Save as you drive.
Background information
for expert fuel savers.
Introduction
Efficient motoring.
How this brochure can help you save fuel.
In an era of high fuel prices and climate concerns, it's not surprising that drivers are taking a new interest
in fuel economy.
Manufacturers' fuel consumption figures published in brochures and printed advertisements provide
useful guidance when comparing the many different models. Since these standard figures form the basis
for all the tips in this brochure, it's important to know how they are calculated. This introduction gives you
the necessary background information.
First of all, though, the most important thing to understand is that while fuel consumption is partly
dictated by vehicle design and external factors beyond the driver's control – like the weather, temperature
or road surface – these aspects are only responsible for around two thirds of your car's fuel consumption.
The remaining one third is caused by factors that you – the driver – can influence quite easily, through the
way you drive and use your car.
And incidentally, anybody can become an expert fuel saver – no matter what car they drive!
The main influences on fuel consumption
Energy conversion
Engine: conversion of chemical energy into mechanical energy
Mechanical energy losses
Powertrain: gearbox, tyres, wheel bearings, power steering pump
Engine: friction, combustion system, charge cycle
Overcoming external resistance
Weight
Aerodynamic drag
Air conditioning, cooling, electrical system
Fuel consumption depends on many different factors. Some of these – like the engine combustion system
or mechanical losses – cannot be influenced by the driver. But some of them can. For instance, every driver
can do something to reduce external resistances, say by cutting payloads and aerodynamic drag or using
auxiliary equipment only in moderation.
2
3
Introduction
Introduction
Why does the same model have different NEDC
fuel consumption figures with different gearboxes?
What you need to know.
The prescribed NEDC test cycle doesn't really do justice to a 6-speed gearbox. A 6-speed gearbox
is generally lower-geared from 1st through 5th gear than a 5-speed gearbox. Since the gearshift
How fuel consumption figures are calculated.
points in the NEDC test are fixed, however, a vehicle with 6-speed gearbox will tend to run at
higher rpm during the test. This generally results in a higher standard fuel consumption than
when the identical engine is tested with a five-speed gearbox, despite the fact that, in real-world
driving, a 6-speed gearbox can often be more economical.
You want to save fuel? That's a good start! But to understand and track your progress, you first
need to understand the official fuel consumption figures. These figures – what you see in bro-
How relevant are the NEDC figures for your personal fuel consumption?
chures, dealer showrooms or printed advertisements – are based on a standard test of fuel
consumption, the »New European Driving Cycle« (NEDC).
The NEDC figures are an excellent tool for comparing the fuel consumption of different cars and
What is the NEDC?
for obtaining general information about the fuel consumption of an individual model. Three
NEDC figures are calculated for every model: the »urban«, »extra-urban« and »combined« figures.
The NEDC is a statutory test procedure for determining the fuel consumption of a passenger
Anyone who does most of their driving around town should refer to the manufacturer's »urban«
car or light commercial vehicle. This precisely defined test cycle is performed under laboratory
figure, and should not expect to achieve the combined figure. That said, the NEDC information
conditions on a chassis dynamometer (test bench). NEDC testing of Volkswagen models is
does not provide an accurate guide to the fuel consumption that will be achieved by the indi-
monitored and certified by the German technical inspectorate (TÜV). The fixed test parameters,
vidual driver, since everyone's driving profile is different. So by applying the tips given in this
which are the same for all manufacturers, include:
brochure, you may even be able to improve on the manufacturer's NEDC figures.
• ambient temperature
• payload
• cold start
• gearshift points
• start of sampling
• all auxiliary consumers switched off
Fuel consumption of a Golf 1.4 TSI (6-speed) in relation to distance and time
However, no standardized driving cycle in the world can tell drivers precisely what personal fuel
urban 8.2 l/100 km
consumption they will achieve in practice, because every journey and every driver is different.
extra-urban 5.1 l/100 km
combined 6.2 l/100 km
120
12
fuel consumption
100
10
speed
80
8
60
6
fuel consumption
40
4
2
20
Certificates like this one must be displayed on any new
vehicle offered for sale in a dealer's showroom. They
contain information on model, CO2 emissions and NEDC
fuel consumption.
speed (km/h)
2000
4000
6000
urban 8.2 l/100 km
8000
fuel consumption (l/100km)
distance (m)
10000
extra-urban 5.1 l/100 km
combined 6.2 l/100 km
120
The certificate on the left is for a 90 kW Golf 1.4 TSI with
6-speed manual gearbox. This model is the example used
for all figures, calculations and tips in this brochure.
