Mercedes-Benz C-Class Operator's Manual page 164

Driving tips
162
Constant (assessment of driving
behavior at all times)
The bar fills up:
Constant speed and
avoidance of
unnecessary
acceleration and
deceleration
Coasting (assessment of all deceleration
processes)
The bar fills up:
Anticipatory driving,
keeping your
distance and early
release of the
accelerator: the
vehicle can coast
without use of the
brakes
i
An economical driving style involves
driving with a moderate engine speed.
To achieve a higher value in the categories
"acceleration" and "smooth driving":
observe the gearshift recommendation.
R
drive the vehicle in drive program E
R
(vehicles with automatic transmission).
i
On long journeys at a constant speed, e.g.
on the freeway, only the bar for "smooth
driving" will change.
i
The ECO display summarizes the driving
characteristics from the start of the journey
to its completion. Therefore, there are
dynamic changes in the bars at the start of
a journey. During a prolonged driving time,
these changes are smaller. For dynamic
changes, perform a manual reset.
For further information on the ECO display,
see ( page 204).
Y
Important safety notes
The bar empties:
Fluctuations in
speed
Downhill gradients
The bar empties:
! On long and steep gradients, you must
Frequent braking
Heavy and light loads
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
I n f o r ma t i o n P r o v i d e d b y :
Braking:
G WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
G
WARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.