Queries from new Volvo 850 owner

[Guest]

I bought a 1996 Volvo 850 S sedan (non turbo) just over 2 weeks ago.

I'm quite pleased with it so far and just have a few queries after looking through the manual today.

I tried the car jack (just to check how it works) and it was very stiff, even after adding oil. I guess the jack should (in theory) be in reasonable working order for the car to pass its roadworthy but the thread appeared rusty and I think this may account for the stiffness.

Is there anything else I can try to get the jack to work better? I doubt it works well enough to be able to raise the car to change a flat tyre but I'm assuming a Volvo jack would be expensive and it looks like the jackpoint is not suitable for a conventional jack.

I also read in the manual that a mix of 50-50 coolant and water should be used to top up the radiator. I don't thnk the coolant would be necessary in the warmer temperatures of Australia but it was emphasised a couple of times in the manual.

Is it ok to just use water to top up the radiator?

The manual says it is bad to let the engine idle after starting it because this creates excess wear and it is better to drive off straight away at a moderate speed to let the engine warm up but I always thought it was better to idle the engine to warm it up?

Is what the manual says correct?

The car has a few stone chips and the manual says they should be touched up to prevent rust but of course rust is less of a problem here. Is it worth bothering?

I would like to get a lockable fuel cap. Is there a cheaper/better option than getting one from the Volvo dealer?

The car comes with 3 year warranty from Preston Motors in Ringwood. The catch is that I have to get it serviced there at least once every 6 months for basic cost of $180. They sell all types of cars and are not really Volvo specialists but assure me they know how to maintain them.

Should I be able to trust them to service the car for next 3 years or should I also go to a Volvo specialist sometimes to ensure they are not missing anything eg the flame trap, which is supposed to be often overlooked.

Would be nice to hear from another 850 owner.

Dave

[White850Turbo]

I'd treat the threads on the jack w/ some general rust inhibitor and remover and then apply a thin coat of a very lightweight lubricant of some sort. As for the radiator issue, the coolant serves two purposes: Preventing corrosion and preventing freezing of course. Even if you live in a warm climate, it should still be mixed 50/50 to prevent corrosion.

The logic on the warming the car up issue is that the quicker the oil gets up to operating temperature, the more protection it can offer. I think this is pretty much nulled if you're using a high quality synthetic oil such as Mobil1 or Motul.

In regards to the fuel cap, I'm nearly certain that all 850's were equipped w/ the central locking system, meaning that when the car is locked, the fuel door should be locked also. It certainly wouldn't hurt to touch up the paint chips to prevent rust; at least on the larger chips. As far as the routine maintenance goes, I'd do the work yourself (it really isn't very difficult) or find a Swedish car specialist b/c these cars have a few weird little systems and quirks that are not found in many other cars.

[dgg9879]

Thanks for your help. Sounds like you really know what you're talking about.

Should I use the genuine Volvo 850 coolant (as advised in the manual and probably costs 3 times as much) or just any good quality coolant? Is it okay to pre mix the coolant and water and put it straight in radiator for convenience?

My car has central locking but fuel door does not lock. Getting a lockable fuel cap should not be a problem but there is just the hassle of an extra key. Mine is 850 S so it is the base model.

Are you saying synthetic oil is better because problems with extra engine wear when engine is cold don't exist? Is it much more expensive?

I have to pay $180 every 6 months for Preston Motors to service it because that's the deal - otherwise I void the 3 year warranty. But I belong to a Volvo club here in Australia (haven't been to any meetings yet though) so I may learn some basic maintenance from them.

Should I tell Preston Motors about the flame trap or any other quirks/weird systems about the car? It would be too expensive to get the car serviced at two differenct places and I guess it is possible their mechanics may have enough Volvo knowledge.