Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces

Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces  - Difficult driving conditions - Starting and driving - Volvo XC90 Owners Manual - Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for onroad driving, and it has excellent handling characteristics on very rough or unpaved roads.

When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the following in mind:

• Reduce speed on rough surfaces to minimize possible damage to the vehicle's underbody.
• When driving on soft surfaces such as dry sand or snow, try to avoid stopping if at all possible.

WARNING
• Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase the risk of a roll-over. Try to drive straight up or down the slope.
• If the road is very steep, avoid turning the vehicle around to help avoid the risk of rolling over. Back the vehicle up or down the incline instead.

NOTE
Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If the flow of fuel to the engine is interrupted due to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could result in damage to the three-way catalytic converter. We recommend keeping the fuel tank at least half full when driving on steep inclines.

    See also:

    Engine oil
    Engine oil must meet the minimum ILSAC specification GF-4, API SL, or ACEA A1/B1. Lower quality oils may not offer the same fuel economy, engine performance, or engine protection. Volvo recommend ...

    Washing
    • The vehicle should be washed at regular intervals since dirt, dust, insects and tar spots adhere to the paint and may cause damage. It is particularly important to wash the vehicle frequently in ...

    Limitations
    Strong sunlight, reflections, extreme light contrasts, the use of sunglasses, or if the driver is not looking straight ahead may make the visual warning signal in the windshield difficult to see. ...