Skoda Rapid Owner's Manual page 115

Other factors that increase fuel consumption (examples):
● Faulty engine control.
● Driving in mountainous areas.
Fuel-saving driving
ä
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 112.
By forward-looking and economical driving, fuel consumption can be easily re-
duced by 10 to 15 per cent.
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when it accelerates. In forward-look-
ing driving, less braking and consequently less accelerating are required. Let your
vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this is possible, when you see that the next
set of traffic lights is at red.
Avoid short distances
A cold engine consumes noticeably more fuel immediately after the start. Only af-
ter a few miles, the engine is warm and the fuel consumption has returned to nor-
mal.
To reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions effectively, the engine and
the catalytic converter must have reached their optimum operating temperature.
An important factor in this context is also the ambient temperature.
Vehicle overview Before driving
fig. 74 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance both at
+68 °F (+20 °C) and +14 °F (-10 °C).
Therefore, avoid unnecessary short distances and combine.
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The vehicle consumes more fuel in winter than in summer under the same condi-
tions.
A "warm-up" of the engine is not only prohibited by law in some countries, but al-
so technically unnecessary and a waste of fuel.
Adjust the tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure reduces the rolling resistance and, therefore, fuel con-
sumption. In addition, a slightly higher tyre pressure (+ 0.2 bar / + 3 psi) also helps
to save fuel.
If one accepts small loss of comfort, it is always possible to use the tyre pressure
recommended for the full vehicle loading. This also applies if you travel alone and
without baggage.
When purchasing new tyres always make sure that the tyres are optimised for
road resistance.
Fig. 74 Fuel consumption in l/
Use fuel-economy engine oil
100 km at two different ambi-
Fully synthetic engine oils with low viscosity, so-called fuel-economy engine oils,
ent temperatures.
reduce fuel consumption. Fuel-economy engine oils reduce friction resistance in
the engine and are distributed better and faster, in particular during cold starting
of the engine. This is particularly effective in vehicles that often run short distan-
ces.
Always ensure the correct engine oil level and keep the service intervals (oil
change intervals).
When purchasing engine oil, always check for the engine oil standard and appro-
val by Škoda.
Avoid unnecessary ballast
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical and environmentally friendly it is. An
additional weight of about 220 lbs (100 kg), for example, increases fuel consump-
tion by up to 0.078 gal/60 miles (0.3 l/100 km).
Remove all unnecessary items and unnecessary ballast from your vehicle.
Remove unnecessary structures and attachments
The more aerodynamic a vehicle, the lower its fuel consumption. Structures and
attachments reduce the aerodynamic advantage.
When driving
Starting, shifting gears, parking
Maintenance, cleaning, servic- Do-it-yourself
ing
113
£