Preparations for winter road conditions
For winter driving it is important to perform certain checks of the car in order to ensure that it can be driven safely.
Check the following in particular before the cold season:
- The engine coolant must contain 50% glycol. This mixture protects the engine against frost erosion down to approximately –35 °C. To avoid health risks, different types of glycol must not be mixed.
- The fuel tank must be kept filled to prevent condensation.
- Engine oil viscosity is important. Oils with lower viscosity (thinner oils) facilitate starting in cold weather and also reduce fuel consumption while the engine is cold. Read more about suitable oils in the section "Adverse driving conditions for engine oil".
Important
Low viscosity oil must not be used for hard driving or in hot weather.
- The condition of the starter battery and charge level must be inspected. Cold weather places great demands on the starter battery and its capacity is reduced by the cold.
- Use washer fluid with antifreeze to avoid ice forming in the washer fluid reservoir.
To achieve optimum roadholding Volvo recommends using winter tyres on all wheels if there is a risk of snow or ice.
Note
The use of winter tyres is a legal requirement in certain countries. Studded tyres are not permitted in all countries.
Slippery driving conditions
Practise driving on slippery surfaces under controlled conditions to learn how the car reacts.