Volvo VN - Driving Habits; Hill Driving Technique; Starting the Engine

OPERATION267
DrivingHabits
Thewayinwhichavehicleisbeingdrivenistheonefactorwhichhasthegreatest
inuenceonfuelconsumption.Correctdrivingsavesfuelandreducesvehiclewear.
Toachieveoptimalrunningeconomy,thedrivershouldalwaysrememberto:
•Starttheenginecorrectly(especiallyimportantinwinterseason).
•Maintainanevenandcorrectspeed.
•Keeptheengineatitsoptimumspeedrange.
•Usethecorrectuphillanddownhilldrivingtechnique.
StartingtheEngine
Starttheengineaccordingtotheinstructionsintheoperator’smanualoftheengine
manufacturer(foraV olvoengine,see"STARTINGTHEENGINE"“STARTING
THEENGINE”,page298).Aproperstart,especiallyduringthecoldseason,saves
fuelandreducesenginewear.
Sluggishlubeoilintheenginemakescoldstartingmoredifcult.Therefore,itis
importanttoalwaysuseengineoilwiththecorrectviscosity.(Forthesakeofthe
overallfueleconomy,itisalsoimportanttohavetherightviscosityoftransmission
andrearaxleoils.)
Agoodsignofanaxleorwheeloutofalignmentisuneventirewear.Checkthetires
often.
AvoidHighEngineSpeeds
Highenginespeedsmeanhighfuelconsumption."Jerky"drivingalsoincreasesfuel
consumptionwhenthevehicleisconstantlyacceleratedandsloweddown.Avoida
higherconsumptionbysteady,evendriving.
Refertoeachenginemanufacturer’soperator’smanualforinformationontheengine’s
optimumoperatingrange.
Rain,SnowandRoadSurface
Awetroadsurfaceincreasesrollingresistanceand,thereby,fuelconsumption.Slush
willincreaseconsumptionevenmore.Incertaincases,thesurfacestructureofthe
roadcanalsohaveanegativeeffectonfuelconsumption.
HillDrivingTechnique
Usetheinertiaofthevehicletogooverthecrestofahillunderreducedpower.Use
gravitytohelpwithaccelerationwhengoingdownthehill.Buildupspeedbefore
reachingthenextuphill.