Observe the correct tyre pressures An inadequate tyre pressure does not just mean greater wear, but also increases the rolling resist- ance of the tyres and thus the fuel consumption. Use tyres with optimised rolling resistance. Your Volkswagen dealership will gladly pro- vide you with further information on correct maintenance and replacement parts that are par- ticularly energy-efficient, e.g. new tyres. Adjust the tyre pressure according to the vehicle load. Observe the information on the tyre pres- sure sticker → page 186. Information on the brakes During around the first 300 km, new brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect and must be “run in” → .
However, you can compensate for the slightly reduced braking force by applying more pressure to the brake pedal. During the run-in period, the braking distance is longer when the brakes are depressed fully or during emergency braking than with brake pads that have been fully run in . In the run-in period, the brakes should not be depressed fully and situa- tions should be avoided that create a heavy load on the brakes, e.g. when driving up close to the vehicle ahead. Use low viscosity engine oil The use of synthetic low viscosity engine oil can reduce fuel consumption.
As low viscosity engine oil can decrease frictional resistance in the en- gine and spread better and more quickly, espe- cially for cold starts. Tyre pressure monitoring system → page 183. Do not drive with unnecessary loads in the vehicle You can reduce fuel consumption by clearing out the luggage compartment before setting off, for example by removing empty drink crates or un- used child seats. Brake pad wear The wear of the brake pads de- pends to a great extent on the conditions under which the vehicle is operated and the way in which the vehicle is driven.
If the vehicle is used for regular urban trips or short journeys and is driven with a sporty driving style, the brake pads must be regularly checked according to the Maintenance Manual. Save electrical energy The alternator powered by the engine generates electricity for convenience functions, such as the air conditioning system, windscreen heating or ventilation system. Saving electrical energy is easy, for example: – At high ambient temperatures, ventilate the car before starting a journey and drive a short distance with open window. Only then switch on the air conditioning system.
After driving through water, after heavy rainfall, or after washing the vehicle, the braking effect may be delayed as the brake discs will be wet, or possibly iced up (in winter). The brakes must be “dried” as quickly as possible by careful braking at higher speed. Make sure that no following ve- hicle and no other road user is put at risk as a re- sult of this action → . – Switch off convenience systems as soon as they have served their purpose. WARNING Any salt layer accumulating on the discs and pads will delay the braking effect and increase the braking distance.
If the brakes on the vehicle have not been applied for a long time on roads that have been gritted with salt, the layer of salt must be reduced through careful braking → . The reduced air density may result in reduced engine output as altitude increases. This may cause accidents and serious or fatal injuries, for example, when overtaking. ● Always adjust your speed and driving style according to visibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions. Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt in the brake pads are facilitated through long periods of park- ing or inactivity .
If the brake pads have been hardly used or if they are corroded, Volkswagen recommends that the brake discs and brake pads be cleaned by braking strongly several times from high speed. Make sure that no following ve- hicle and no other road user is put at risk as a re- sult of this action → . Adapt your speed and distance from the vehi- cles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions. WARNING 182.5C1.TRO.74 Driving 93