fuel VOLVO XC70 2003 User Guide

2003 VOLVO XC70
Winter driving 104
Long distance trips 105
Three-way catalytic converter 106

pg. 84 Fuel requirements
Fuel requirements
Octane rating: Volvo engines are designed for optimum performance on unleaded premium\
gasoline
with an octane rating AKI of 91, or above. AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is a\
n average of the Research
Octane Number, RON, and the Motor Octane Number, MON. (RON + MON/2). T\
he minimum octane
requirement is AKI 87 (RON 91).
Deposit control gasoline (detergent additives)
Volvo recommends the use of gasoline containing deposit control additive\
s. These additives have shown
to be effective in keeping injectors and intake valves clean. Consistent\
use of deposit control gasolines
will help ensure good driveability and fuel economy. If you are not sure\
whether the gasoline contains
deposit control additives, check with the service station operator.
Unleaded fuel
Each Volvo has a three-way catalytic converter and must use only unleade\
d gasoline. U.S. and Canadian
regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded gasoline be labelled \
"UNLEADED". Only these
pumps have nozzles which fit your car's filler inlet. It is unlawful to \
dispense leaded fuel into a vehicle
labelled "unleaded gasoline only". Leaded gasoline damages the three-way\
catalytic converter and the
heated oxygen sensor system. Repeated use of leaded gasoline will lessen\
the effectiveness of the
emission control system and could result in loss of emission warranty co\
verage. State and local vehicle
inspection programs will make detection of misfueling easier, possibly r\
esulting in emission test failure
for misfueled vehicles.
NOTE: Some U.S. and Canadian gasolines contain an octane enhancing additive ca\
lled methyl-
cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). If such fuels are used, \
your Emission Control System
performance may be affected, and the Check Engine light (malfunction in\
dicator lamp) located on your
instrument panel may light. If this occurs, please return your vehicle t\
o an authorized Volvo retailer for
service.
Gasoline containing alcohol and ethers
"Oxygenated fuels"
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Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing "oxygenates" which are usua\
lly alcohols or ethers. In some
areas, state or local laws require that the service pump be marked indic\
ating use of alcohols or ethers.
However, there are areas in which the pumps are unmarked. If you are not\
sure whether there is alcohol
or ethers in the gasoline you buy, check with the service station operat\
or. To meet seasonal air quality
standards, some areas require the use of "oxygenated" fuel.
Volvo allows the use of the following "oxygenated fuels; however, the oc\
tane ratings listed on this page
must still be met.
Alcohol - Ethanol: Fuels containing up to 10% ethanol by volume may be used. Ethanol may al\
so be
referred to as Ethyl alcohol, or "Gasohol".
Ethers - MTBE: Fuels containing up to 15% MTBE may be used.
CAUTION! Do not use gasolines containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol\
). This practice
can result in vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical \
parts in the fuel system. Such
damage may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.


pg. 85 Fuel requirements
Carbon Monoxide - Important Warning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, and odorless gas. It is prese\
nt in all exhaust gases. If you
ever smell exhaust fumes inside the vehicle, make sure the passenger com\
partment is ventilated, and
immediately return the vehicle to your retailer for correction.
Fuel Formulations
Do not use gasoline that contains lead as a knock inhibitor, and do not \
use lead additives. Besides
damaging the exhaust emission control systems on your car, lead has been\
strongly linked to certain
forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent. Unburned benzene has been stron\
gly linked to certain forms of
cancer. If you live in an area where you must fill your own gas tank, ta\
ke precautions. These may
include:
l standing upwind away from the filler nozzle while refueling
l refueling only at gas stations with vapor recovery systems that fully se\
al the mouth of the filler neck
during refueling
l wear neoprene gloves while handling a fuel filler nozzle.
Use of Additives
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With the exception of gas line antifreeze during winter months, do not a\
dd solvents, thickeners, or other
store-bought additives to your car's fuel, cooling, or lubricating syste\
ms. Overuse may damage your
engine, and some of these additives contain organically volatile chemica\
ls. Do not needlessly expose
yourself to these chemicals.

