07 During your trip
Driving recommendations
07
276
General information
Economical driving conserves natural
resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts andstops and adjusting the speed of your vehicleto immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
• Bring the engine to normal operating tem- perature as soon as possible by drivingwith a light foot on the accelerator pedalfor the first few minutes of operation. Acold engine uses more fuel and is subjectto increased wear.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the vehi-cle for driving short distances. This doesnot allow the engine to reach normaloperating temperature.
• Drive carefully and avoid rapid accelera-tion and hard braking.
• Use the transmission's Drive (
D) position
as often as possible and avoid using kick-down.
• Using the engine's optional Eco function 1
can help improve fuel economy. Seepage 128 for additional information.
• Do not exceed posted speed limits. •
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extraload) in the vehicle.
• Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tirepressure regularly (when tires are cold).
• Remove snow tires when threat of snowor ice has ended.
• Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc,increase air resistance and also fuel con-sumption.
• At highway driving speeds, fuel consump-tion will be lower with the air conditioningon and the windows closed than with theair conditioning off and the windowsopen.
• Using the onboard trip computer's fuelconsumption modes can help you learnhow to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are: • Dirty air cleaner
• Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
• Dragging brakes
• Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and oth- ers are checked at the standard maintenanceintervals.
WARNING
Driving with the trunk open: Driving with
the trunk open could lead to poisonous exhaust gases entering the passengercompartment. If the trunk must be keptopen for any reason, proceed as follows:
• Close the windows
• Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side win- dows and the blower control to itshighest setting.
Weight distribution affects handlingAt the specified curb weight your vehicle has a tendency to understeer, which means thatthe steering wheel has to be turned morethan might seem appropriate for the curva-ture of a bend. This ensures good stabilityand reduces the risk of rear wheel skid.Remember that these properties can alterwith the vehicle load. The heavier the load inthe trunk, the less the tendency to under-steer.
Handling, roadholdingVehicle load, tire design and inflation pres-sure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore,check that the tires are inflated to the recom-mended pressure according to the vehicle
1
Available on certain 4-cyl. engines
