Saving Fuel; Energy-Conscious Driving; Idling; Correct Gear Selection - Vauxhall VX220 Owner's Manual

P age 52, L:\Owner's Manual\Nv\Speedster-VX220\Master\KTA2399-5\VML\SKIPOM.fm RHD , Vaux Edition 9.3.05

Saving fuel

Energy-conscious driving

z High fuel consumption is often a result of
failing to d riv e in an energy -conscious
manner.
z You should therefore drive with energy in
mind - "more miles with less fuel".
Fuel consumption dep ends to a great
extent on your own persona l driving
style. The following hints will help you to
achieve fuel consum ption a s c lose as
possible to the specified lev els.
Check your vehicle's fuel consumption
every time y ou fill up. In this way you will
be a ble at an early stag e to d etec t any
irregularities causing increased
consumption.
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Warming up
z Driving at full throttle or idling while the
eng ine is still cold inc reases engine w ear
and fuel consumption.
z Drive away immediately after starting .
Engine speed should b e m od erate until
the engine has reached operating
temperature.
Uniform spee d
z Hectic driving significantly increases fuel
consump tion.
z Do not accelerate and brak e
unnecessarily.
Drive as often as possible in top gear.
In m any cases you ca n shift into
fourth g ear at speeds as low a s 30 mph
(50 k m/h) in urban traffic.
In fourth gear fuel consumption in the
30 to 50 mp h (50 to 80 km/h) range is
around 25 % low er than in third gear.
In the 45 to 55 mph (70 to 90 km /h)
range, fuel consum ption in fifth gear is
roughly 15 % lower than in fourth g ear.
Select the nex t higher gear as soon as
possible, and only change d ow n when
the engine is no longer running perfectly
smoothly .

Idling

z The eng ine also consumes fuel when
idling .
z If you have to wait for more than one
minute, it is worthwhile switching off the
engine. Fiv e m inutes of idling
corresponds to ap prox . 0.6 miles (one
kilometre) of driving.
Ove rrun
z The fuel supply is automatically shut off
during ov errun, e.g. when the vehicle is
being d riv en down long grad ients or
during braking.
z To enable the overrun cut-off to come
into a ction a nd sav e fuel, do not
accelerate or declutch during overrun.
Correct ge ar se lection
z High revs increa se engine wear and fuel
consumption.
z Do not race your engine. Driving too fast
in ind iv idual gea rs or driv e ranges
increases engine wea r and fuel
consumption.
Making use of the tachometer helps to
sav e fuel: If possible, driv e in each gear
in the low engine speed range (between
approx. 2000 a nd 3000 rpm) and
maintain a steady vehic le speed.