VOLVO V90 1998 Owners Manual
Page 121 of 175
1998 Volvo S90
extreme operating conditions such as trailer 
towing in sustained ambient temperatures over 
104° F (40° C). However, SAE 10W-30 synthetic 
oil would be a better alternative in such 
conditions.  
SAE 15W-40 should not be used under normal 
operating conditions.
 American Petroleum Institute 
(API) labels. These labels certify 
the oil conforms to the applicable 
standards and specifications of 
the API. 
Servicing pg. 110 
Torque exhaust and 
intake manifold nuts 
 
 
A loose manifold could alter air/
fuel ratio and cause an increase 
in emissions and/or poor 
driveability.  
 
Air cleaner  
 
Replace the air cleaner cartridge 
with a new one every 30,000 
miles (48,000 km). The 
cartridge should be replaced 
more often when driving under 
dirty and dusty conditions, The 
filter cannot be cleaned and, 
therefore, should always be 
replaced with a new one.  
 
Vacuum fittings, hoses 
and connections 
 
 
Unstable idle, misfiring, or poor 
emission control is often caused 
by leaking vacuum hoses or 
connections. Check hoses and 
connections on distributor 
vacuum unit, connections on 
heater control servo systems and 
hydraulic brake servo.  
Fuel system cap, tank 
and lines, and 
connections 
 
 
The effectiveness of the fuel 
system to contain hydrocarbons 
is dependent largely on a 
leakfree system. Check for 
proper sealing of gasoline filler 
cap which contains "O" ring-
type seals. Check all 
evaporative hoses in vehicle for 
tightness. Check fuel lines under 
vehicle and repair if necessary.  
 
Fuel (line) filter  
 
The fuel line filter is located 
next to the fuel pump. This filter 
should be replaced every 
100,000 miles (160,000 km). 
The filter is replaced as one 
complete unit.  
Replace more frequently if 
contaminated fuel is introduced 
into the tank (or if there is 
reason to suspect that this has 
occurred).  
 
Timing belt  
 
WARNING!  
The distributor ignition 
system operates at very high 
voltages. Special safety 
precautions must be followed 
to prevent injury.  
Always turn the ignition off 
when:  
l     Replacing distributor 
ignition components e.g. 
plugs, coil, etc.  
l     Do not touch any part of 
the distributor ignition system 
while the engine is running. 
This may result in unintended 
movements and body injury. 
 
 
Replacing spark plugs  
 
The spark plugs should be 
changed every 30,000 miles 
(48,000 km). However, city 
driving or fast highway driving 
may necessitate changing after 
15,000 miles (24,000 km) of 
driving. When installing new 
plugs, be sure to fit the right type 
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1998 Volvo S90
 
Idle air control system  
 
Your Volvo is equipped with an 
electronically-controlled idle air 
control system that requires no 
checking or adjustment.
Volvo recommends that the 
timing belt be replaced every 
70,000 miles (112,000 km).  
 
PCV system  
 
The orifice nipple in the intake 
manifold and the filter at the 
end of the PCV hose in the 
aircleaner should be inspected 
every 60,000 miles (96,000 km). 
Check/replace rubber hoses at 
the same time.
and use correct torque, see 
Specifications. When changing 
the plugs, check that the 
suppressor connectors are in 
good condition. Cracked or 
damaged connectors should be 
replaced.  
When changing the spark plugs, 
clean the terminals and the 
rubber seals.
Battery maintenance pg. 111 
Battery maintenance  
 
