Skoda Rapid Owner's Manual page 113

Note
Observe the recommended gear » page
Avoiding full throttle
Driving more slowly means saving fuel.
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consump-
tion but also positively influence environmental pollution and wear of your vehi-
cle.
The maximum speed of your vehicle should, as far possible, never be used. Fuel
consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at
high speeds.
The » Fig. 92 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle.
Fuel consumption will be halved if only three-quarters of the possible top speed
of your vehicle is used.
Reducing idling
Idling also costs fuel.
In vehicles not equipped with the START-STOP system, turn off the engine when
in a traffic jam, at a level crossing or traffic lights with longer wait times. Even af-
ter just 30 – 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel than that is needed when
you start the engine up again.
11, Recommended gear.
Fig. 92
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in litres/100 km. and speed
in km/h.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly
high in the warming-up phase. Therefore, start driving as soon as the engine has
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started, whereby high engine speeds should be avoided.
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine uses an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.
By having your vehicle regularly maintained by a ŠKODA specialist garage, you
create the conditions needed for driving economically. The maintenance state of
your vehicle has a positive effect on traffic safety and value retention
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10 % higher than
normal.
Also check the oil level when refuelling. Oil consumption is dependent to a con-
siderable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be
as high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and rea-
ches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. The oil consumption of a
new vehicle can therefore only be correctly assessed after driving about
5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
Additional improvements to the fuel economy can be made by using synthetic
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high-lubricity oils.
Regularly check the ground under the vehicle. Have your vehicle inspected by a
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ŠKODA specialist garage if you find any stains caused by oil or other fluids on the
floor.
Note
We recommend that your vehicle is serviced on a regular basis by a ŠKODA Serv-
ice Partner.
111
Driving and the Environment
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