12
6.
100
fuel consumption
80
5.
60
4.
3.
40
2.
1.
1.
speed (km/h)
20
4.
3.
2.
1.
2.
1.
200
400
600
6
gears
800
4
2
fuel consumption (l/100km)
1000
Test in accordance with EU Directive 80/1268/EEC: T=20°C, all auxiliary consumers switched off.
5
8
fuel consumption
NEDC fuel consumption is calculated in a 20-minute test on the chassis dynamometer
over a simulated distance of 11 kilometres. A prescribed series of accelerations and
decelerations causes fuel consumption to rise and fall as shown.
4
10
speed
5.
time (s)
Fuel-Saving Tips
Fuel-Saving Tips
When it's time to say no.
There are savings in the air.
Avoid short trips.
Check your tyre pressures.
Your engine is not fully efficient until it has warmed up to operating temperature, allowing
Imagine a patch of rubber about the size of a postcard – that's how much of each of your tyres is
the lubricants and fluids to perform at their peak and keep engine friction to a minimum.
transferring power to the road at any one time. Despite that, the rolling resistance of this »contact
This means that very short journeys, made from a cold start, cause relatively high fuel con-
patch« or »footprint« accounts for approximately 10% to 15% of your total fuel consumption. At
sumption, well above the standard NEDC combined figure. So the best way to save fuel is
20 km/h, rolling resistance accounts for almost all the external resistance acting on the car, and
to combine those short runs to the newsagents, the post office or the local shops into a
it still accounts for 60% of total resistance at 50 km/h. A big factor in rolling resistance is tyre
single trip.
pressures: if you're just 0.2 bars off the ideal pressure, you're already adding 1% to your fuel bill,
due to increased rolling resistance.
In cold weather, short trips waste even more fuel. When outside temperatures are low, fuel
consumption over the first four kilometres can be as high as 30 litres per 100 km – less than
8 mpg!
Tips:
• Check your tyre pressures, when the tyres are cold, at least once every three to four weeks.
• Even when your car is not fully loaded, keep your tyres inflated to the recommended full load
And incidentally, idling the engine to warm it up is not only against the law in some
pressures (for the price of a slight drop in comfort). In your Volkswagen, you'll find the
countries, it is also unnecessary and a waste of fuel.
recommended pressures inside the fuel filler flap.
One of the criteria when Volkswagen selects the original tyres for your car is minimum rolling
Potential savings
Before you leave
Around town
resistance. Since potentially that could conflict with other priorities such as braking performance,
Motorway
the best tyre will be the one that achieves the best possible compromise between all the required
criteria. All BlueMotion models are factory-fitted with low-rolling resistance tyres. These tyres
reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%, without compromising safety.
Every journey is different. For a 10-km trip, a difference of 20ºC in outdoor temperatures
(roughly the difference between summer and winter temperatures) can make a 20% difference
to your fuel consumption. And if you normally travel not 10 km but just 2 km, that can increase
your personal fuel consumption by as much as 50%.
Fuel
consumption in %
(versus NEDC
baseline)
Once again, you – the driver – also have a part to play. When you need to replace your tyres,
be sure to choose tyres with reduced rolling resistance.
Before you leave
200
Potential savings
At an ambient temperature
of 1°C to 5°C, the rate of
fuel consumption reaches
the NEDC combined value
after approximately 10 km.
winter (–9°C to –5°C)
150
Around town
Rolling resistance is generated by deformation of the tyre as it rotates
over the road surface. This »flexing« consumes energy. The larger the
tyre area in contact with the road, the greater the rolling resistance.
