2011 Volvo C70 Owner's Manual - Page 136

06 Starting and driving 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: • 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. Weight distribution affects handling 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. • Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how to drive more economically. • 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. Other factors that decrease gas mileage are: • Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach normal operating temperature. and hard braking. Dirty air cleaner Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter Dragging brakes Incorrect front end alignment 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 or maximum permissible axle loads are not exceeded. Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard maintenance intervals. • Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration 06 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: 1. Close the windows. 2. Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side windows and the blower control to its highest setting. • Use the transmission's Drive (D) position as often as possible and avoid using kickdown. Driving through water The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 9 in. (25 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph (10 km/h). • • Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra Do not exceed posted speed limits. load) in the vehicle. • Take particular care when driving through flowing water. • Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold). • Clean the electrical connections for trailer wiring after driving in mud or water • Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended. • When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the water. 136