2010 Volvo V70 Owner's Manual - Page 194

05 During your trip Driving recommendations the ignition switched off, which drains the battery. • Check all lights, including high beams. • Reflective warning triangles are legally required in some states/provinces. • The optional 12 volt socket in the cargo area provides electrical current even with the ignition switched off, which drains the battery. • 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. Before a long distance trip It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service 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. 05 cold-weather starting as well as decreasing fuel consumption while the engine is warming up. For winter use, 5W-30 oil, particularly the synthetic type, is recommended. Be sure to use good quality oil but do not use cold-weather oil for hard driving or in warm weather, see page 276 for more information on engine oil. • Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where snow or ice are likely to occur, consider snow tires. NOTE Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal maintenance intervals except at owner request and at additional charge. Cold weather precautions If you wish to check your vehicle before the approach of cold weather, the following advice is worth noting: As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip: • 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" antifreeze is not approved by Volvo. Different types of antifreeze must not be mixed. • The load placed on the battery is greater during the winter since the windshield wipers, lighting, etc. are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery decreases as the temperature drops. In very cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is therefore advisable to check the state of charge more frequently and spray an anti-rust oil on the battery posts. 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. steering gear should be checked by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician only. • 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 condensation in the tank. In addition, in extremely cold weather conditions it is worthwhile to add fuel line de-icer before refueling. • Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter driving, see page 251. • The brakes, front wheel alignment, and • 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 • The viscosity of the engine oil is important. Oil with low viscosity (thinner oil) improves 194