Driving
Driving
General notes
Running in
A new vehicle should be run in over a distance of
1,500 km. For the first 1,000 km the engine
speed should not exceed 2/3 of the maximum
permissible engine speed - do not use full throt
tle. From 1,000 to 1,500 km you can gradually
increase the engine rpm and road speed.
During its first few hours of running, the internal
friction in the engine is greater than later on
when all the moving parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first 1,500 km
also influences the engine quality. After this peri
od you should continue driving at moderate en
gine speeds, in particular when the engine is
cold. This helps to reduce wear and tear on the
engine and increases the potential mileage which
can be covered by the engine.
You should also avoid driving with the engine
speed too
low.
Change down to a lower gear
when the engine no longer runs "smoothly". Ex
cessively high engine speeds are prevented by an
automatic rev limiter.
Letting the engine warm up/cool down
Applies to: Sand RS models
You can reduce the amount of wear and tear on
your vehicle during a sporty driving session sim
ply by adopting a more restrained driving style
while the engine is warming up and cooling
down.
When the engine is cold, the engine speed is limi
ted so that the full range of engine power is not
available. Once the engine has reached operating
temperature, the rev Limit moves to a higher
range of engine speeds. In addition, the tyres will
not develop their full grip potential until they
have had a chance to warm up on the road.
Even though the engine continues to be cooled
after you switch it off, it is particularly important
to give it time to cool down before parking. The
engine, brakes, exhaust system and gearbox will
66
all reach very high temperatures when you adopt
a sporty driving style. Before you park the vehi
cle, allow it to cool down to normal temperature
by driving at moderate engine speeds for several
miles.
Avoiding damage to the car
CD
CAUTION
Take care not to damage low-mounted parts
of the car (such as the spoiler or exhaust sys
tem) on steep ramps, uneven road surfaces or
roadside kerbs, etc. This applies especially to
vehicles with low ground clearance and to all
vehicles when fully laden.
Driving through water on roads
Please note the following in order to prevent
damage to the vehicle when driving through wa
ter (e.g. on flooded roads):
- The water level must not be higher than the ve
hicle's underbody.
- Do not drive faster than walking pace.
A
WARNING
After driving through water, mud, sludge,
etc., the braking effect can be delayed slightly
due to moisture on the discs and brake pads.
Applying the brakes carefully several times
will remove the moisture and restore the full
braking effect.
CD
CAUTION
- Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, gearbox,
running gear or electrical components) can
be badly damaged when driving through
water.
- Always switch off the start/stop system*
¢
page
71
before driving through water.
i
Note
- It is advisable to check the depth at the
deepest point before approaching the wa
ter.