pg. 86 Refueling

Refueling
The fuel tank holds approximately 18.5 US gals (70 liters) or 19 US ga\
ls (72 liters) on models equipped
with All Wheel Drive, with sufficient volume left over to accommodate po\
ssible expansion of the fuel in
hot weather. Be aware that the "usable" tank capacity will be somewhat l\
ess than the specified
maximum. When the fuel level is low, such factors as ambient temperature\
, the fuel's "Reid vapor
pressure" characteristics, and terrain can affect the fuel pump's abilit\
y to supply the engine with an
adequate supply of fuel. Therefore, it is advisable to refuel as soon as\
possible when the needle nears the
red zone, or when the fuel warning light comes on.
Fuel filler door
Press the button on the light switch panel (see illustration on page 34) when the car is at a standstill to
unlock the fuel filler door. Please note that the fuel filler door will \
remain unlocked until the car begins
to move forward. An audible click will be heard when the fuel filler doo\
r relocks.
If you intend to leave your car while it is being refueled, this feature\
s enables you to lock the door/
tailgate while leaving the fuel filler door unlocked.
You can also keep the car locked if you remain inside it during refuelin\
g. The central locking button
does not lock the fuel filler door.
Be sure the fuel filler door is not obstructed and is completely closed \
after refueling. Open the fuel
filler cap slowly during hot weather conditions.
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NOTE: During a transitional period, a small number of service stations may sti\
ll have fuel nozzles that
are not compatible with the fuel filler neck on cars equipped with the e\
vaporative control system. Please
refer to
page 130 for additional information.
CAUTION:
l Do not refuel with the engine running *. Turn the ignition off or to pos\
ition I. If the ignition is on, an
incorrect reading could occur in the fuel gauge.
l After refueling, close the fuel filler cap by turning it clockwise until\
it clicks into place *.
l Allow for fuel expansion by not overfilling the tank. Overfilling could \
also cause damage to the
emission control systems.
l Avoid spilling gasoline when refueling. In addition to causing damage to\
the environment, gasolines
containing alcohol can cause damage to painted surfaces, which may not b\
e covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
l Do not use gasolines containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol)\
. This practice can result in
vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in the f\
uel system. Such damage may
not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
* If the fuel filler cap is not closed tightly or if the engine is runni\
ng when the car is refueled, the Check
Engine light (malfunction indicator lamp) may indicate a fault. Howeve\
r, your vehicle's performance
will not be affected. Use only Volvo original or approved fuel filler ca\
ps.

pg. 87 Starting the engine
Starting the engine
1. Fasten the seat belt.
WARNING!
Before starting, check that the seat, steering wheel and mirrors adjuste\
d properly. Make sure the brake
pedal can be depressed completely. Adjust the seat if necessary. See
page 56.
2. Apply the parking brake, if not already set. The gear selector (automatic transmission) is locked in
the (P)ark position (SHIFT-LOCK). Manual transmission: the clutch must be fully depressed.
3. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key* to the starting position. Allow the
starter to operate for up to 10 seconds. Release the key as soon as the \
engine starts. If the engine fails to
start, repeat this step.
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WARNING!
l Always place the gear selector in Park and apply the parking brake befor\
e leaving the vehicle.
Never leave the car unattended with the engine running.
l Always open garage doors fully before starting the engine inside a garag\
e to ensure adequate
ventilation. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is invisib\
le and odorless but very
poisonous.
l An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pedal and t\
he clutch to catch. Check
that the movement of the accelerator pedal and clutch is not impeded. No\
t more than one protective
floor covering may be used at one time.


pg. 89 Manual transmission

Shift positions
Depress the clutch pedal completely when changing gears*.
Remove your foot from the clutch pedal while driving. The shift pattern \
should be followed. Overdrive
(5th gear) should be used as often as possible to help improve fuel ec\
onomy. This gear should be
engaged at speeds above approx. 50 mph (80 km/h).
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D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible\
to help improve fuel economy.
The car should not be moving when shifting from R to the D position.
4 (Intermediate gear)
The transmission will shift automatically between gears 4, 3, 2 or 1 fro\
m this position. The
transmission cannot shift up to (D)rive from fourth gear.
3 (Intermediate gear)
The transmission will shift automatically between gears 3, 2 and 1 from \
this position. The transmission
cannot shift up to fourth gear or (D)rive from third gear.
L (Low gears)
The transmission is locked in gears 1 and 2 when the selector is in this\
position.
NOTE:
l Gears 4, 3, or L can be used if you are driving in a mountainous area, t\
owing a trailer or to increase
engine braking effect.
l The transmission has a built-in limiter designed to help prevent excessi\
ve engine speeds (high rpm)
when gears 4, 3 or L are selected.
Automatic transmission -adaptive system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an adaptive control system t\
hat constantly monitors the way
in which the transmission functions. It senses and adapts each gear shif\
t for optimal performance. The
system also monitors your particular driving style and adapts gear shift\
ing accordingly.

