SAVING FUEL
Some useful tips are given below for
fuel saving and reducing harmful
emissions of CO2 and other pollutants
(nitrogen oxides, unburnt
hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter (PM),
etc.).
PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR
REDUCING FUEL
CONSUMPTION AND
HARMFUL EMISSIONS
Vehicle conditions
Have checks and adjustments for
vehicle maintenancecarried out
in accordance with the “Scheduled
servicing plan”.
Checktyrepressure regularly, at
least once every four weeks.
Excessively low pressures will increase
consumption because rolling resistance
will be higher. In addition, this wears
the tyre more quickly and impairs
performance.
Only usesnow tyreswhen the
weather conditions make them
absolutely necessary. They increase
consumption and noise.
Do not travel witha heavy load: the
weight of the vehicle (especially when
driving in town) and its geometry greatly
affect fuel consumption and stability.
Removeroof racks or ski racks
after use. These accessories reduce the
vehicle's aerodynamic penetration and
have a negative effect on fuel
consumption.
When transporting particularly large
objects, use atrailerif possible.
Use the vehicle's air vents if
possible: travelling with the windows
open impairs aerodynamics.
Use electrical devices only for the
amount of time needed. The vehicle’s
heated rear window, additional
headlights, screen wipers and heater
fan require a considerable amount
of energy; this increases fuel
consumption (by up to +25% in an
urban cycle).
Air conditioning leads to higher fuel
consumption (on average up to +30%).
If the temperature outside is not too
extreme, try and use the air vents.
Driving style
Afterstarting the engineyou
should drive away immediately and
slowly, avoiding high revs. Do not warm
up the engine at low or high revs when
the vehicle is stationary; this causes
the engine to warm up more slowly,
thereby increasing fuel consumption,
emissions and mechanical component
wear.
Avoidpointless actionssuch as
revving up when at traffic lights or
before stopping the engine. The latter
action, like double-declutching, is
unnecessary and causes increased fuel
consumption and pollution.
Gear selection:select a high gear
as soon as possible (taking into
account normal engine operation and
traffic conditions) without pushing
the engine to high revs during
the intermediate gears. Using low gears
at high revs to get lively acceleration
increases fuel consumption, harmful
emissions and engine wear.
Vehicle speed:fuel consumption
increases exponentially as the speed of
the vehicle increases. Keep your speed
moderate and as even as possible,
avoiding unnecessary braking and
acceleration, which cause excessive
fuel consumption and increased
emissions. Keeping a safe distance
from the vehicle in front helps to
maintain a steady speed.
Acceleration:accelerating violently
severely affects consumption and
emissions. Acceleration should be
gradual and should not exceed the
maximum engine torque rate.
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