2013 SKODA OCTAVIA engine

›Pull the right-hand paddle
+
» Fig. 122 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Shifting down gears›
Push the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 122 .
›
Pull the left-hand paddle -
» Fig. 122 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Temporarily switching to manual shifting in position D/S
›
Pull one of the -/+ paddles
» Fig. 122 briefly towards the steering wheel .
If you do not pull one of the rocker switches -
/+ for more than 1 Minute, manual
shifting of gears is deactivated. You can also deactivate the temporary switch to
manual shifting by pulling the right rocker switch +
towards the steering wheel
for more than 1 second.
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear just
before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no riskof the engine overrevving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual shifting
of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and hence the
wear of the brakes » page 125.
Starting-off and driving
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 126.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press and hold the lock button » Fig. 121 on page 127.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 127 and then release
the lock button.
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stop
›
Depress the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Parking›
Depress the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Press and hold the lock button » Fig. 121 on page 127.
›
Move the selector lever into the position P and then release the lock button.
Driving in neutral position in mode E (freewheel)
›
Move the selector lever into the position D/S.
›
Select the Eco driving mode » page 161, Driving mode .
›
Take the foot off the accelerator pedal.
The vehicle moves without the braking effect of the engine.
The gear is selected again automatically, when you briefly depress the brake ped-
al or pull the left rocker switch -
towards the steering wheel
» page 128, Manual
shifting of gears (Tiptronic) .
Launch control 1)
The launch control function allows the vehicle in mode S or Tiptronic to reach its
maximum acceleration when starting off.
›
Disable the TCS » page 137, Brake assist systems .
›
START STOP deactivate » page 160, Manually activating/deactivating the sys-
tem .
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
›
Fully depress the accelerator pedal with your right foot.
›
Release the brake pedal.
The vehicle starts off with maximum acceleration.
Reactivate the TCS and START-STOP when the desired speed has been reached.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve the maximum acceleration of your
vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activated
in any forward driving mode.
The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed and engine speed, and the vehicle accelerates. 
1)
This function is only valid for some engines.
129Starting-off and Driving

The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has reached
its maximum revolutions for this gear range.WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control of
the vehicle – risk of accident!

Running in
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
New engine
130
New tyres
130
New brake pads
131
New engine
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 130.
The engine has to be run in during the first 1500 kilometres.Up to 1000 kilometres
›
Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, i.e. 3/4 of
the maximum permissible engine speed.
›
No full throttle.
›
Avoid high engine speeds.
›
Do not tow a trailer.
From 1000 up to 1500 kilometres
Gradually increase the power output of the engine up to the full speed of the
gear engaged, i.e. up to the maximum permissible engine speed.
The red scale of the rev counter indicates the range in which the system beginsto limit the engine speed.
During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than later until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt
during the first approx.1500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of run-
ning in your car.
Never drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds, even after the running-in period is complete.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, at the very latest shift up into the next
gear when the red area is reached. Observe the recommended gear » page 27.
Very high engine speeds when accelerating (accelerator) are automatically re-
stricted »
.
With vehicles with a manual gearbox, do not drive at unnecessarily low engine
speeds. Shift down a gear when the engine is no longer running smoothly. Ob-
serve the recommended gear » page 27.
CAUTION
■
The engine is not protected from excessive engine revs caused by shifting
down at the wrong time. This can result in the sudden increase in revs beyond
the permissible maximum rpm and thus cause engine damage.■
Never rev up a cold engine when the vehicle is stationary or when driving in in-
dividual gears.
For the sake of the environment
Do not drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds. Shifting up sooner helps save
on fuel, reduces engine noises and protects the environment.
New tyres
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 130.
New tyres have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first. Drive
especially carefully for the first 500 km or so.

130Driving

New brake padsFirst read and observe the introductory information given on page 130.
New brake pads initially do not provide optimal braking performance. They firstneed to be “run in”. Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or so.

