Saving fuel and helping the environment -> Fuel-efficient driving for Your Volkswagen Beetle 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2019)

Calm and smooth driving  
Consistency is more important than speed. The more smoothly you drive, the less fuel the vehicle  
consumes.  
When driving on the highway or freeway, a constant, moderate speed is more efficient and economical  
than constantly accelerating and braking. Usually you can reach your destination just as quickly by  
driving at a moderate, but steady speed.  
The cruise control system can assist in maintaining a uniform driving style.  
Moderate use of extra electrical loads  
Comfort inside the vehicle is nice and important, but it is important to use them in an environmentally  
conscious manner.  
Some devices can increase fuel consumption when activated (examples):  
Climate control system (air conditioner): If the air conditioner has to produce starkly contrasting  
temperatures, it requires a large amount of energy, which is generated by the engine. The temperature  
in the vehicle should therefore not be extremely different from that of the outside temperature. It may  
be helpful to ventilate the vehicle before driving and then to drive a short distance with the windows  
open. After that, switch on the air conditioner with the windows closed. Keep the windows closed when  
driving at high speeds. Open windows increase fuel consumption.  
Switch off seat heating once it has served its purpose.  
Switch off the rear window defroster as soon as the windows are free of fog and ice.  
Additional factors that increase fuel consumption (examples):  
Malfunctioning engine control.  
Driving in the mountains.  
NOTICE  
Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), especially when the engine is not  
running. The transmission will not be lubricated and will be damaged.  
Fuel-efficient driving  
Fig. 105 Fuel consumption in mpg at 2 different outside air temperatures.  
Fig. 106 Fuel consumption in l/100 km at 2 different outside air temperatures.  
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS  
Driving defensively and economically can easily reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 15%.  
..  
The vehicle consumes the most fuel when accelerating. Defensive driving requires less braking and  
therefore less acceleration. If possible, coast the vehicle to a stop, for example, when you can see that  
the next traffic light is red or about to turn red.  
Avoid traveling short distances  
A cold engine consumes significantly more fuel immediately after starting. It takes a few miles (km)  
before the engine is warmed up and fuel consumption is stabilized.  
To reduce fuel consumption and the emission of pollutants effectively, the engine and catalytic  
converter must reach their optimal operating temperature. Critical in this context is also the outside  
air temperature.  
fig. 106 and display the varying fuel consumption rates for the same distance driven, once at +68 °F  
(+20 °C) and once at +14 °F (-10 °C).  
Therefore, avoid driving short distances unnecessarily and consolidate routes.  
Under the same conditions, the vehicle consumes more fuel in winter than in summer.  
“Letting the engine run to warm up” is not only illegal in some places, but also technically not  
necessary and wastes fuel.  
Adjust the tire pressure  
The proper tire pressure helps reduce rolling resistance as well as fuel consumption.  
When purchasing new tires, always make sure that the tires are optimized for lower rolling resistance.  
Use low viscosity engine oil  
Fully “synthetic,” low viscosity engine oils that expressly comply with Volkswagen oil quality standards  
reduce fuel consumption. Low viscosity engine oils reduce the frictional resistance on the engine and  
are distributed more evenly and quickly, particularly when cold-starting the engine. The effect is  
particularly apparent in vehicles that frequently travel short distances.  
Always ensure the right engine oil level is maintained and keep to the scheduled service intervals  
(engine oil changes).  
Make sure the engine oil that you purchase expressly complies with Volkswagen oil quality standards  
and is the oil approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle.  
Avoid unnecessary weight  
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical and eco-friendly it will be. For example, an extra 220 lbs  
(100 kg) of weight increases fuel consumption by up to 1 pint per 60 miles (0.3 l/100 km).  
Remove all unnecessary items and unnecessary dead weight from the vehicle.  
Remove unnecessary aftermarket components  
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the less fuel it will consume. Aftermarket components such as  
bicycle racks reduce its aerodynamic performance.  
Therefore, remove unnecessary structures and unused rack systems, particularly if planning to drive at  
higher speeds.