The coefficient of rolling resistance is a measure of how much rolling resistance
a tyre produces.
100
Exactly how a tyre impacts on fuel consumption will depend on its diameter
and width, the type of rubber compound used and the tyre tread.
summer (11 ° to 15 °C)
50
5
10
15
20
25
Distance (km)*
For example, the rolling resistance of tyres with a diameter of
225 millimetres is 6% higher than that of 185-mm tyres.
* A typical journey
6
7
Motorway
Fuel-Saving Tips
Fuel-Saving Tips
Oiling the wheels of progress.
Go lightly on the fuel.
Use fuel-efficient engine oil.
Avoid unnecessary weight.
Low-viscosity synthetic engine oils may be slightly more expensive, but they can cut fuel
Remember that every kilogram you transport costs you fuel. An extra 100 kilos can increase
consumption by as much as 5% – by reducing internal friction and circulating better and
your fuel consumption by up to 0.3 l/100 km, depending on how you drive, and produce up
more quickly around the engine, particularly when starting from cold. The biggest savings
to 7 grams more CO2 per kilometre. That's why Volkswagen has adopted a wide range of
can be achieved on short trips and around town. Almost every new Volkswagen leaves the
measures to make its vehicles as light as possible, despite ever more stringent demands
factory with a first-fill of long-life low-viscosity oil.
on comfort and safety. Here are some examples:
Always make sure your car has enough oil, and observe the recommended oil-change intervals. That way your engine can do its job efficiently and keep emissions down. And if you do
have to top up your oil, be sure to check the owner's manual to see which oils are approved
for your car. You will be able to prolong your oil change intervals to as much as two years if
• use of hot stamping, to produce high-strength sheet metal
which is also extremely lightweight
• use of lightweight plastic or natural fibre materials
in the underbody tray and spare wheel well
you use only these products. Their specifications match the current Volkswagen engine
• use of light alloys wherever this makes sense
range and they have excellent long-life characteristics.
• Tire Mobility Set – with this repair kit for the quick and easy repair of minor
punctures there is no need to carry a spare wheel, saving additional weight
Before you leave
• use of steel wheels with optimised material thickness.
Potential savings
Around town
Motorway
Tip: One way to avoid squandering these inbuilt savings is to regularly »declutter« your boot.
Filling stations are so plentiful nowadays that it's pointless to travel around with a full fuel
canister. There's no need to carry around five old issues of your road atlas either, or a 10-litre
can of antifreeze.
Before you leave
Potential savings
Around town
Low-viscosity oils are extremely thin-bodied
engine oils containing very high-grade additives. Their low viscosity ensures excellent
engine lubrication – even at low temperatures and when
starting from cold. You can always tell low-viscosity oil
by the viscosity number 0 or 5 that appears in front of
the letter W in the classification.
A further feature of low-viscosity long-life oils is
that their base oils are more oxidation-stable, more
temperature-stable and slower to thicken.
One of the weight-saving techniques used in
production of the Golf and the Passat is hot
stamping. Only in the narrowest sense is hot
stamping a more energy-intensive production process than
conventional hardening. Because the higher strength of the
resulting sheet metal means that less steel is required per
vehicle – reducing the weight of a Passat body by about
20 kilograms, which in turn reduces fuel consumption.
The lower weight is also reflected in lower total lifecycle
CO2 emissions. In the Golf, hot-stamped sheet metal is used
in the A- and B-pillar linings and in structural components.
Intelligent lightweight manufacturing.
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Motorway
Fuel-Saving Tips
Fuel-Saving Tips
Streamlined savings.
Use the fuel-saver lever.
Think aerodynamic.
Change up early.
The less wind resistance your car offers the better. A Volkswagen's aerodynamically designed
A higher gear is always a more economical gear. So for most cars the general rule is to:
bodywork reduces wind resistance to a minimum. But if you pile on the luggage racks, roof
change up into third at 30 km/h, into fourth at 40 km/h and into fifth at 50 km/h.
boxes and cycle racks, those built-in benefits can all too quickly be lost.
