Rover Seventy Five, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 99 / 209

Starting & Driving
98
ALL MODELS
Cold climates
Operating tip: When starting
manual transmission vehicles in
freezing condition or when the
battery is in a low state of charge,
depress the clutch before starting
and hold it down until the engine
is running.
In temperatures of -10° C (14° F) and below, engine cranking
times will increase. As the starter motor may need to operate
for longer, it is essential that all unnecessary electrical
equipment is switched off while cranking.
Warming up
In the interest of fuel economy, it is advisable to drive the car
soon after starting. Remember that harsh acceleration, or
labouring the engine before the normal operational
temperature has been reached, can damage the engine.
Parking
After bringing the car to a stop, ALWAYS apply the
handbrake and select neutral (‘P’ for automatic transmission),
before releasing the foot brake and switching off the engine.
Towing - switching off
After periods of strenuous towing (particularly at high altitude
or in hot weather), it is good practice to allow the engine to
idle for a few minutes before switching off. This will enable
the engine cooling system to continue operating for a while
in order to reduce underbonnet heat.
RUNNING-IN
The engine, gearbox, brakes and tyres need time to ‘bed-in’
and adjust to the demands of everyday motoring. During the
first 600 miles (1,000 km), it is essential that you drive with
consideration for the running-in process and heed the
following advice:
•
Do not allow the engine to exceed 3,000 rev/min in any
gear.
•
Do not operate at full throttle in any gear.
•
Do not allow the engine to labour in any gear.
•
Avoid heavy braking where possible.
After the running-in distance has been completed, engine
speeds can be gradually increased.