2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR engine

118DRIVING TIPS
Driving economically while protecting the environmentVarious factors determine fuel consump-
tion, the impact on the environment and
wear-and-tear of the engine, brakes and
tyres.
Your personal style of driving
determines to a great extent the economi-
cal aspect and the development of exhaust
and noise:
Do not warm up engine when the vehicle is stationary.
At idling speed it takes a very long time until
the engine becomes operationally warm.
However, in the warm-up phase, wear and
the discharge of pollutants is particularly
high. For this reason, drive off immediately
the engine has started and avoid high en-
gine speeds.
The cold engine consumes approx. 15 - 20
litres/100 km of fuel immediately after start-
ing. Fuel consumption drops to 10 litres/100
km after just 1 kilometre. The engine
reaches its operating temperature (outside
temperature and engine dependent) only
after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel
consumption then stabilizes. You should
therefore avoid driving short distances
whenever possible.
Avoid full throttle acceleration.
Accelerating with feeling not only consid-
erably improves fuel economy but also re-
duces the impact on the environment and
wear-and-tear.
Do not drive at unnecessarily highengine revs - change up as soon as
possible and only change down when the engine no longer runs smoothly.
Fuel consumption, for example, is more
than twice as high in 2nd gear than it is in
top gear. At the same time, the lower en-
gine speed means a reduction in engine
noise.
Try not to drive at maximum speed.
Fuel consumption, exhaust pollution and
noise increase disproportionately at high
speeds. If you make use of approximately
only 3-quarters of top speed, your fuel con-
sumption will be reduced by about half.
Experience has shown that the loss in time
is only marginal.
Drive as smoothly as possible andlook well ahead.
Unnecessary acceleration and braking has
to be paid for with higher fuel consumption
and a greater impact on the environment.
Switch off the engine when stand-
ing in traffic (traffic lights, railway
crosses etc.).
Individual operating conditions
naturally also affect fuel consumption.
The following factors, for instance, are not
favourable to good fuel consumption:

High traffic density, particularly in large
towns with numerous traffic lights.

Frequent stop/start driving, always re-
starting and warming up the engine.

Driving in heavy, slow moving traffic in
low gear so that the engine speed is rela-
tively high in relation to the speed driven.
Obviously, fuel consumption is also affected
by factors over which the driver has no con-
trol. It is, for example, normal for fuel con-
sumption to increase in the winter or in
severe conditions such as poor roads, tow-
ing a trailer etc.

119
DRIVING TIPS
The technical prerequisites
for low fuel consumption and efficiency we-
re „built in“ at the factory. Particular impor-
tance was placed on the lowest possible
effect on the environment. To retain and
make the best possible use of these char-
acteristics attention should be paid to the
following points:
The prescribed maintenance opera-tions should be carried out exactly
as specified in the Service Schedule.
Having your car serviced by a Škoda Dealer
at the specified intervals not only ensures
that it is always in proper roadworthy con-
dition but that it operates economically, with
minimal environmental impact and provides
you with many years of motoring.
Check the tyre pressures every 4 weeks.
Low tyre pressures increase the rolling re-
sistance. This not only increases the fuel
consumption and tyre wear, but the han-
dling is also impaired.
Do not carry any unnecessary loadsin the luggage compartment.
The weight of the car has a major effect on
fuel consumption, particularly when driving
in towns where you frequently have to ac-
celerate. The rule of thumb which applies
is that every 100 kilograms of weight in-
creases fuel consumption by about 1 litre/
100 km (1 litre/62 miles).
Do not fit the roof rack unless it is
really needed.
Particularly at high speeds the increased
air resistance makes itself felt in higher fuel
consumption.
Electrical consumers should onlybe switched on when they are ac-
tually required.
Heated rear window, fog lights etc. have a
considerable energy demand. The higher
alternator load also increases the fuel con-
sumption. For instance, over a period of 10
hours, the heated rear window will increase
fuel consumption by approximately 1 litre.
Keep a frequent check on your fuel consumption.
The fuel consumption should be checked
each time the tank is filled up. By doing this
inconsistencies on the vehicle which lead
to increased fuel consumption can be de-
tected sooner. Check the oil level each time you refuel.
The oil consumption depends to a great
extent on the engine load and speed. De-
pending on the style of driving the con-
sumption can be as much as 0.5 litre/
1000 km.
It is normal for the oil consumption of a new
engine to reach its lowest level after a cer-
tain mileage has been covered. The con-
sumption cannot be properly assessed until
the vehicle has run approx. 5000 km.
This also applies to the fuel consumption
and the engine output.