You won't hear your engine complain about running at low revs. Our state-of-the-art TDI and TSI engines
Just fitting a ski rack to your roof increases aerodynamic drag by 33.3%, which will:
are very responsive even below 2,000 rpm. And the innovative dual-clutch gearbox invariably shifts through
the gears with perfect timing, all by itself – which is why it is around 10 to 20% more fuel-efficient than a
• increase your fuel consumption by more than 0.8 l/100 km at 100 km/h.
conventional automatic transmission.
• increase your fuel consumption by more than 2 l/100 km at 160 km/h.
In the BlueMotion models, your fuel efficiency is also helped by higher gear ratios, while the gear-change
recommendation in the multifunction display will always let you know the ideal time to change gear.
Tip: If you're going on holiday, it may actually prove cheaper to hire bicycles or skis at your
destination, rather than taking them with you on a roof-rack, particularly if you face a long
Tips for manual gearboxes: Don’t rev too high in each gear before changing up. Use first gear just to get
journey on the motorway. Obviously, when rooftop fittings are not in use, be sure to remove
the car moving and change into second once it has moved through its own length. And if the traffic situation
them at the first opportunity. And don't forget that open side windows are a further source
permits, you can skip a gear as you change up, shifting from third into fifth for example.
of turbulence, reducing aerodynamic efficiency by more than 7%. That can add a further
Tips for automatic transmissions: avoid activating the kick-down feature. By lifting off the accelerator
0.3 l/100 km to your fuel consumption when travelling at 130 km/h.
briefly you can get the transmission to shift up earlier, which will save you fuel.
Potential savings
Before you leave
Around town
Potential savings
On the road
Motorway
Around town
The graph clearly shows how changing up early can save you fuel. Around town, at a speed of 50 km/h,
our typical Golf consumes 1.2 l/100 km more fuel in 3rd gear than it does in 5th.
Remember that speed is a big contributor to aerodynamic drag.
If you double your speed, drag will increase four times over.
Additional fuel
consumption
(l/100 km)
Motorway
Fuel consumption 13
(l/100 km)
12
2,4
2,2
11
2,0
Roof box
1,8
1,6
10
4th gear
9
Ski-rack
1,4
5th gear
1st gear
2nd gear
3rd gear
8
1,2
6th gear
7
1,0
Roof rack
6
0,8
0,6
5
0,4
4
0,2
Open front side windows
40
60
80
100
120
140
3
Speed (km/h)
2
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
Speed (km/h)
Fuel consumption curves in each of the six gears for 90 kW Golf 1.4 TSI, at 20°C ambient temperature
10
11
Fuel-Saving Tips
Fuel-Saving Tips
Target zero fuel consumption.
Take a farsighted approach.
Just let it roll …
Go with the flow.
Coasting in gear cuts off the fuel supply to the engine. This is also referred to as overrun cutoff,
On average, every seventh litre of fuel is consumed in stop-go traffic conditions.
and it means you're not using a single drop of fuel. This is different from coasting with the clutch
»Going with the flow« – which means more coasting and less use of the brake and
depressed, when the engine continues to tick over – which means it is still burning fuel, albeit in
accelerator – will save you fuel.
very small quantities. You can easily compare your fuel consumption when coasting with the
clutch depressed and when coasting in gear. Just set your multifunction display to »current fuel
Tip: Always keep an adequate distance from the vehicle in front. This will help
consumption« and you can see for yourself the effects of overrun cutoff.
you maintain a smooth driving style – and will also help reduce congestion.
Use overrun cutoff when:
On the road
Potential savings
• you want the engine to help you brake, for example when approaching a red traffic light,
Around town
• or when you're on a steep downhill gradient. Using the braking effect of the engine will
also reduce the wear on your service brakes.
But depress the clutch when:
• you want to maintain a constant speed on a long, level stretch of road, or to coast to a stop,
• or when you want to maintain or increase your speed on a gentle downhill gradient.
