Volvo XC90 Owner's Manual page 10

Reducing environmental impact
You can help reduce environmental impact,
for example, by driving economically by pur-
chasing eco-labelled car care products and
by servicing and maintaining the car accord-
ing to the instructions in the owner's manual.
The following hints will help you to do your bit
for the environment:
• Decrease fuel consumption by choosing
ECO tyre pressure, see page 155.
• Since a roof load and ski
box increase air resist-
ance, leading to signifi-
cantly higher fuel
consumption, they
should be removed im-
mediately after use.
• Remove unnecessary items from the car -
the greater the load the higher the fuel
consumption.
• Is your car equipped with an engine block
heater? If so, use it for a few hours before
starting from cold to reduce fuel con-
sumption and exhaust emissions.
• Drive gently and avoid braking too hard.
• Drive in the highest gear
possible. Low engine
speeds result in lower fuel
consumption.
• Ease back on the acceler-
ator on downhill gradi-
ents.
• Use engine braking to slow down.
• Avoid idling. Take consideration of local
regulations. Switch off the engine in traffic
queues.
• Always dispose of envi-
ronmentally hazardous
waste, such as batteries
and oils, in an environ-
mentally safe manner. If
uncertain, consult an au-
thorised Volvo workshop
for advice.
• Service your car regularly.
• High speed increases consumption con-
siderably due to increased wind resist-
ance. A doubling of speed increases wind
resistance four times.
These hints will help you to reduce your fuel
consumption without increasing your travel
time or lessening the enjoyment of driving.
Apart from being kind to your car, you'll be
saving money - and the Earth's resources.
Introduction
Volvo Cars and the environment
9