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Drive with anticipation
Economical driving results from driving gently
with anticipation and adapting your driving style
and speed to the situation.
Keep in mind the following:
· Drive the engine to operating temperature as
soon as possible! That is to say: do not let
the engine idle, but drive with a light load as
soon as you can.
· A cold engine consumes more fuel than a
warm one.
· Avoid driving short distances where the
engine never has time to reach operating
temperature.
· Drive gently! Avoid unnecessary quick
accelerations and heavy braking.
· Do not drive with unnecessary, heavy loads
in the car.
· Do not drive with winter tyres when the
roads are clear and dry.
· Remove the load carrier when it is not in use.
· Do not open side windows unnecessarily.
Select the right gear
An important part of driving economically is
using the gearbox correctly. Select the right
gear! Do not labour the engine!
Speed-dependent power steering
Your car can be equipped with speed-dependent
power steering as an option. This means that the
car is lighter to steer at low speeds, which
makes it easier to park, etc. As speed increases,
the steering force will be adapted accordingly to
give the driver better road feel.
Do not drive with the boot lid
open!
If you drive with the boot lid open, some of the
exhaust gases and poisonous carbon monoxide
could be sucked into the car through the cargo
compartment. If you must drive a short distance
with the boot lid open, do as follows:
· Close all windows.
· Distribute the air between the windscreen
and floor while running the fan at high
speed.
Car care
You should, of course, keep your car and
especially the engine in good condition. Factors
that can help you to keep fuel consumption
down are:
· Good spark plugs
· Clean air filter
· Correct engine oil
· Brakes that are not constantly touching
· Correct wheel alignment
· Correct tyre pressure
Remember that the most important factor with
regard to fuel consumption is you, and how you
handle the accelerator pedal, break pedal and
gear lever.
Those of you who drive
with trailers - here are some
“special tips”
·
When parking on slopes, you should apply
the parking brake before moving the gear
selector to P. When starting from a slope,
first put the gear selector in drive and then
release the parking brake.
· Select a low gear in the gearbox when
driving on steep inclines or when driving
slowly. This prevents the gearbox from
upshifting if you have an automatic
gearbox. The transmission oil will be cooler.
· If you have a Geartronic gearbox, do not
use a higher manual gear than the engine
can “handle”. It is not always economical to
drive in high gears.
Driving characteristics and tyres
The tyres have great influence on the handling
of the car. Both tyre type, dimension and tyre
pressure are all important to how the car
behaves. When you change tyres, ensure that
you have the same type, size and brand of tyre
on all four wheels. Also follow the recommendations as regards air pressure.
Economical driving