Driving habits and conditions, climate, the 
number of starts, etc. all affect the service life and 
function of the battery. In order for your battery to 
perform satisfactorily, keep the following in mind:  
l     Check the fluid level in the battery every 6 
months or every 10,000 * miles (16,000 km).  
The fluid level in each battery cell should be 
checked - use a screw driver to open the caps and 
a flashlight to inspect the level. 
*More frequently in warm climates. 
l     If necessary, add distilled water to 
approximately 0.4 in. (10 mm) above the plates in 
the cell or to the level indicator. See the 
illustrations above. 
l     Check that the battery cables are correctly 
connected and properly tightened.  
l     Never disconnect the battery when the engine is 
running, for example when changing the battery.  
l     The battery should be disconnected when a 
boost charger is used.  
l     Switch off the radio before disconnecting the 
battery. If your radio has an antitheft code and the 
battery is disconnected, the radio code has to be 
reentered in order for the radio to function.
Fuel/emissions systems pg. 112 
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SFI is all-electronic and microprocessor-
controlled. It can continually compensate for 
variations in engine load, speed and temperature 
to give the best economy and power. An 
important feature of the system is a mass air flow 
sensor that measures the mass of the inducted air 
instead of the volume. In this way the system can 
make instantaneous adjustments for changes in air 
temperature or density, thus always assuring the 
best economy with the lowest possible exhaust 
emissions.  
 
Heated oxygen sensor  
 
This is an emission control system designed to 
reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. The 
heated oxygen sensors monitor the composition of 
the exhaust gases leaving the engine. The exhaust 
gas analysis is fed into an electronic module. This 
adjusts the air-fuel ratio to provide optimum 
conditions for combustion and efficient reduction 
of the three major pollutants (hydrocarbons, 
carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen) by a 
three-way catalytic converter. 
Air pump system  
 
During cold starts, an electric pump is activated 
which directs air to the exhaust channels. This 
initiates a secondary combustion of exhaust gases 
which helps minimize hydrocarbon and carbon 
monoxide levels and reduces warm-up time for 
the three-way catalytic converter. The pump 
begins to function when the engine is started. It 
remains in operation until the three-way catalytic 
converter has reached normal operating 
temperature. A sound may be audible from the air 
pump during this warm-up period. This is normal. 
When idling, the air pump performs a self-
diagnosis. A soft whining noise can be heard, 
which is also normal.
Emissions systems pg. 113 
 
 
Evaporative control system (EVAP)  
 
The engine is equipped with a fuel evaporation 
system which prevents the emission of fuel vapor 
 
 
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1998 Volvo S90
into the atmosphere. The system consists of a 
system of hoses in the fuel tank, a "Roll-Over" 
valve on the cross-member forward of the fuel 
tank, a carbon filter canister in the engine 
compartment which binds the fuel vapors, and an 
electric valve which, when necessary, empties the 
canister in the engine compartment of evaporated 
fuel and routes it into the engine. Crankcase ventilation  
 
The engine is provided with positive crankcase 
ventilation which prevents crankcase gases from 
being released into the atmosphere. Instead, the 
crankcase gases are admitted to the intake 
manifold and cylinders. 
 
 
  
 
Contents | Top of Page
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Chapter 8 - (cont.)
Engine compartment 
pg. 114 
Engine compartment S90/V90 
 
1 Expansion tank, coolant  
2 Oil filler cap, engine  
3 Engine oil dipstick  
4 Brake fluid reservoir  
5 Battery  
6 Data plate  
7 Radiator  
8 Power steering fluid reservoir  
9 Air cleaner  
10 Washer fluid reservoir  
11 Main fuse box  
12 Relay/fuse box 
 
WARNING!  
The cooling fan may start or continue to 
operate (for up to 6 minutes) after the 
engine has been switched off. 
Lubrication pg. 115 
 
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No. Lubricating hint / Lubricant  
1 Hood lock and latch / Oil  
2 Hood hinges / Oil  
3 Door stop and hinges / Oil  
4 Sun roof wind deflector / Oil  
Sun roof mechanism / Grease  
5 Door lock catch plate / Oil  
6 Trunk lid lock / Low temperature  
keyhole and hinges / grease  
 
No. Lubricating hint / Lubricant  
7 Window regulator/ Oil, grease  
locking device low temperature  
(on inside of door) / grease  
8 Front seat slide rail  
and latch / Oil  
9 Door lock keyhole / Low temperature grease or Volvo Teflon lock spray \
 
To avoid rattles and unnecessary wear, the body should be lubricated at \
regular service intervals. This should be done by 
an authorized Volvo retailer.
Brake fluid, Power steering fluid pg. 116 
 
Brake fluid reservoir
Power steering fluid  
 
The fluid level should lie between the MIN and MAX on the 
side of the dipstick. The space between the marks 
corresponds to 0.2 US qts/liters.  
 