120DRIVING TIPS

Do not switch off the ignition when driv-
ing.

Do not overfill engine with oil - see page
140.

Do not tow start vehicle for more than
50 m - see page 179.
Warning
Due to the high temperatures which
can occur in catalytic converters in
very unfavourable conditions, the
vehicle should not be parked in such
a way that the catalytic converter can
come into contact with inflammable
materials.
Note
Even if the emission control system is op-
erating perfectly properly, there may be a
sulphurous exhaust smell in certain engine
operating conditions. This depends on the
sulphur content in the fuel being used.
Quite often this can be remedied by select-
ing another brand of fuel or filling up with
unleaded premium petrol.
Trouble-free operation of the
emission
control system is decisive for environmen-
tally friendly operation of the vehicle.
That is why it is important to note the fol-
lowing points:

Vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter
must only be driven on unleaded petrol -
see page 128.

Never drive until the fuel tank is comple-
tely empty on vehicles fitted with a catalytic
converter. The irregular fuel supply can
cause misfiring. This allows unburnt fuel in-
to the exhaust system which can cause
overheating and damage to the catalytic
converter.

If misfiring, a loss of power and rough
engine running occur when driving, this
may be caused by a fault in the ignition
system. In this case, uncombusted fuel can
get into the exhaust system and thus pass
to the atmosphere. In addition, the catalytic
converter may be damaged as a result of
overheating. Reduce your speed immedi-
ately and have the fault rectified at the near-
est Škoda Dealer. General notes


The wear of the brake pads depends to
a great extent on the driving conditions and
your style of driving. Consequently, it may
also be necessary to have the thickness of
the brake pads inspected at a Škoda Dealer
between the intervals stated in the Service
Schedule, particularly if your car is driven
frequently in towns or over short distances,
or in a very sporty manner.

Change down in good time when driv-
ing downhill, in order to make use of the
engine braking effect. This relieves the
strain on the brake system. When the bra-
kes are applied, do not keep them on con-
tinuously, apply and release the brakes al-
ternately.

Under certain operating conditions, for
example after driving through water, after
heavy rain or after washing the vehicle, the
braking effect may be retarded by wet, or
in winter iced-up brake discs and pads - the
brakes must be dried out first by applying
the footbrake.
Brakes

121
DRIVING TIPS
The full braking effect may also be delayed
when the car has been driven for some time
on heavily salted roads without using the
brakes, because the layer of salt on the
discs and pads has to be removed first.Warning
If a front spoiler, full-size wheel trims
etc., are retrofitted, it is necessary to
ensure that the flow of air to the front
brakes is not restricted - otherwise
the brakes may overheat.
Brake booster
The braking force boosts the pressure,
which you generate with the brake pedal.
The necessary pressure is only generated
when the engine is running. Warning
The brake booster only operates
when the engine is running.
Never switch off the engine before
the vehicle is stationary.
In the case that the brake booster is
not operating - e.g. because the vehi-
cle has to be towed or because there
is damage to the brake booster - the
brake pedal has to be depressed with
a significantly greater force, in order
to balance out the missing brake
boosting effect.Because if you do not stop as nor-
mal, this can cause an accident and
severe injuries.
Brake Assist*
The Brake Assist boosts the brake servo
effect during a brake application in a haz-
ardous situation and is able in this way to
assist the rapid build-up of brake pressure.
In emergency situations the majority of car
drivers do apply the brakes in time, but not
with the brake pedal force which is neces-
sary for achieving maximum deceleration.
Valuable braking distance is lost as a result!The Brake Assist is activated as soon as the
brake pedal is depressed very rapidly. A hig-
her brake servo assistance than is usual in
normal brake applications, is then available.
Consequently, it is possible to build up
within a very short time the brake pressure
which is required for achieving maximum
deceleration with only a correspondingly
slight counterforce on the brake pedal.Depress the brake pedal further for achiev-
ing the shortest possible braking distance. Do
not reduce the foot pressure on the pedal!The Brake Assist is able in this way to help
you in critical situations by building up the
brake pressure more rapidly and shorten-
ing the stopping distance. The advantages
offered by the ABS are fully exploited by the
Brake Assist. As soon as the brake pedal is
released, the Brake Assist function is swit-
ched off then automatically and the usual
service brake function is again available.
Warning