The biggest fuel savings with overrun cutoff are achieved around town.
On the road
Potential savings
Around town
Motorway
As soon as you lift off the accelerator with the car in gear, the engine
management shuts off the fuel injection – and your consumption falls
to zero. This fuel-saving habit is built into your Volkswagen and is
automatic every time. Actually switching the engine off while the car is moving,
a habit popular with more extreme members of the »hypermiling« movement,
is not only very dangerous, there is no technical justification for it either.
It does make sense to switch off at a red light or a level crossing, though, if you
have to wait more than 20 seconds. If your vehicle has a stop/start system, the
engine will stop and start automatically, bringing further economy benefits.
Because for every three minutes the car spends idling when stationary, it uses
as much fuel as it would to drive one kilometre at 50 km/h.
The benefits of driving at a constant speed are most apparent
on the motorway. If you travel for half an hour at 100 km/h,
followed by half an hour at 160 km/h, you will consume
0.4 litres more fuel than someone who travels at a constant
130 km/h for the whole hour. And at the end of that hour,
both drivers will have travelled exactly the same distance.
1/2 h at 100km/h
1/2 h at 160 km/h
Constant speed of 130 km/h
Distance 130 km: journey time 1 hour
12
13
fuel consumption 7.5 l
fuel consumption 7.1 l
Motorway
Fuel-Saving Tips
Fuel-Saving Tips
Be cool, save fuel.
At a glance.
Make moderate use of auxiliary consumers.
The fuel-saving potential of the different tips.
Comfort may be important, but you can overdo it. For example, cooling the interior to 18 degrees
True, the benefits of a fuel-saving style of driving can't be quantified to the last penny or cent,
when it's 30 degrees outside means hard labour for the air conditioning and increases your fuel
but our Fuel-Saver courses over recent years have provided a very good approximation. Depen-
consumption – quite apart from the fact that if you set interior temperatures way below the out-
ding on your original (baseline) style of driving, you can cut your fuel bill by as much as 25 per-
door level, you and your passengers risk catching a cold. That said, an agreeable interior tempera-
cent – without having to drive any slower. For drivers of a 90 kW Golf 1.4 TSI with an annual
ture will improve the driver's concentration and thus safety. But remember: even when it's only
mileage of 20,000 kilometres, that adds up to savings of approximately 460 euros a year (based
trying to maintain a steady temperature – particularly at low speeds – the air conditioning can raise
on a fuel price of EUR 1.50 per litre).
fuel consumption by as much as 2 litres/100 km. Other electrical consumers too, like seat heating,
the telephone or the rear windscreen heater, all add to your fuel consumption. Because the power
Do you mainly drive around town – commuting to work perhaps? Or do you do most of your
they use comes from the car battery, and to replace that consumption the battery has to be
driving on the motorway? The tables below show which tips are most valuable for which type
recharged – by the engine, via the alternator and V-belt.
of driving.
Tips:
Before you leave
• air the car before you set off, then leave the windows open
Avoid short trips
for a while before switching on the air-conditioning. Or:
Check your tyre pressures
• use the A/C in recirculation mode to begin with, so that you are
Use fuel-efficient engine oil
only cooling the hot air inside the car, not hot air from outside as well.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Think aerodynamic
And incidentally, at colder times of year, be sure to switch off the automatic climate control,
otherwise the compressor will continue to run unnecessarily. In this situation, the most fuel-
On the road
efficient option is to switch to normal ventilation mode.
Change up early
On the road
Just let it roll …
Potential savings
Around town
Motorway
Go with the flow
Make moderate use of auxiliary consumers
Auxiliary consumers use fuel!
Interior fan, min.
Interior fan, med.
Interior fan, max.
Rear windscreen heater
Heated mirrors
Seat heating
14
0.08 l/ 100 km
0.36 l/ 100 km
0.51 l/ 100 km
0.30 l/ 100 km
0.04 l/ 100 km
0.36 l/ 100 km
15
Around town
On the motorway
Fuel-Saver Courses
Fuel-Saver Courses
Take a fuel-saver course.
