warning VOLVO XC70 2011 Owner´s Manual

05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05
202
General information
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.
Observe the following rules:
•Bring the engine to normal operating tem-
perature as soon as possible by driving
with a light foot on the accelerator pedal for
the first few minutes of operation. A cold
engine uses more fuel and is subject to
increased wear.
•Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle
for driving short distances. This does not
allow the engine to reach normal operating
temperature.
•Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration
and hard braking.
•Use the transmission's Drive (D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-
down.
•Do not exceed posted speed limits.
•Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra
load) in the vehicle.
•Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire
pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
•Remove snow tires when threat of snow or
ice has ended.
•Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc,
increase air resistance and also fuel con-
sumption.
•At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-
tion will be lower with the air conditioning
on and the windows closed than with the
air conditioning off and the windows open.
•Using the onboard trip computer's fuel
consumption modes can help you learn
how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage
are:
•Dirty air cleaner
•Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
•Dragging brakes
•Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others
are checked at the standard maintenance
intervals.
WARNING
Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with
the tailgate open could lead to poisonous
exhaust gases entering the passenger com-
partment. If the tailgate must be kept open
for any reason, proceed as follows:
•Close the windows
•Set the ventilation system control to air
flow to floor, windshield and side win-
dows and the blower control to its high-
est setting.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a
tendency to understeer, which 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 properties can alter with the vehicle load.
The heavier the load in the cargo area, the less
the tendency to understeer.
Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure
all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check
that the tires are inflated to the recommended
pressure according to the vehicle load. See the
"Tire pressure" section. Loads should be dis-
tributed so that capacity weight or maximum
permissible axle loads are not exceeded.

05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05

203
Driving through water
•The vehicle can be driven through water up
to a depth of approximately 10 in. (25 cm),
at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h).
•Take particular care when driving through
flowing water.
•Clean the electrical connections for trailer
wiring after driving in mud or water.
•When driving through water, maintain low
speed and do not stop in the water.
WARNING
After driving through water, press lightly on
the brake pedal to ensure that the brakes
are functioning normally. Water or mud can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
CAUTION
•Engine damage will occur if water is
drawn into the air cleaner.
•If the vehicle is driven through water
deeper than 10 in (25 cm), water may
enter the differential and the transmis-
sion. This reduces the oil's lubricating
capacity and may shorten the service
life of these components.
•Do not allow the vehicle to stand in
water up to the door sills longer than
absolutely necessary. This could result
in electrical malfunctions.
•If the engine has been stopped while the
vehicle is in water, do not attempt to
restart it. Have the vehicle towed out of
the water.
Engine and cooling systemUnder 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. Proceed as fol-
lows to avoid overheating the engine.
•Maintain a low speed when driving with a
trailer up long, steep hills.
•Do not turn the engine off immediately
when stopping after a hard drive.
WARNING
The cooling fan may start or continue to
operate (for up to 6 minutes) after the engine
has been switched off.
•Remove any auxiliary lights from in front of
the grille when driving in hot weather con-
ditions.
•Do not exceed engine speeds of 4500 rpm
if driving with a trailer in hilly terrain. The oil
temperature could become too high.
Conserving electrical currentKeep the following in mind to help minimize
battery drain:
•When the engine is not running, avoid
using ignition mode II. Many electrical sys-
tems (the audio system, the optional navi-
gation system, power windows, etc) will
function in ignition modes 0 and I. These
modes reduce drain on the battery.
•Please keep in mind that using systems,
accessories, etc., that consume a great
deal of current when the engine is not run-
ning could result in the battery being com-
pletely drained. Driving or having the
engine running for approximately
15 minutes will help keep the battery
charged.
•The optional 12 volt socket in the cargo
area provides electrical current even with

