Fuel/Petrol information

It's important to use the correct fuel when refuelling your car. Petrol is available with different octane ratings that are adapted for different types of driving.

 Warning

Never swallow fuel. Fuels such as petrol, bioethanol and mixtures of these are very toxic and can cause permanent injury or even death if they are swallowed. Seek medical attention immediately if you have swallowed fuel.

Always take precautions to avoid inhaling fuel fumes and getting fuel splashed in your eyes.

If you get fuel in your eyes, remove contact lenses if applicable, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

Carbon monoxide is a toxic, colourless and odourless gas. It is present in all exhaust gases. If you ever notice the smell of exhaust inside the car, make sure the passenger compartment is ventilated and contact an authorised Volvo workshop for any required repairs or servicing.

Avoid any fires, such as from cigarette lighters and lit cigarettes.

When refuelling your car, always follow your local restrictions.

 Important

Refuelling your car

Only use petrol from well-known manufacturers. Never refuel your car if you aren't sure about the fuel's quality.

Always use the correct fuel. Look at the label on the inside of the fuel filler flap. Even small amounts of the wrong type of fuel could damage the fuel system and engine.

Always follow the warning signs posted at the petrol station.

Close all doors and windows before you start refuelling.

Additives and quality

To avoid damage to the engine, only use unleaded petrol.

US and Canadian regulations require that pumps delivering unleaded petrol are labelled UNLEADED. Repeated use of petrol with lead additives reduces the efficiency of the emissions control systems and may result in the invalidation of the emissions warranty.

Do not use fuel containing methanol.

Except for the use of antifreeze for fuel lines during the winter, do not use solvents, thickeners or other additives in the car's fuel, cooling or lubrication systems. Overuse may damage your engine, and some of these additives contain organically volatile chemicals. Do not needlessly expose yourself to these chemicals.

Some suppliers use petrol with additives. If you are unsure whether the petrol contains deposit-controlling additives, ask at the petrol station.

Octane rating

There are different octane ratings of petrol that are adapted for different types of driving.

Volvo requires premium fuel, with an octane rating of 91 or higher according to AKI1 for all B4, B5, B6 and T8 engines, and recommends AKI 93 for ideal performance and fuel economy. In demanding driving conditions, such as warm climates, driving with a trailer or driving for long periods at a higher altitude than normal, it's recommended to change to fuel with a higher octane rating.

If you change to fuel with a higher octane rating or another brand of petrol, you may have to fill the tank more than once before you notice any difference in engine function.

Octane label
Octane label is located on the fuel pump.
Premium fuel label.
Premium fuel label is located on the inside of the fuel filler flap on cars that require premium fuel.

 Note

TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline

Volvo recommends the use of TOP TIER detergent gasoline where available, to maintain engine performance and reliability. Information on TOP TIER detergent gasoline is available at toptiergas.com.

  1. 1 Anti Knock Index. AKI is an average value of RON (Research Octane Number) and MON (Motor Octane Number) - (RON)+(MON)/2