· Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and also fuel consumption.
· Avoid using automatic transmission kickdown feature unless necessary.
· However, at higher driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air conditioning on and the windows
closed than with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
· Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how to drive more economically.
Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:
· Worn or dirty spark plugs
· Incorrect spark plug gap
· Dirty air cleaner
· Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
· Dragging brakes
· Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as often as possible and avoid using
"kickdown" to help improve fuel economy.
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, when:
· Towing a trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods at wide open throttle and low engine rpm.
· Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after-boiling" can occur).
· To avoid overheating, the following rules should be followed: Do not drive for prolonged periods at engine speeds
above 4500 rpm if you are towing a trailer in hilly terrain.
· Reduce speed when towing a trailer up long, steep inclines. The risk of overheat -ing can be reduced by switching off
the air conditioning system for a short time.
· Do not let the engine idle unnecessarily for prolonged periods.
· Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front of the grill. When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of
overheating (the temperature gauge goes repeatedly into, or stays continual-ly in, the red section), the following
precau-tions should be taken:
· Switch off the air conditioning system.
· Pull off the road, away from traffic, stop the car and put the gear selector into Park. Do not stop the engine!
· Switch the heater to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm (twice idling speed)
until the temperature begins to drop.
· If the warning light in the center of the instrument panel is red, and the message "Coolant level lo stop engine" is
displayed, switch off the engine as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Do not remove coolant expansion tank cap. The coolant will be extremely hot.
If necessary, see See page 110
for information on checking and topping-up the coolant level.
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