05 During your trip
Driving recommendations
05
204
the ignition switched off, which drains the
battery.
Before a long distance tripIt is always worthwhile to have your vehicle
checked by a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician before driving long distances.
Your retailer will also be able to supply you with
bulbs, fuses, spark plugs and wiper blades for
your use in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be
checked before any long trip:
•Check that engine runs smoothly and that
fuel consumption is normal.
•Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
•Have the transmission oil level checked.
•Check condition of drive belts.
•Check state of the battery's charge.
•Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as
well), and replace those that are worn.
Check tire pressures.
•The brakes, front wheel alignment, and
steering gear should be checked by a
trained and qualified Volvo service techni-
cian only.
•Check all lights, including high beams.
•Reflective warning triangles are legally
required in some states/provinces.
•Have a word with a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician if you intend to
drive in countries where it may be difficult
to obtain the correct fuel.
•Consider your destination. If you will be
driving through an area where snow or ice
are likely to occur, consider snow tires.
Cold weather precautionsIf you wish to check your vehicle before the
approach of cold weather, the following advice
is worth noting:
•Make sure that the engine coolant contains
50 percent antifreeze. Any other mixture
will reduce freeze protection. This gives
protection against freezing down to
–31 °F (–35 °C). The use of "recycled" anti-
freeze is not approved by Volvo. Different
types of antifreeze must not be mixed.
•Volvo recommends using only genuine
Volvo antifreeze in your vehicle's radiator.
•Try to keep the fuel tank well filled – this
helps prevent the formation of condensa-
tion 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 decreas-
ing fuel consumption while the engine is
warming up. For winter use, 5W-30 oil, par-
ticularly the synthetic type, is recom-mended. Be sure to use good quality oil but
do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving
or in warm weather, see page 298 for more
information on engine oil.
NOTE
Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is
changed at the normal maintenance inter-
vals except at owner request and at addi-
tional charge.
•The load placed on the battery is greater
during the winter since the windshield wip-
ers, lighting, etc. are used more often.
Moreover, the capacity of the battery
decreases as the temperature drops. In
very cold weather, a poorly charged bat-
tery can freeze and be damaged. It is there-
fore 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
page 239.
•To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from
freezing, add washer solvents containing
antifreeze. This is important since dirt is
often splashed on the windshield during
winter driving, requiring the frequent use of
the washers and wipers. Volvo Washer
Solvent should be diluted as follows: Down
to 14 °F (–10 °C): 1 part washer solvent and

05 During your trip
Refueling
05

207 Octane rating
Minimum octane
G028920
Typical pump octane label
Volvo recommends premium fuel for best per-
formance, but using 87 octane1 or above will
not affect engine reliability.
Volvo engines are designed to achieve rated
horsepower, torque, and fuel economy per-
formance using premium 91 octane fuel.
Demanding drivingIn demanding driving conditions, such as oper-
ating the vehicle in hot weather, towing a trailer,
or driving for extended periods at higher alti-
tudes than normal, it may be advisable to
switch to higher octane fuel (91 or higher) or tochange gasoline brands to fully utilize your
engine's capacity, and for the smoothest pos-
sible operation.
NOTE
When switching to higher octane fuel or
changing gasoline brands, it may be neces-
sary to fill the tank more than once before a
difference in engine operation is noticeable.
Fuel FormulationsDo not use gasoline that contains lead as a
knock inhibitor, and do not use lead additives.
Besides damaging the exhaust emission con-
trol systems on your vehicle, lead has been
strongly linked to certain forms of cancer.
Many fuels contain benzene as a solvent.
Unburned benzene has been strongly linked to
certain forms of cancer. If you live in an area
where you must fill your own gas tank, take
precautions. These may include:
•standing upwind away from the filler nozzle
while refueling
•refueling only at gas stations with vapor
recovery systems that fully seal the mouth
of the filler neck during refueling
•wearing neoprene gloves while handling a
fuel filler nozzle.
Use of AdditivesWith the exception of gas line antifreeze during
winter months, do not add solvents, thicken-
ers, or other store-bought additives to your
vehicle's fuel, cooling, or lubricating systems.
Overuse may damage your engine, and some
of these additives contain organically volatile
chemicals. Do not needlessly expose yourself
to these chemicals.
WARNING
Never carry a cell phone that is switched
on while refueling your vehicle. If the phone
rings, this may cause a spark that could
ignite gasoline fumes, resulting in fire and
injury.
WARNING
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless,
and odorless gas. It is present in all exhaust
gases. If you ever smell exhaust fumes
inside the vehicle, make sure the passenger
compartment is ventilated, and immediately
return the vehicle to a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician for correction.
1AKI (ANTI KNOCK INDEX) is an average of the Research Octane Number (RON) and the Motor Octane Number (MON), MON+RON/2.

