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consumption to zero (fuel shut-off during decel
eration).
Shift efficiently
An effective way to save fuel is to upshift earlier .
Staying in a gear too long uses fuel unnecessari
ly. Press down on the accelerator pedal slowly
and avoid "kick-down".
Avoid full acceleration
You should rarely travel at the maximum vehicle
speed. High speeds cause a disproportionately
high increase in fuel consumption, emissions and
traffic noise. Slower driving saves fuel.
Reduce idling time
There are benefits to stopping the engine, for ex
ample when at railroad crossings or traffic lights
with longer red lights. Stopping the engine for
30-40 seconds already saves more fuel than the
amount of extra fuel needed to restart the en
gine.
It takes a very long time in idle to warm the en
gine up to operating temperature . Wear and
emissions are especially high in the warm-up
phase. Therefore, you should begin driving im
mediately after starting the engine. Avoid high
RPMs while doing this.
Have maintenance performed regularly
By having maintenance performed regularly on
your vehicle, you can help to reduce fuel con
sumption before you even start to drive. The maintenance condition of your vehicle not only
affects traffic safety and long-term value but al
so impacts
fuel consumption. A poorly main
tained engine can lead to fuel consumption that
is 10% higher than normal.
Also check the
oil level when refueling. The oil
consumption
depends largely on the engine load
and speed . It is normal for the oil consumption
of a new engine to reach its lowest point only af
ter a certain amount of use. Therefore, the oil
consumption can only be properly judged after
approximately 3,000 miles (5,000 km) have been
driven.
Driving
Fewer short trips
The engine and catalytic converter have to reach
their optimal
operating temperature to reduce
fuel consumption and noxious emissions effec
tively.
Just after starting, a cold engine in a mid-size car
only achieves a fuel economy of 6-8 mpg
(30-40 l/100 km). After about a half a mile, fuel
economy climbs to 12 mpg (20 l/100 km). After
about 2.5 mi
(4 km), the engine is at its proper
operating temperature and fuel economy has
reached a normal level. So you can see that you
should avoid short trips whenever possible .
The
outside temperature is also critical in this re
gard. Your car consumes more fuel in the winter
than in the summer.
@ Note
Do not leave engine idling unattended after
starting. If warning lights should come on to indicate improper operation, they would go
unheeded. Extended idling also produces
heat, which could result in overheating or
other damage to the vehicle or other proper
ty.
(D Note
- Have your vehicle maintained properly and
in accordance with the service recommenda
tions in your Warranty & Maintenance book
let. Lack of proper maintenance as well as
improper use of the vehicle will impair the
function of the emission control system and could lead to damage.
- Do not alter or remove any component of
the Emission Control System unless ap
proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not alter or remove any device, such as
heat shields, switches, ignition wires,
valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Emission Control System and other
important vehicle components .
(j) Tips
The consumption estimates as published by
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(EPA) and Transport Canada may not
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