Get Saving fuel and helping the environment -> Fuel-efficient driving Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

outside temperature. It may be helpful to ventilate the vehicle before

driving and then to drive a short distance with the windows open. Af-

ter that, switch on the air conditioner with the windows closed. Keep

the windows closed when driving at high speeds. Open windows in-

crease 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.

Towing a trailer.

NOTICE

Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), es-

pecially when the engine is not running. The transmission will

not be lubricated and will be damaged.

Fuel-efficient driving

Fig. 147 Fuel consumption in mpg at 2 different outside air tempera-

tures.

Fig. 148 Fuel consumption in l/100 km at 2 different outside air tem-

peratures.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Driving defensively and economically can easily reduce fuel con-

sumption by 10 to 15%.

The vehicle consumes the most fuel when accelerating. Defensive

driving requires less braking and therefore less acceleration. If possi-

ble, 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 tempera-

ture.

fig. 148 and ⇒ꢀfig. 148 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 consoli-

date 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 opti-

mized 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 vis-

cosity 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. Af-

termarket 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.

Saving fuel and helping the environment -> Fuel-efficient driving for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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