Vauxhall VX220 Owner's Manual

52P age 52, L:\Owner's Manual\Nv\Speedster-VX220\Master\KTA2399-5\VML\SKIPOM.fm RHD, Vaux Edition 9.3.05Saving fuelEnergy-conscious drivingz High fuel consumption is often a result offailing to d riv e in an energy -consciousmanner.z You should therefore drive with energy inmind - “more miles with less fuel”.Fuel consumption dep ends to a greatextent on your own persona l drivingstyle. The following hints will help you toachieve fuel consum ption a s c lose aspossible to the specified lev els.Check your vehicle's fuel consumptionevery time y ou fill up. In this way you willbe a ble at an early stag e to d etec t anyirregularities causing increasedconsumption.Warming upz Driving at full throttle or idling while theeng ine is still cold inc reases engine w earand fuel consumption.z Drive away immediately after starting .Engine speed should b e m od erate untilthe engine has reached operatingtemperature.Uniform spee dz Hectic driving significantly increases fuelconsump tion.z Do not accelerate and brak eunnecessarily.Drive as often as possible in top gear.In m any cases you ca n shift intofourth g ear at speeds as low a s 30 mph(50 k m/h) in urban traffic.In fourth gear fuel consumption in the30 to 50 mp h (50 to 80 km/h) range isaround 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 isroughly 15 % lower than in fourth g ear.Select the nex t higher gear as soon aspossible, and only change d ow n whenthe engine is no longer running perfectlysmoothly .Idlingz The eng ine also consumes fuel whenidling .z If you have to wait for more than oneminute, it is worthwhile switching off theengine. Fiv e m inutes of idlingcorresponds to ap prox . 0.6 miles (onekilometre) of driving.Ove rrunz The fuel supply is automatically shut offduring ov errun, e.g. when the vehicle isbeing d riv en down long grad ients orduring braking.z To enable the overrun cut-off to comeinto a ction a nd sav e fuel, do notaccelerate or declutch during overrun.Correct ge ar se lectionz High revs increa se engine wear and fuelconsumption.z Do not race your engine. Driving too fastin ind iv idual gea rs or driv e rangesincreases engine wea r and fuelconsumption.Making use of the tachometer helps tosav e fuel: If possible, driv e in each gearin the low engine speed range (betweenapprox. 2000 a nd 3000 rpm) andmaintain a steady vehic le speed.