2000 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 154

154 Starting and driving 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 block heater is effective with outside temperatures up to +60 - +70°F (+15 - +20°C). The warmer it is outside, the shorter the time the heater need be connected. Longer than 1.5 hours is unnecessary. If the car is equipped with a removable electrical cabin heater that is not in use, this should be stored in the luggage compartment. • Driving in a low gear results in higher fuel consumption than in a high gear because of the lower engine speed for a given road speed. Always change up to a higher gear as soon as traffic conditions allow and use the highest gear as much as possible. • Check the air pressure in the tires once a month. Incorrect pressures increase tire wear. It is better to have slightly higher pressure than lower. • Check fuel consumption regularly. Increased consumption can indicate that something is wrong and that the car needs to be checked by an authorized Saab dealer. Practical tests on the roads have demonstrated that substantial savings in fuel consumption can be made if the above advice is heeded. Driving in cold weather Before starting a journey in cold weather you should check the following: • That the wiper blades have not become frozen to the windshield/glass. • Brush any snow away from the air intake for the heater system (opening between hood and windshield). • It may be advisable to lubricate the door-lock cylinder (use molybdenum disulphide, MoS2) to prevent its freezing. If the lock has frozen, take care not to break the key (or use the remote control) - heat it first or spray it with de-icer. • Periodically during the winter, add gasoline anti-freeze to the fuel to dispel any condensation in the fuel tank which could freeze and cause problems in the system. Keep the tank well filled to reduce the risk of condensation forming. If the car is parked outside in freezing weather, fuel additives (gasoline anti-freeze) will not do any good as it cannot remove water that has already frozen. Park the car in a warm place so that any ice that may have built up melts, then add gasoline anti-freeze when filling up the tank. Condensation is caused by changes in the outdoor temperature or by the car being parked alternately in a garage and outside. • It is particularly important when the roads are slippery that the brakes and tires be in good condition. 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).