avoid driving short distances where the
engine never has time to reach operating
temperature.
• Drive gently! Avoid unnecessary quick
accelerations and heavy braking.
• Do not drive with unnecessary, heavy
loads in the car.
• Do not use winter tyres when the roads
are clear and dry.
• Remove the load carrier when it is not in
use.
• Do not open side windows unnecessarily.
Your new car – slippery road
surfaces
Driving in slippery conditions may feel
different depending on whether your car has a
manual or an automatic gearbox. Practice
driving in mock slippery conditions in order to
determine how your new car will react.
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Driving on rough roads
The Volvo XC90 is primarily designed for
driving on main roads, but also has good
handling properties on uneven or rough roads.
Keep the following in mind in order to preserve
the service life of your car:
• Drive slowly on rough roads so you do
not damage the car's underbody.
• If the ground is loose or is made up of dry
sand or snow, it is always best to keep the
car moving at all times and avoid shifting.
Do not stop the car.
• If the road is extremely steep and there is
a risk of overturning, never try to turn the
car around. Reverse back down. Do not
drive diagonally across an incline. Drive
in the direction of the incline.
Avoid driving on steep slopes with a
low fuel level. The catalytic converter may be
damaged if the engine does not receive a suffi-
cient supply of fuel.
When driving on extremely steep inclines,
make sure that the tank is at least half full so as
not to risk engine malfunction.
Wading
The car can be driven through water with a
depth of no more than 48 cm.
In greater depths, water can enter the
differentials and the transmission. This reduces
the lubricating ability of the oil and shortens the
service life of the systems.
When driving through shallow water, maintain
a low speed and do not stop the car. Once you
have passed through the water, apply a light
pressure to the brake pedal and check brake
function. Water, mud and the like can dampen
brake linings, resulting in delayed braking
action.
Clean the electric contacts of the electric engine
heater and trailer coupling after driving in water
and mud.
Do not let the car stand with water over
the sills for any long period of time. This could
cause electrical malfunctions.
Power consumption – saving
energy
The electrical functions of the car load the
battery to varying degrees. Avoid leaving the
ignition key in position II when the engine is
switched off. Use position I instead. Less power
will then be consumed.
Examples of functions that draw a lot of current
are: fan, windscreen wipers, audio system (high
volume) and parking lamp. Be aware of
different accessories that load the electrical
system. Do not use functions that draw a lot of
current when the engine is switched off.
If the battery charge is low, a message is shown
in the display. You should charge the battery by
starting the engine.