2008 Volvo S40 Owner's Manual - Page 118

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 temperature 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 kickdown. 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 consumption. At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption 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. Weight distribution affects handling WARNING Driving with the trunk open: Driving with the trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passenger compartment. If the trunk 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 windows and the blower control to its highest setting. At 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, roadholding Vehicle 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 distributed so that capacity weight 129 06 Starting and driving General information