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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
59
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