Economical driving and environmental sustainability
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Looking ahead
131
Economical gear changing
132
Avoiding full throttle
132
Reducing idling
132
Avoiding short distances
133
Convenience consumers
133
Checking tyre inflation pressure
133
Avoiding unnecessary ballast
134
Regular maintenance
134
Saving electrical energy
134
Environmental compatibility
134
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve-
hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a partic-
ular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment.
It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order tomake best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution and the wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depend essentially on the following three factors:
› your personal style of driving.
› the conditions under which your vehicle is use,
› technical requirements.
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10 -15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond the
driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult condi-
tions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a result
of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to
avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
CAUTION
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature.
Looking ahead
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 131.
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore unnec-
essary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when driving, less braking and consequently less accelerating are required.
If possible, let your vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set of traffic lights is on red, for example.

131Starting-off and Driving

Economical gear changingFig. 123
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km depending
on the selected gear
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 131.
Shifting up early saves on fuel.
Manual gearbox › Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
› Shift up into the next gear at approx. 2 000 revs/min.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. Observe the
recommended gear » page 27.
Sensible gear selection can have an effect on fuel consumption » Fig. 123.
Automatic gearbox › Slowly
apply the accelerator pedal. However, do not depress it to the kick-down
position » page 129 .
› If the accelerator pedal is only depressed slowly, an economic driving pro-
gramme is automatically selected.

Avoiding full throttleFig. 124
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km. and speed
in km/h
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 131.
The slower you drive, the more the fuel savings.
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consump- tion but also positively influence environmental pollution and wear of your vehi-
cle.
The maximum speed of your vehicle should, as far possible, never be used. Fuel
consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at
high speeds.
The » Fig. 124 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to speed. Fuel consumption
will be halved if only three-quarters of the possible top speed of your vehicle is
used.

Reducing idling
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 131.
Idling also costs fuel.
In vehicles not equipped with the START-STOP system, turn off the engine when in a traffic jam, at a level crossing or traffic lights with longer wait times.
Even after just 30-40 seconds you will have saved more fuel than that is needed
when you start the engine up again. 
132Driving

If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly
high in the warming-up phase. Therefore, start driving as soon as the engine has
started. though high engine speeds should be avoided.
Avoiding short distances
Fig. 125
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in l/100 km at different tem-
peratures
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 131.
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption. We therefore recommend avoiding distances of less than 4 km if the engine is cold.
A cold engine consumes the most fuel immediately after the start. Fuel consump-tion drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The consumption stabilises
once the engine and catalytic converter have reached their operating tempera-
ture.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The im-
age » Fig. 125 shows the different levels of fuel consumption after driving a cer-
tain distance at a temperature of +20 °C and at a temperature of -10 °C.
The vehicle has a higher fuel consumption in winter than in summer.

Convenience consumers
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 131.
The convenience consumers have a share in fuel consumption.
We recommend you keep these consumers on only for as long as necessary. The convenience consumers include:
› The air conditioning system;
› Rear window heater;
› Windscreen heater;
› Heating of the external mirror;
› Rear fog light;
› Fog lights;
› Heated front seats;
› Auxiliary heating (parking heating).
Information about convenience consumers and the amount of fuel con- sumed » operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings (CAR
button) .
Up to three convenience consumers are displayed in the Infotainment display-
the top 3 in terms of energy consumption 1)
.

Checking tyre inflation pressure
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 131.
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure the tyre inflation pressure is correct. If the inflation pressure is too
low, the tyres must overcome a higher rolling resistance. This will not only in-
crease fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will worsen.
Always check the tyre inflation pressure when the tyres are cold.


1)
The exterior mirror heater will only be shown in the infotainment display when outside temperatures
are below about 20 ° C.
133Starting-off and Driving

Avoiding unnecessary ballastFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 131.
Transporting ballast costs fuel.
Each kilogramme of weight increases the fuel consumption. Therefore, we rec-
ommend to carry no unnecessary weight.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the ve-
hicle weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of
thumb here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase
in fuel consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
At a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, a vehicle fitted with a roof rack cross member with-
out a load will use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the increased aero-
dynamic drag.

