CAUTION Allow the vehicle to coast with the gear engaged in order to take advantage of the engine braking effect, for example when approaching a red street light. The gear-change indicator is designed only to assist the driver and cannot replace the driver’s attention and responsibility. ● Always select the correct gear for the re- spective driving situation, e.g. when overtak- ing, driving uphill or downhill, or towing trailers. Change gear to save energy Shifting up early at engine speeds of 2,000 rpm can save energy. Do not drive gears to the limit and avoid high revs. Driving in the correct gear can help to re- duce fuel consumption. Vehicles with a manual gearbox:
change from 1st to 2nd gear immediately after moving off. The gear-change indicator display goes out when the clutch is depressed (in vehicles with a manual gearbox) or when the Tiptronic position is deselected (in vehicles with an auto- matic gearbox). Vehicles with an automatic gearbox: accelerate slowly and avoid using the kickdown function. Gear-change indicator → page 91. Avoid full throttle Never drive the vehicle at top speed. The rolling and air resistance increase at excessively high speeds. This in turn increases the force needed to move the vehicle. Driving economically Reduce idling Drive off immediately at low engine speeds.
If you are stopped for a long period, do not allow the engine to idle but switch it off, e.g. when in a traffic jam or at a railway crossing. In vehicles with an activated start/stop system, the engine can switch off automatically when the vehicle is stopping and when the vehicle is sta- tionary → page 101. Fill the fuel tank properly Filling the fuel tank all the way to the top will in- crease the vehicle weight. A fuel tank that is half to three quarters full is sufficient for urban jour- neys in particular. Fig. 82 Fuel consumption in litres per 100 km at two different outside temperatures.
Adopting the correct driving style can re- duce fuel consumption, pollution and wear-and-tear on the engine, brakes and tyres. The following section lists a few tips for easing the strain on the environ- ment and your bank account. Avoid short journeys Engines consume a lot of fuel when cold. They do not reach optimum operating temperature until the vehicle has travelled a few kilometres. The fuel consumption is above average at very low ambient temperatures, e.g. in winter → Fig. 82 . Plan your journeys economically and combine several short trips. Think ahead when driving Repeated acceleration and braking will increase fuel consumption.
Keeping a close eye on the traffic can help to avoid frequent acceleration and braking. Keeping your vehicle at a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front can help you to think ahead when driving. Regular maintenance Regular maintenance is an essential prerequisite for economical driving and increases the service life of the vehicle. Owner's manual 92