Driving and the Environment165
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Avoiding full throttle
Driving more slowly means saving fuel.
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consumption
but also positively influence environmental pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid fully exploiting the top speed of your vehicle wherever possible.
Fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportion-
ally at high speeds.
The ⇒fig. 167 shows the ratio of fuel consumptio n to the speed of your vehicle.
You will cut your fuel consumption by half if you only make use three-quarters of
the possible top speed of your vehicle.
Reducing idling
Idling also costs fuel.
It is worthwhile switching off the engine in a traffic jam or when waiting at a level
crossing or at traffic lights with a length y red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds
you will have saved more fuel than that is needed when you start the engine up
again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant em issions, though, are particularly high in the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the
engine. Do avoid high engine re
volutions at this time, however.
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consumes an unnecessarily high amount of
fuel.
Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy
one of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your
journey. Keeping your vehicle properly serviced not only has a positive effect on the
safety of your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fu el consumption which is 10% higher than
normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the
Service schedule by a specialist garage.
Also check the oil level after refueling. Oil consumption is dependent to a consid-
erable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be as
high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine ha s a higher oil consumption at first, and
reaches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not
possible to correctly assess the oil cons umption of a new vehicle until after you
have driven about 5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
•You can achieve additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high-
lubricity oils.
•Check the ground below your car at regula r intervals to detect any leakages in
good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any
stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Fig. 167 Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km. and
speed in km/h.
NKO B5 20.book Page 165 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Towing a trailer
170
should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you with
an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights.
Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒ page 48.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles wh ich feature a factory-fitted towing device.
It is stowed together with separate fitting instructions in the spare wheel well in the
luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Further information on the towing device ⇒page 171.
Note
•We recommend that you also have yo ur vehicle inspected between service
intervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
•The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and
decoupling the trailer.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.
– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the
trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in
particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temper ature gauge if the outside temper-
ature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer
is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h for safety reasons. This also applies for countries
in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when
there are unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions, particularly near accident
black spots.
You must always reduce your speed immedi ately as soon as you detect even just
the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from
“swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a down-
hill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a
lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engi ne speed when the outside temperature is
very high ⇒page 12.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or
even the red area of the scale, reduce yo ur speed immediately. Stop and switch off
the engine if the warning light
in the instrument cluste r begins flashing. Wait a
few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒ page 190, “Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 26, “Coolant temperature, Coolant
quantity ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear
and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independent
NKO B5 20.book Page 170 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Inspecting and Replenishing
186
•Please also comply with the warnin g instructions stated below when
carrying out any essential work on the fuel system or on the electrical
system:
−Always separate the car batter y from the electrical system.
− Do not smoke.
− Never carry out any work close to naked flames.
− Always keep a working fire extinguisher at hand.
Caution
When replenishing fluids in the engine, always ensure that the fluids are on no
account mixed up. This may result in major operating problems and also vehicle
damage!
Overview of the engine compartment
The main inspection points
Fig. 174 6-cylinder 2.8 ltr./ 142 kW petrol engine
Battery (below a cover) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coolant expansion bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil filler opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power steering reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and
diesel engines is practically identical.
Engine oil
Engine oil specifications
The grade of engine oil should be selected in accordance with
precise specifications.
The engine of your vehicle has been factor y-filled with a high-grade oil which you
can use throughout the year - except in extreme climatic regions.
You can mix various oils together with each other when refilling with oil. This does
not, however, apply for models with flexible service intervals (QG1).
Engine oils are, of course, undergoing co ntinuous further development. Thus the
information stated in this Owner's Manual is only correct at the time of publication.
Škoda Service Partners are informed by Škoda Auto a.s. about current changes. This
why you should always have engine oil changed by your Škoda Service Partner.
The specifications (VW standards) stated in the following must be indicated sepa-
rately or together with other specifications on the bottle.
WARNING (continued)A1193A2187
A3191
A4190
A5188
A6197
A7160
NKO B5 20.book Page 186 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Inspecting and Replenishing187
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Engine oil specifications for vehicles with fixed service intervals (QG2)
Engine oil specifications for models with flexible service intervals (QG1)
Caution
Only the above-mentioned oils
may be used on vehicles with flexible service inter-
vals (QG1). We recommend always refilling with oil of the same specification since
this will maintain the properties of the oil. In exceptional cases, you must top up
only once engine oil complying with Sp ecification VW 502 00 (only for petrol
engines) or Specification VW 505 01 (only for diesel engines) to maximum 0.5 litres.
You must not use other engine oi ls - risk of engine damage!