The Brake Assist is also not in a
position to overcome the physical
limits which apply to the braking dis-
tance.

This is something you should re-
member particularly when driving on
smooth or wet road surfaces.

Adapt your style of driving always
to the road condition and the traffic
situation. The increased safety which
the Brake Assist offers you must not
lead you to take any safety risk!

123
DRIVING TIPS
In order to achieve the optimal effect of
the EDL system, depress the accelera-
tor pedal and the clutch when starting
off to match road conditions.Warning
When accelerating on a smooth road
surface, for example on ice and
snow, depress the accelerator care-
fully.
The driven wheels may slip despite
the EDL and thus affect the driving
stability of the car.
The EDL is switched off automatically if
unusually severe stresses occur. The car
can continue to be driven and has the same
characteristics as a car without EDL. That
is why no indication is provided if the EDL
is switched off.
The EDL switches on again automatically
as soon as the brake has cooled down.
If the ABS warning lamp comes on, see
page 60, there might also be a fault in the
EDL. Drive to a Škoda Dealer as soon as
possible! Warning
Your driving style should always be
adapted to the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. The addi-
tional safety offered by the EDL must
not tempt you into taking a safety
risk!
Engine braking control (EBC)*The EBC operates in conjunction with the
ABS. It is intended to prevent the driven
wheels of the car being excessively sharply
braked when „braking with the engine“ as
a result of releasing the accelerator or shift-
ing down on a smooth road surface. The
EBC automatically increases the engine
speed in order to maintain optimal steer-
ability of the car even when „braking with
the engine“.
The four-wheel drive system of your car re-
quires no manual intervention on your part.
The force is distributed to the driven wheels
automatically and is optimally matched to
the handling of the car and to the particu-
lar road conditions.
The four-wheel drive concept is designed
for high engine output and provides your
car with excellent drivability both in normal
road conditions as well as in extreme con-
ditions such as driving on snow and ice.
It is important, however, to pay attention to
the following safety information:
All-wheel drive*

124DRIVING TIPSWarning
Your style of driving should always
be matched to the condition of the
road and the traffic situation. The
enhanced safety offered by the four-
wheel drive and ABS systems must
not tempt you to take any risks re-
garding your safety!
The braking power of the car is lim-
ited by the adhesion of the tyres and
is no different than that of a car with
front-wheel drive.
You should therefore not be tempted
to drive at too high a speed even
though the car still provides good
acceleration on smooth and slippery
road surfaces.It is particularly important to note on
wet road surfaces that the front wheels
may aquaplane at high speeds. In con-
trast to a vehicle fitted only with front-
wheel drive, the start of aquaplaning
is not indicated by the engine sud-
denly revving up. For this reason, do
not drive at too high a speed, but al-
ways match your speed to the road
conditions.
Use of winter tyresFour-wheel drive already offers good vehi-
cle traction in wintry road conditions with
the standard tyres. It is nevertheless rec-
ommended to fit winter or all-weather tyres
to all four wheels in order to improve trac-
tion and braking. For further information -
refer to page 157.Use of snow chainsSnow chains must also be fitted to a vehi-
cle with four-wheel drive if the use of snow
chains is mandatory. Snow chains must
only be fitted to the front wheels. For fur-
ther information regarding snow chains -
refer to page 157. The car is intended mainly for the transpor-
tation of persons and luggage, but it can
also be used to tow a trailer if the appropri-
ate technical equipment is fitted.
Detachable ball head*

Refer to the enclosed instructions for
attaching and detaching the ball head.
For further information - refer to p. 157.Towing a trailer

125
DRIVING TIPS
Technical requirements

If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted
towing bracket, all that is technically and
legally necessary for towing a trailer has
already been taken into account.