05 During your trip
Loading
05

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.211 Introduction
The load carrying capacity of your vehicle is
determined by factors such as the number of
passengers, the amount of cargo, the weight
of any accessories that may be installed, etc.
To increase loading space, the rear seat backr-
ests can be folded down, see page 84.
When loading the cargo area, keep the follow-
ing in mind:
•Load objects in the cargo area against the
backrest whenever possible.
•Unstable loads can be secured to the load
anchoring eyelets with straps or web lash-
ings to help keep them from shifting.
•Stop the engine and apply the parking
brake when loading or unloading long
objects. The gear selector can be knocked
out of position by long loads, which could
set the vehicle in motion.
WARNING
•Stop the engine, put the gear selector in
P, and apply the parking brake when
loading or unloading long objects.
•The vehicle's driving characteristics
may change depending on the weight
and distribution of the load.
•A 44-pound (20 kg) object produces a
force of 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg) in a
head-on collision at 30 mph (50 km/h).
•The cargo area and rear seat should not
be loaded to a level higher than 2 in.
(5 cm) below the upper edge of the rear
side windows. Objects placed higher
than this level could impede the func-
tion of the Inflatable Curtain.
Power tailgate*
G017876
Power tailgate closing button
Automatic openingThe power tailgate can be opened automati-
cally in the three ways:
•By pressing and holding the but-
ton on the lighting panel until the tailgate
begins to open.
•By pressing and holding the button
on the remote key until the tailgate begins
to open.
•By pulling the outer handle on the tailgate.
The taillights illuminate automatically when the
automatic open function is used.

05 During your trip
Loading
05
212
CAUTION
Be sure that there is adequate space above
and behind the vehicle before opening the
tailgate automatically.
The vehicle should not be driven or moved
with the tailgate in the open position. How-
ever, if the vehicle is moved with the tailgate
in the open position, the automatic closing
function will be inoperative until one of the
following occurs:
•The tailgate is closed manually
•The ignition is switched off and the key
is removed for approximately 10
minutes (the tailgate will function again
after restart).
NOTE
If the tailgate has been opened and closed
continuously for more than 90 seconds, the
automatic function will be deactivated to
avoid overloading the electrical system. The
automatic function can be used again after
approximately 10 minutes.
Automatic closingThe power tailgate can be closed by pressing
the
button on the tailgate (see the illus-
tration) or by pressing it down.
NOTE
If the tailgate is pressed down e.g., by the
weight of snow or strong wind, it will close
automatically.
WARNING
Be sure that no one is near the tailgate when
it is opened or closed automatically. The
tailgate should never be obstructed in any
way when it is operated.
Interrupting automatic opening/closingAutomatic opening or closing the tailgate can
be interrupted in four ways:
•By pressing the button on the
lighting panel.
•By pressing the button on the
remote key for several seconds.
•By pressing the button on the lower edge
of the tailgate.
•By pulling the outer handle on the tailgate
a second time.
If one of these actions is taken:
•While the tailgate is being opened, the
electrical function will be switched off andthe tailgate will be released from the elec-
trical system.
•While the tailgate is being closed, it will
return to the fully open position.
Pinch protectionIf the tailgate is obstructed while it is being
operated, the pinch protection function is acti-
vated.
•If the tailgate is being opened, the electri-
cal function will be switched off and the
tailgate will be released from the electrical
system.
•If the tailgate is being closed, it will move
in the opposite direction.
Operating the tailgate manuallyThe power tailgate can be disconnected from
the vehicle’s electrical system by quickly pull-
ing the outer handle twice. The tailgate can
then be opened/closed manually.
Folding down the rear seat backrests
The rear seat backrests can be folded down for
additional loading space. See page 85 for infor-
mation.

05 During your trip
Loading
05

213 Load anchoring eyelets
The load anchoring eyelets on both sides of the
vehicle are used to fasten straps, etc., to help
anchor items in the cargo area.
WARNING
•Cover sharp edges on long loads to help
prevent injury to occupants. Secure the
load to help prevent shifting during sud-
den stops.
•Always secure large and heavy objects
with a seat belt or cargo retaining
straps.
•Always secure the load to help prevent
it from moving in the event of sudden
stops.
•Switch off the engine, apply the parking
brake and put the gear selector in P
when loading and unloading the vehicle.
Cargo area floor rails and hooks
Load secured in upper and lower hooks
The floor of the cargo compartment has rails
on opposite sides of the vehicle equipped with
hooks for anchoring loads with straps, nets,
etc.
Cleaning the railsDirt or other small objects that collect in the
rails can make moving, locking, unlocking, and
removing the hooks more difficult. Objects can
be removed from the rails with a vacuum
cleaner, and the rails can be cleaned with a
moist cloth.
Moving the load anchoring hooks
G017742
To move a hook, fold it down in the direc-
tion in which its opening points.
Press the hook down lightly and move it to
the desired position.

