FIAT Idea - Manual (Page 185)

DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine with the car at a standstill or
at idle or high speed: under these conditions the
engine warms up much more slowly, increasing
electrical consumption and emissions. It is therefore
advisable to move off immediately, slowly, avoiding
high speeds. This way the engine will warm faster.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid accelerating when waiting at traffic lights or
before switching off the engine. This and also double
declutching is absolutely pointless on modern cars and
also increase consumption and pollution.
Gear selection
As soon as the conditions of the traffic and road allow,
use a higher gear. Using a low gear to obtain brilliant
performance increases consumption.
In the same way improper use of a high gear increases
consumption, emissions an engine wear.
Top speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases with speed.
Keep speed as constant as possible, avoid superfluous
braking and accelerating, which cost in terms of both
fuel and emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently increasing the revs will greatly
affect consumption and emissions: acceleration should
be gradual and should not exceed the maximum
torque.
CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short journeys and frequent cold starts do not allow
the engine to reach optimum operating temperature.
This results in a significant increase in consumption
levels (from +15 to +30% on the urban cycle) and
emission of harmful substances.
Traffic situations and road conditions
Rather high consumption levels are tied to situations
with heavy traffic, for example in queues with frequent
use of the lower gears or in cities with many traffic
lights. Also winding mountain roads and rough road
surfaces adversely affect consumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g.: level crossings) the
engine should be switched off.
184
SAFETY DEVICES
W
ARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICA
TIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR