Driving Economy; Other Factors Which Decrease Gas Mileage Are - Volvo 850 Owner's Manual

1996 Volvo 850
CAUTION: Take care not to spill gasoline during refueling. Gasolines containing alcohol can cause
damage to painted surfaces, which may not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Do not use gasoline containing methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol). This practice can result in
vehicle performance deterioration and can damage critical parts in the fuel system. Such damage may
not be covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
pg. 4:4 Driving economy
Economical driving does not necessarily mean driving slowly
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops and
adjusting the speed of your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by driving with a light foot on
the accelerator pedal for the first minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fuel and is subject to
increased wear.
Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to
reach normal operating temperature.
Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
Do not exceed speed limit.
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
Check tire pressure regularly (check when tires are cold).
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and thereby fuel consumption.
Avoid using automatic transmission kick-down feature unless necessary.
Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, the air conditioner's
compressor places places an additional load on the engine.
If your car is equipped with the optional Trip Computer, utilizing the fuel consumption modes can
help you "learn" how to drive more economically.

Other factors which decrease gas mileage are:

Low tire pressure
Worn or dirty spark plugs
Incorrect spark plug gap
Dirty air cleaner
Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
Dragging brakes
Incorrect front end alignment
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