05 During your trip
Loading
05
214
Fold up the hook. It will lock in place.
NOTE
There should be at least 2 in. (50 cm)
between the hooks in the rail.
WARNING
Switch off the engine, apply the parking
brake and put the gear selector in P when
loading and unloading the vehicle.
Removing a hook
G018134
The load-securing hooks can easily be
removed, for example, to clean the rail.
To remove a hook, fold it down in the direc-
tion in which its opening points.
Press the hook down lightly and move the
it to an opening in the rail.
Pull the hook straight up.
Replace a hook in the rail in the reverse order.
NOTE
In order to return a removed hook into a rail,
it must be pressed down lightly.
Reinserting a hook
G019581
Upper illustration: hooks correctly installed, Lower
illustration: hooks incorrectly installed
It is important to insert the hooks correctly in
the rails. The hooks' openings should point
away from each other.
•The opening on the hook closest to the rear
seat backrest should point toward the
backrest.
•The opening on the hook closest to the
tailgate should point toward the tailgate.
WARNING
The hooks must be installed correctly in the
rail. Incorrectly installed hooks will be folded
down by the strap, allowing them to move.
The load will then no longer be securely
anchored.
Straps for securing loads
G019397
Securing loads
Wrapping straps a full turn around the hooks
helps keep them in place.

05 During your trip
Cargo area
05
218
Attaching the cassette(s)
The two-sections of the net are attached to the
rear side of the rear seat backrest. The cas-
settes have different widths, and the widest
section should be mounted on the right side
(seen from the rear of the vehicle).
1. Fold down the rear seat backrests.
2. Align the cassette’s mounting rail above
the mounting brackets on the backrest
.
3. Slide the cassette onto the mounting
brackets
.
4. Return the backrest to the upright position.
Using the net(s)
G018246
With the backrests uprightThe net is pulled up from the cassette and locks
in position after approximately 1 minute.
Pull up the right side of the net by grasping
its strap.
Insert the net’s rod in the retaining bracket
on the right side near the ceiling and press
it forward. It will click into place.
Extend the left section of the rod and insert
it in the bracket on the left side of the cargo
compartment. Press it forward until it clicks
into place.
Pull up the left side of the cargo net and
secure it on the rod.
NOTE
•The net can be fastened in the same
way if the rear seat backrests are folded
down. In this case, use the retaining
brackets near the ceiling, above the
front seats.
•The front passenger's seat backrest
can also be folded down for carrying
long objects, see page 81.
Removing the cargo net cassettes1. Retract the net(s) in the reverse order.
2. Fold the entire rear seat backrest down.
3. Slide the cassettes outward until they
release from the mounting brackets.
WARNING
•When not in use, return the cassettes to
their storage compartment under the
cargo area floor.
•Objects in the cargo area should be
securely anchored, even if the cargo net
is correctly installed and in use.

05 During your trip
Towing a trailer
05
220
Introduction
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the vehi-
cle.
NOTE
See page 295 for the maximum trailer and
tongue weights recommended by Volvo.
•Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
•All Volvo models are equipped with
energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-
ers. Trailer hitch installation should not
interfere with the proper operation of this
bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any
particular problems, but take into considera-
tion:
•Increase tire pressure to recommended full
pressure. See the tire inflation tables
beginning on page 231.
•When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
•Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
•Engine and transmission are subject to
increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely watchedwhen driving in hot climates or hilly terrain.
Use a lower gear and turn off the air con-
ditioner if the temperature gauge needle
enters the red range.
•If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the text window.
•Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
•Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
•It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
•Do not connect the trailer's brake system
directly to the vehicle's brake system.
•More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
•Remove the ball and drawbar assembly
when the hitch is not being used.
•Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.
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 author-
ized Volvo retailer for correct installa-
tion.
•When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
wire must be correctly fastened to the
hole or hook provided in the trailer hitch
on the vehicle. The safety wire should
never be fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.