Fluid type: ATF  
Replace: no fluid change required.Brake fluid  
 
The fluid level should be between the MIN and MAX 
marks.  
 
Fluid type: DOT 4+  
Replace*: every second year or 30,000 miles (48,000 
km). The brake fluid should be replaced once a year or 
every 15,000 miles (25,000 km) when driving under 
extremely severe conditions (mountain driving, hot 
climate, high humidity etc.)  
 
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Check, without removing the cap, that the level is above 
the "MIN" mark of the fluid reservoir.  
Always entrust brake fluid changing to an authorized 
Volvo retailer.
Drive belt pg. 117 
Belt check 
 
Check the belt regularly to make sure it is in good 
condition and is clean. A worn or dirty belt can cause poor 
cooling and low generator output as well as impair the 
operation of the power steering and the air conditioning 
unit.  
 
WARNING! The engine must not be running when 
this check is performed.  NOTE: The belt is equipped with a self-questioning 
mechanism and requires no adjustment between changes.
Cooling system pg. 118 
 
 
 
Changing coolant 
 
Normally, the coolant does not 
need to be changed. If the system 
must be drained, use the following 
procedure:  
Remove the expansion tank cap. 
Open the drain cock on the right 
side of the engine block and 
disconnect the lower radiator 
hose.  
Fill coolant through the expansion 
tank. The heater controls should 
be fully open when draining and 
WARNING: If the engine is 
warm and you are going to top 
up coolant, unscrew the cap 
slowly in order to allow any 
excess pressure to escape. 
 
 
NOTE: Do not top up with water 
only. Water by itself reduces the 
rust-protective and anti-freeze 
qualities of the coolant and has a 
lower boiling point. It can also 
cause damage to the cooling system 
if it should freeze.
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Check coolant level 
 
The cooling system must be filled with 
coolant and not leak to operate at maximum 
efficiency. Check the coolant level regularly. 
The level should be between the "Max" and 
"Min" marks on the expansion tank. The 
check should be made with particular 
thoroughness when the engine is new or 
when the cooling system has been drained.  
Do not remove the filler cap other than for 
topping-up with coolant. Frequent removal 
may prevent coolant circulations between the 
engine tank during engine warm-up and 
cooling.
filling.  
Add coolant until the level is up to 
the MAX mark or slightly above.  
Start the engine and run until hot. 
Check the cooling system 
connections for tightness. Also re-
check the coolant level.  
Capacity: See "Specifications"  
coolant: Volvo Genuine Coolant/
Antifreeze only  
 
CAUTION  
The cooling system must 
always be kept filled to correct 
level.  
If it is not kept filled, there can 
be high local temperatures in 
the engine which could result 
in damage.  
Different types of anti-freeze/
coolant may not be mixed. 
Adjusting washer nozzles, Washer fluid reservoir pg. 119 
 
 
Adjusting washer nozzles 
 
The washer jets should spray the windshield as shown. Use 
the edge of a small screwdriver to adjust the nozzles, if 
necessary. Please use caution to avoid damaging the 
paintwork.
 
 
Washer fluid reservoir  
 
The washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine 
compartments and holds approx. 0.5 US gal. (2 liters) - 
sedans and 0.8 US gal (3.2 liters) - wagons. During cold 
weather, the reservoir should be filled with windshield 
washer solvent containing anti-freeze. 
 
 
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Contents | Top of Page
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Chapter 9 - Specifications 
pg. 121 
Specifications  
This chapter contains facts and figures pertaining to the technical spec\
ifications of 
your car.   
Oil/Fluids specifications  pg. 122 
 
Engine specifications  pg. 123  
Cooling system  pg. 124  
Fuel system  pg. 124  
Distributor ignition system  pg. 124   
Transmission  pg. 125  
Suspension  pg. 125  
Electrical system/bulbs  pg. 126   
Capacities  pg. 127  
Service manuals, Road assistance  pg. 128   
Dimensions and weights  pg. 129  
Oil/Fluids Specifications 
pg. 122 
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