General - Volvo V50 Owner's Manual

06 Starting and driving

General

Economical driving
Driving economically means driving smoothly
while thinking ahead and adjusting your driv-
ing style and speed to the prevailing condi-
tions.
• Get the engine warmed up as soon as
possible.
• Do not let the engine idle, but drive at light
loads as soon as it is possible.
• A cold engine consumes more fuel than a
warm one.
• Avoid braking too hard.
• Do not drive with unnecessary loads in the
car.
• Do not use winter tyres when the roads
are dry.
• Remove load carriers when they are not
being used.
06
• Avoid driving with open windows.
Slippery driving conditions
Practise driving on slippery surfaces under
controlled conditions to learn how the car re-
acts.
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.
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Avoid overheating the cooling system
• Maintain a low speed when driving with a
trailer up long, steep ascents.
• Do not turn the engine off immediately you
stop after a hard drive.
• Remove any auxiliary lamps from in front
of the grille if driving in extreme high
temperatures.
Avoid overheating the engine
Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm
(diesel engine: 3500 rpm) if driving with a
trailer or caravan in hilly terrain. The oil tem-
perature could then become too high.
Open tailgate
Avoid driving with the tailgate open. If it is
necessary to drive with the tailgate open for a
short distance:
– Close all windows.
– Set the air distribution to the windscreen
and floor and run the fan at high speed.
WARNING
Do not drive with the tailgate open. Toxic
exhaust fumes can be drawn into the car
through the cargo area.
Driving in water
The car can be driven through water at a
maximum depth of 25 cm at a maximum
speed of 10 km/h. Extra caution should be
exercised when passing through flowing wa-
ter.
IMPORTANT
Engine damage can occur if water enters
the air filter.
In greater depths, water can enter the trans-
mission. This reduces the lubricating ability
of the oils and shortens the service life of
these systems.
When driving in water, maintain a low speed
and do not stop the car. When the water has
been passed, depress the brake pedal lightly
and check that full brake function is attained.
Water and mud for example can make the
brake linings wet resulting in delayed brake
function.