Volvo VN - Build Specification and Equipment; Driveline Combination; Fuel Economy Driving

OPERATION263
FUELECONOMYDRIVING
General
Theabsolutefuelconsumption(countedinlitersper100kilometersormilesperUS
gallon)isdeterminedbyalargenumberofcircumstanceswhichcanberelatedtoone
ofthefollowingmainareas:
•Buildspecicationandequipment
•Serviceandmaintenance
•Externalenvironment
•Drivinghabits
Duetothesefactors,fuelconsumptioncanvaryconsiderablywithinwhatiscalled
"normalfuelconsumption."Fuelconsumptioncanvaryfromover24L/100km(10
mpg)whendrivingemptyonaniceanddrysummerroadto67L/100km(3.5mpg)
whiledrivingwithmaximumpermittedGVW,withvehicleandtrailer,onahilly
andslushywinterroad.
BuildSpecicationandEquipment
Wheneveravehicleisusedfortransportation,itsbuildspecication,equipmentand
grossvehicleweighthaveadecisiveeffectonbothfuelconsumptionandperformance.
Thefactorswhichhavethegreatestinuenceonfuelconsumptionareprimarily:
drivelinecombination,heightoftrailerorsuperstructure,useofairfairings,tiretype,
numberofwheels,grossvehicleweight,andaccessories.
DrivelineCombination
Engine,transmissionandnaldrivemustbeselectedinsuchawaythattheengine
canoperatewithintheeconomicspeedrangeatnormaldrivingspeed.Thisrangeis
denedaswheretheenginemakesthebestuseoftheenergycontentofthedieselfuel.
Apoorlyselectedrearaxleratio,whichresultsintheenginespeedbeingconstantly
abovetheoptimumspeed,willincreasefuelconsumption.