2004 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 174

174 Starting and driving • Check the fuel consumption regularly. Increased fuel consumption can indicate that something is wrong and that the car needs to be checked at a Saab dealer. Practical road tests have demonstrated that substantial savings in fuel consumption can be made if the above advice is followed. engine wear is at its greatest during this period. Drive off as soon as possible after starting the engine and avoid high engine speeds. • Drive as smoothly and thoughtfully as possible. Match your driving to the prevailing traffic conditions. • Driving in a low gear gives rise to higher fuel consumption than driving in a high gear because of the higher engine speed for any given road speed. Always shift up as soon as traffic conditions allow and drive in the highest gear as much as possible. • Check the tire pressure once a month. Incorrect tire pressure increases tire wear. It is preferable for the tire pressure to be slightly high than too low. Underpressure increases fuel consumption. Engine block heater (standard equipment in Canada, accessory in U.S.) The following are just some of the benefits to the car and the environment of using an engine block heater Lower fuel consumption. Reduced wear on the engine. Inside of car warms up faster. Exhaust emissions substantially reduced over short runs. The engine heater is effective at outside temperatures up to 60-70°F (+15-+20°C). The warmer it is outside, the shorter the time the engine heater needs to be connected. Longer than 1.5 hours is unnecessary. If the car is equipped with a removable, electric cabin heater that is not in use, store this in the trunk. WARNING Never switch off the engine while driving as the effect of the brakes and power steering will be greatly reduced. Road conditions Wet roads increase fuel consumption, as do unpaved roads and driving in hilly country (the amount of fuel saved driving downhill is less than the additional amount required to climb the hill).