Enjoy driving responsibly.
Experience the benefits for yourself.
Fuel-saver courses save money
and help the environment.
Interested? Great! One way to put fuel-saving theory into practice and actively save money
Since 2004, Volkswagen has been organizing free(!) Fuel-Saver courses in cooperation with the
at the wheel is to sign up for one of the Fuel-Saver (eco-driving) courses that Volkswagen
German Society for Nature Conservation (NABU). Last year alone, over 1,500 drivers were able
stages across Germany. As part of the »Volkswagen driving experience«, professional
to achieve up to 25% fuel savings after attending these courses – but that wasn't by driving
instructors will advise you how to save fuel and give you tips geared to your own personal
more slowly. Far from it: often their average speed actually increased!
style of driving.
Volkswagen Fuel-Saver courses not only make driving more enjoyable and save money, they
A training session looks something like this: first, at the wheel of a Volkswagen provided by
also benefit the environment. German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee has praised
us and with a professional trainer at your side, you will be asked to drive a specified route
them as: »A great idea, with great potential.« True enough: based on their total annual mileage,
under normal traffic conditions and in your normal driving style. Selected data such as fuel
if all German car drivers were to take these courses, 12 million tonnes of CO2 could be saved
consumption, CO2 emissions, rpm and driving time will be recorded on a special trip recor-
every year – that's approximately 1.3% of the country's total CO2 emissions.
der along the way. At the end of this first drive, your trainer will then explain what you can
do to improve your fuel efficiency. Then you will be asked to drive the same route a second
time, this time following your trainer's instructions. Afterwards, the two drives will be fed
into our »ModernDrive« analysis software. This is where you get the final confirmation that
by applying the fuel-saving tips you can make substantial fuel savings – and still be just as
quick from A to B.
What they say about our Fuel-Saver courses:
»A great idea, with great potential.«
Wolfgang Tiefensee, German Minister for Transport, Construction and Urban Development
»Amazing how much further you can stretch your fuel. Super!«
For further information about Fuel-Saver courses call our toll-free number
Dr. Reinhard Loske, Bremen's Senator for Environment, Construction, Transport and European Affairs
+49 (0)661 440 77 27 28 or consult our website at:
»To achieve so much with so little effort – that's got to be good!«
www.volkswagen-driving-experience.com
Hans-Heinrich Ehlen, Lower Saxony's Minister for Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Regional Development
Eco-driving in a Golf
Route: 6 km, 90% urban, 10% extra-urban
Journey time
Av. engine speed
Av. speed
Av. fuel consumption
Trip consumption
Trip CO2 emissions
16
Baseline drive
With tips
Savings
0:10:52
1,581 rpm
33.8 km/h
6.90 l/100 km
0.42 l
1,103 kg
0:10:20
1,320 rpm
35.4 km/h
5.52 l/100 km
0.34 l
0,884 kg
1.38 l/100 km
0.08 l
0,219 kg
Want to cut your fuel consumption by up to
25%? Free Fuel-Saver courses at selected
Volkswagen dealerships across Germany
will show you how it's done.
17
Have fun!
Congratulations! If you're driving a Volkswagen you are already driving a very economical
and environmentally compatible vehicle. But by applying the fuel-saving tips in this brochure,
you can make your fuel go even further. And save yourself a lot of money into the bargain.
Money you can spend on the really important things in life. Like a family holiday, or visiting
friends – or maybe just a trip to the seaside. Whatever you have in mind, Volkswagen hopes
you have fun!
For further information, please visit us at:
www.volkswagen-fuelsaving.com
www.volkswagen-environment.com
PS: The essential tips above can also be found in a handy, glove compartment-sized
brochure called »Fuel-saving tips for your Volkswagen« available from your local
Volkswagen dealership.
Thermische Abluftreinigung einer Lackiererei.
18
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© Volkswagen AG
Group Research, Environmental Affairs Product
D-38436 Wolfsburg, Germany
March 2009
Article No. 960.1606.02.18