2008 Volvo C30 Owner's Manual - Page 5

Before you operate your vehicle for the first time, please familiarize yourself with the new-engine oil consumption information on page 203. You should also be familiar with the information found in the chapters "Instruments and controls," and "Starting and driving." Information contained in the balance of the manual is extremely useful and should be read after operating the vehicle for the first time. The manual is structured so that it can be used for reference. For this reason, it should be kept in the vehicle for ready access. Do not export your Volvo to another country before investigating that country's applicable safety and emission control requirements. In some cases it may be difficult or impossible to comply with these requirements. Modifications to the emission control system(s) may render your Volvo not certifiable for legal operation in the U.S., Canada and other countries. All information, illustrations and specifications contained in this manual are based on the latest product information available at the time of publication. Please note that some vehicles may be equipped differently, depending on special legal requirements. Optional equipment described in this manual may not be available in all markets. Volvo reserves the right to make model changes at any time, or to change specifications or design without notice and without incurring obligation. WARNING If your vehicle is involved in an accident, unseen damage may affect its drivability and safety. 7 Introduction Volvo and the environment Volvo is committed to the well being of its customers. As a natural part of this commitment, we care about the environment in which we all live. Caring for the environment means an everyday involvement in reducing our environmental impact. Volvo's environmental activities are based on a holistic view, which means we consider the overall environmental impact of a product throughout its complete life cycle. In this context, design, production, product use, and recycling are all important considerations. In production, Volvo has partly or completely phased out several chemicals including CFCs, lead chromates, asbestos, and cadmium; and reduced the number of chemicals used in our plants 50% since 1991. Volvo was the first in the world to introduce into production a three-way catalytic converter with a Lambda sond, now called the heated oxygen sensor, in 1976. The current version of this highly efficient system reduces emissions of harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx) from the exhaust pipe by approximately 95-99% and the search to eliminate the remaining emissions continues. Volvo is the only automobile manufacturer to offer CFC-free retrofit kits for the air conditioning system of all models as far back as the 1975 model 240. Advanced electronic engine controls and cleaner fuels are bringing us closer to our goal. After Volvo vehicles and parts have fulfilled their use, recycling is the next critical step in completing the life cycle. The metal content is about 75% of the total weight of a vehicle, which makes the vehicle among the most recycled industrial products. In order to have efficient and well-controlled recycling, dismantling information is available for all Volvo models. For Volvo, all homogeneous plastic parts weighing more than 3.4 oz. (100 grams) are marked with international symbols that indicate how the component is to be sorted for recycling. In addition to continuous environmental refinement of conventional gasoline-powered internal combustion engines, Volvo is actively looking at advanced technology alternative-fuel vehicles. When you drive a Volvo, you become our partner in the work to lessen the car's impact on the environment. To reduce your vehicle's environmental impact, you can: Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel economy with improperly inflated tires. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your Warranty and Service Records Information booklet. Drive at a constant speed whenever possible.