pg. 91 Automatic transmission AW5

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WARNING!
Never leave the car unattended when the engine is running. If, by mistak\
e, the gear selector is moved
from P, the car may start moving.
R (Reverse)
Never engage R while the car is moving forward.
N (Neutral)
Neutral - no gear engaged. Use the parking brake.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position and should be used as often as possible\
to help improve fuel economy.
The car should not be moving when shifting from R to the D position.
Kickdown
Automatic shift to a lower gear (kickdown) is achieved by depressing t\
he accelerator pedal fully and
briskly. An upshift will occur when approaching the top speed for a part\
icular gear or by releasing the
accelerator pedal slightly. Kickdown can be used for maximum acceleratio\
n or when passing at highway
speeds. Kickdown does not function when the transmission is in the manual shift\
(geartronic)
mode (see next page).
Automatic transmission - adaptive system
The automatic transmission is controlled by an adaptive control system t\
hat constantly monitors the way
in which the transmission functions. It senses and adapts each gear shif\
t for optimal performance. The
system also monitors your particular driving style and adapts gear shift\
ing accordingly.
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Automatic transmission - shift gate positions
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)ri\
ve positions while driving.
Depress the button on the front of the gear selector knob to move betwee\
n the R, N, D, and P positions.
Please see the following page for information on using the Geartronic ma\
nual shift mode.

pg. 93 Automatic transmission (Geartronic)
Manual shifting - Geartronic
You can move the gear selector freely between the (MAN)ual and (D)ri\
ve positions while driving. Gears
2, 3, and 4 have a "lock-up" function which reduces engine speed and hel\
ps save fuel. The currently
selected gear will be displayed in the instrument panel (see
page 27).
l To access the (MAN)ual shifting position from (D)rive, pull the gear\
selector back slightly from D
and move it to the left to MAN.
l To return to the (D)rive position from MAN, move the gear selector to \
the right and push it forward to
the (D)rive position.
While driving
If you select the (MAN)ual position while driving, the gear that was b\
eing used in the (D)rive position
will also initially be selected in (MAN)ual position.
l Move the gear selector forward (toward "+") to shift to a higher gear \
or rearward (toward "-") to shift
to a lower gear.
l If you hold the gear selector toward "-", the transmission will downshif\
t, one gear at a time, and will
utilize the braking power of the engine. If the current speed is too hig\
h for using a lower gear, the
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pattern, load-, speed-, traction-, temperature-, and treadwear rating. N\
ever drive on mixed tires, except
for brief periods when the temporary spare tire is in use.
Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and \
inflation pressures are shown on
the tire pressure label located inside the fuel filler door.
Tire Rotation
Volvo recommends rotating the tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). Tir\
es should be rotated front-to-
back/back-to-front only. Tires must maintain the same direction of rotat\
ion throughout their lifetime, and
should never be rotated from one side of the vehicle to the other.
Temporary Spare
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use\
only. Replace it with a full-
sized tire as soon as possible, in accordance with "Tire Rotation" above\
. Do not drive on the temporary
spare at speeds above 50 m.p.h. (80km/h) or for distances greater than\
50 miles (80 km).
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.

pg. 95 Driving economy
Economical driving conserves natural resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid\
starts and stops and
adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Obs\
erve the following rules:
l Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by \
driving with a light foot on
the accelerator pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold eng\
ine uses more fuel and is subject
to increased wear.
l Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This\
does not allow the engine to
reach normal operating temperature.
l Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
l Do not exceed posted speed limits.
l Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
l Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tir\
es are cold).
l Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
l Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and also \
fuel consumption.
l Avoid using automatic transmission kickdown feature unless necessary.
l Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, \
the conditioner's compressor
places an additional load on the engine. However, at higher driving spee\
ds, fuel consumption will be
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2003 VOLVO XC70
lower with the air conditioning on and the windows closed than with the \
air conditioning off and the
windows open.
l Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you le\
arn how to drive more
economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
l Dirty air cleaner
l Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
l Dragging brakes
l Incorrect front end alignment Some of the above mentioned items and othe\
rs are checked at the
standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as o\
ften as possible and
avoid using "kick-down" to help improve fuel economy. Vehicles equipped \
with manual transmissions
should use fifth gear at highway speeds. At other times, choose the high\
est gear that still allows smooth
acceleration.
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a tendency to understeer, whic\
h means that the steering wheel
has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvature of a\
bend. This ensures good
stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these p\
roperties can alter with the
vehicle load. The heavier the load on the rear of the vehicle (e.g., he\
avily loaded (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg)
cargo area or when towing a trailer, the less the tendency to understeer\
.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle hand\
ling. Therefore, check that the tires
are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehicle load. \
See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissib\
le axle loads are not
exceeded.

pg. 96 Points to remember
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, \
when:
l Towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open th\
rottle and low engine rpm.
l Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after\
-boiling" can occur).
l To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed: Do not dri\
ve for prolonged periods at
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