Regular maintenance
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 131.
A poorly tuned engine uses an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.
By having your vehicle regularly maintained by a specialist garage, you create the conditions needed for economical driving. The maintenance state of your vehicle has a positive effect on traffic safety and value retention.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10 % higher thannormal!
Check the oil at regular intervals, e.g. when filling up. Oil consumption is depend-
ent to a considerable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consump-
tion could be as high as 0.5 litres/1000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and rea- ches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. The oil consumption of anew vehicle can therefore only be correctly assessed after driving about 5000 km.
For the sake of the environment■ Additional improvements to the fuel economy can be made by using synthetic
high-lubricity oils.■
Regularly check the ground under the vehicle. Have your vehicle inspected by a
specialist garage if you find any stains caused by oil or other fluids on the ground.
Note
We recommend that your vehicle be serviced on a regular basis by a ŠKODA serv- ice partner.
Saving electrical energy
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 131.
When the engine is running, the alternator generates and supplies electrical pow- er. If more electrical components of the electrical system are switched on, more
fuel is needed to operate the alternator. We therefore recommend switching off
electrical components if these are no longer required.

Environmental compatibility
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 131.
Environmental protection has played a major role in the design, selection of mate-
rials, and manufacture of your new ŠKODA. Particular emphasis has been placed
on the following points.
Design measures › Joints designed to be easily detached.
› Simplified disassembly due to the modular structure system.
› Improved purity of different classes of materials.
› Identification of all plastic parts in accordance with VDA Recommendation 260.
› Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO
2.
› Minimum fuel leakage during accidents.
› Reduced noise.

134Driving

Choice of materials› Extensive use of recyclable material.
› Air conditioning filled with CFC-free refrigerant.
› No cadmium.
› No asbestos.
› Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics.
Manufacture › Solvent-free cavity protection.
› Solvent-free protection of the vehicle for transportation from the production
plant to the customer.
› The use of solvent-free adhesives.
› No CFCs used in the production process.
› Without use of mercury.
› Use of water-soluble paints.
Trade-in and recycling of old cars
ŠKODA meets the requirements of the brand and its products with regard to pro-
tecting the environment and the preserving resources. All new ŠKODA vehicles
can be utilized up to 95 % and always 1)
be returned.
In a lot of countries sufficient trade-in networks have been created, where you
can trade-in your vehicle. After you trade-in your vehicle, you will receive a confir-
mation stating the recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Note
You can find more detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old
cars from a specialist garage.
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
General information
135
Driving through water on streets
135
General information
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 135.
Pay attention to low-slung parts of the vehicle, such as the spoiler and exhaust,particularly in the following situations.
› When driving on poorly maintained roads and lanes.
› When driving over kerb stones.
› When driving on steep ramps, etc.
Particular attention is necessary for vehicle with a sport suspension and when then vehicle is fully laden.

Driving through water on streets
Fig. 126
Driving through water
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 135.
The following must be observed to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving
through bodies of water (e.g. flooded roads).
›
Determine the depth of the water when driving through bodies of water.
The water level must not reach above the bar on the lower beam » Fig. 126.
›
Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed.
At a higher speed, a water wave can form in front of the vehicle which can cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of the engine or into other parts of the vehicle. 

1)
Subject to fulfilment of the national legal requirements.
135Starting-off and Driving

›Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.›Deactivate the START-STOP system before driving through water
» page 158.WARNING■
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance – risk of accident!■
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking immediately after water crossings.
■
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the pur-
pose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this.
Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
CAUTION
■ When driving through bodies of water, some parts of the vehicle such as the
engine, gearbox, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Any vehicle parts
that have come into contact with salt water must be rinsed immediately with
fresh water.
Note
After driving through water, we recommend having the vehicle checked by a spe-
cialist garage.
Driving abroad
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Unleaded petrol
136
Headlights
136In certain countries it is also possible that the ŠKODA Partner network is limited
or has not been established yet. This is the reason why procuring certain spare
parts may be somewhat complicated and specialist garages may only be able to
make limited repairs.
Unleaded petrol
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 136.
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded pet-rol » page 213 . Information regarding the locations of filling stations that offer
unleaded petrol is, for example, provided by the automobile associations.

Headlights
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 136.
The low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the side ofthe road on which the vehicle is being driven to a greater extent.
When driving in countries in which the traffic drives on the other side of the roadthan in your home country, the asymmetrical low beam may dazzle oncoming
drivers. In order to avoid this, the headlights must be adjusted at a specialist ga-
rage.
You can adjust the Xenon headlights yourself by setting the "tourist light" mode
in Infotainment » Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle set-
tings (button CAR) .
Note
You can find out more information on adjusting the headlights at a specialist ga-
rage.
136Driving