Winter Driving; Cold Weather Precautions - Volvo 850 Owner's Manual

1996 Volvo 850
mountainous areas.
NOTE: Refer to section "Automatic transmission" for additional trailer hauling tips.
WARNING!
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must not be used on Volvos, nor should safety chains be attached to
the bumper.
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle rear axle must not be used.
Never connect a trailer's hydraulic brake system directly to the vehicle brake system, nor a trailer's
lighting system directly to the vehicle lighting system. Consult your nearest authorized Volvo retailer
for correct installation.
pg. 4:18 Winter driving

Cold weather precautions

If you wish to check your car before the approach of cold weather, the following advice is worth
noting:
Make sure that the engine coolant contains at least 50 percent antifreeze: that is, 3.7 qts. (3.5 liters)
Volvo Genuine Coolant/Antifreeze. 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 may not be mixed.
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, is recommended. Be sure to use good quality oil but do not
use this cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather. See section "Engine oil" for more
information.
The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the heater, 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 section "Wheels
and tires".
To prevent the washer reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents containing antifreeze
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