If the trailer to be towed has a 7-pin con-
nector, you can obtain an adapter cable
from Škoda Dealers.

Škoda Dealers are acquainted with the
details of retrofitting a towing bracket and
modifying the cooling system. You should
therefore have a towing bracket fitted by a
Škoda Dealer. Operating instructions


The permissible trailer weights must on
no account be exceeded.

The trailer weights stated are only ap-
plicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above
mean sea level (MSL). As the engine out-
put and thus the climbing ability drops due
to the decreasing air density, the weight of
vehicle and trailer must also be reduced by
10 % for each further 1000 m or part the-
reof.
Take this fact into account when driving at
high altitudes.

You should make full use of the maxi-
mum permissible drawbar weight indicated
on the ball head of the towing bracket, but
do not exceed it.

The load carried in the trailer should be
distributed so that any heavy objects are
placed as close as possible to the axle,
taking into account the permissible trailer
weight and drawbar load. The objects
should also be secured to prevent them
slipping.

Select the tyre pressure of the car for full
loads and also check the pressure of the
trailer tyres.

The headlight beam control of the car
should be set to match the particular load
conditions.

The handbrake of the car should be ap-
plied when hitching up and unhitching the
trailer.
Inspect the ball head to ensure that
it is properly locked each time before
setting off.
The inspection is performed by turn-
ing the closed locking lever down-
wards.
If the locking lever can only be turned
approx. 5°, the locking mechanism is
OK.
After the inspection pull the locking
lever back again to its stop.
The towing device must not be used,
if it does not wish to close or the
locking lever turns slightly in the clo-
sed position.

126DRIVING TIPSDriving instructions
To obtain the best possible handling of ve-
hicle and trailer, please note the following
points:

Try to avoid driving with an unladen ve-
hicle and a loaded trailer. If this cannot be
avoided, only drive slowly to allow for the
unfavourable weight distribution.

As the driving stability of vehicle and trai-
ler decreases when the speed increases,
do not drive at the maximum permissible
top speed in unfavourable road, weather or
wind conditions - particularly when going
downhill.
You should in any case immediately reduce
your speed as soon as you detect even the
slightest swaying of the trailer. On no ac-
count attempt to eliminate the swaying by
accelerating!

For safety reasons, you should not drive
faster than 80 km/h (50 mph). This also
applies in countries where higher speeds
are permitted.

Apply the brakes in good time! If the
trailer is fitted with an overrun brake, apply
the brakes gently at first, then increase the
pressure. This avoids any braking shocks
caused by the wheels of the trailer block-
ing. Shift down gears in good time before
driving downhill so that the engine can act
as a brake.

If it is necessary to drive a long uphill
section in a low gear with a very high en-
gine speed and at unusually high ambient
temperatures, keep a check on the cool-
ant gauge. If the needle of the gauge moves
into the upper range of the scale, reduce
the speed of your car immediately. If the
temperature and brake fluid level warning
light flash, however, stop and allow engine
to cool down by letting it idle for a few min-
utes. Pay attention to the further informa-
tion on p. 46.

The coolant temperature can be reduced
by switching on the heater.

The cooling effect of the radiator fan
cannot be increased by changing down,
because the speed of the fan is not depend-
ent on the engine speed. You should there-
fore not change down even when towing a
trailer as long as the engine can cope with-
out the vehicle speed dropping too much.
General notes

It is advisable to have the vehicle ser-
viced between the inspection intervals
if it is used frequently for towing a trailer.

The trailer and drawbar load figures on
the data plate of the towing bracket are for
test certification only. The correct figures for
the vehicle, which may be lower than the
above figures, are given in the vehicle do-
cuments.