Note
•Before a long drive we recommend th at you purchase and carry with you
engine oil which complies with the specif ication for your vehicle. Consequently,
you will always have the correct engine oil for refilling.
•We recommend using a preservative from the Škoda original accessories
offered by your Škoda dealer.
•For further information - see Service shedule.
Check engine oil level
The dipstick indicates the le vel of oil in the engine.
Checking the oil level
– Park the vehicle on a horizontal surface.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 185.
– Wait a few minutes and pull out the oil dipstick.
– Wipe off the dipstick with a clean cloth and insert it again fully.
Specification
Petrol enginesVW 501 01
VW 502 00
VW 504 00
Diesel engines
VW 505 00a)
VW 505 01b)
VW 507 00c)
a)Not valid for PD engine (a unit injector engine) and engine with DPF (diesel particle
filter).
b)Not valid for engine with DPF (diesel pa rticle filter). Further information ⇒page 160,
“Diesel particle filter* (diesel engine)”.
c)This does not apply for PDi engi nes (a unit injection engine).
Specification
Petrol enginesVW 503 00
VW 504 00
Diesel enginesVW 506 01a)
VW 507 00
a)Not valid for engine with DPF (diesel pa rticle filter). Further information ⇒page 160,
“Diesel particle filter* (diesel engine)”.
Fig. 175 Dipstick
NKO B5 20.book Page 187 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Inspecting and Replenishing189
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Changing engine oil
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals stated in the Service schedule or
according to the service interval indicator ⇒page 14.
WARNING
•Only carry out the engine oil change, if you have the required profes-
sional knowledge!
•Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 185, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
•Let the engine cool down - risk of burning from hot oil.
•Wear an eye protection - risk of caustic burns due to oil splashes.
•Oil is toxic! Store old oil in a safe place out of the reach of children and
unauthorized persons until you dispose of it properly.
Caution
You must not pour any additives into th e engine oil - risk of engine damage!
Damage, which results from such produc t, are excluded from the warranty.
For the sake of the environment
•You must on no account pour oil into the ground or into the sewage system.
•In view of the problems involved in prop erly disposing of old oil, the material,
equipment and the knowledge required for such work, we recommend that you
have the oil and oil filter change carried out by your Škoda Service Partner.
Note
After your skin has come in contact with the oil, you must thoroughly wash your
skin.
Cooling system
Coolant
The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.
The cooling system does not require an y maintenance under normal operating
conditions. The coolant consist s of water with a concentration of coolant additive
of 40 %. This mixture not only provides antifreeze protection down to -25°C but
also protects the cooling and heating system from corrosion. It also prevents the
formation of scale and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant.
You must therefore not reduce the concentration of antifreeze agent in the coolant
by adding water, also not during the su mmer months or in countries with a warm
climate. The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at least
40%.
You can increase the amount of antifreeze in the coolant if a higher concentration
of antifreeze is necessary for climatic reasons but only up to 60% (antifreeze
protection down to approx. -40°C). The an tifreeze protection tails off above that
concentration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a co ld climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland)
are already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to
about -35°C. In these countries the concentr ation of coolant additive should be at
least 50 %.
Coolant
The cooling system is filled at the works with coolant (purple in colour), which
complies with the specification TL-VW 774 F.
We recommend that you use the antifreeze agent - G12 PLUS (purple in colour).
Please contact your Škoda Se rvice Partner if you have any questions regarding the
coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant.
Your Škoda Service Partner can also suppl y you with the correct coolant additives.
NKO B5 20.book Page 189 Friday, March 2, 2007 1:46 PM
Index
254
Selector lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Selector lever positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Service Interval Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Service intervals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Service key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Setting temperature
Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Setting the clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Ski bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Stability programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Diesel engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Petrol engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Steering booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Storage compartment Centre console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Drawer compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Spectacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Storage drawer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Storage facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Stowage compartment Armrest with stowage compartment . . . . . . . . 87
Door panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Stowage compartment below steering wheel . . . . 85
Sun screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Sun visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Switching lights on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Switching the engine off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
T
Taking care of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
TCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Temperature outside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
the first 1 500 kilometres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
The roof luggage rack system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Thickness of brake pads Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Through-loading bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Towing device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Towing eye front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
towing vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Traction control system (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Transporting children safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Tread depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Turn signal system for ve hicles towing a trailer
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Two-way radio sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Two-way radio systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Tyre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
U
Underbody protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Unidirectional tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
V
Vanity mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Vehicle tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
W
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warning symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Warning triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
WashingWash systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
with a high-pressure cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
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