If the octane rating of the available fuel is less than that required by the engine, the engine can only be operated at medium speeds and reduced load. Huge pressure (full throttle) or high RPM may damage the engine.
How to save fuel?
Move off immediately after starting the engine, including at negative outside temperatures. Acceleration should be done at a pace, but shift to the next higher gear as soon as possible. After reaching the required speed, turn on the highest possible gear, press the accelerator pedal as little as possible. The engine should operate at high speeds only when overtaking or changing lanes. In addition, turn off the engine even during a short stop at a railway barrier or traffic light, as well as in a traffic jam, as even five to seven seconds is enough to save fuel. When driving, assess the situation in a timely manner, do not brake unnecessarily.
Tire pressure can be increased by 0.1 bar to reduce rolling resistance and save fuel. Those who do not pay attention to tire pressure not only reduce their own safety, but also increase gasoline consumption. If the tire pressure is 0.5 bar lower than prescribed, fuel consumption is increased by 5%. Therefore, do not be lazy to pump up tires. To achieve ideal pressure and save gasoline, you can inflate tires with nitrogen.
Extra pounds in the trunk and other unnecessary cargo (roof rack) increase fuel consumption.
Optimizing fuel consumption with the continuously variable transmission Multitronic
Optimum fuel consumption can also be achieved by opting for a continuously variable automatic transmission. Thanks to the use of state-of-the-art automatic control technology, Audi Multitronic achieves not only very good driving dynamics, but also excellent fuel consumption figures. Multitronic transforms the desires of the driver into the corresponding driving characteristics of the car without any compromises, and without compromising dynamics, comfort and economy. That is why this gearbox can be considered the smartest intermediate link between the driver and the road at the moment.
Fuel Related Concepts
Normal gasoline and gasoline «super». These grades of gasoline are almost identical in terms of the degree of purification, properties during evaporation (important for flammability) and energy balance (heat of combustion per kilogram of fuel). An important difference is knock resistance, gasoline «super» more resistant to detonation than normal gasoline.
Detonation resistance. The higher the compression ratio, the more easily self-ignition occurs in the cylinder if the fuel is not sufficiently resistant to detonation. Petrol «super» withstands higher pressure than normal gasoline, but it is more difficult to ignite. The knock sensor, which is part of the engine management system, regulates the ignition accordingly. True, if fuel with a lower octane rating than recommended is poured into the tank, then a decrease in engine power should be reckoned with.
Octane number. The knock resistance of the fuel depends on the octane number. At the gas station, you can often see the value of the octane number according to the research method, less often the specification for the motor method is used. Previously, in Germany, the minimum requirements for unleaded fuel were prescribed by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) in accordance with DIN 51 607. The European standard EN 228 currently applies.
cetane number. The cetane number determines the flammability of the fuel. This relative number is determined in the laboratory. A flammable fuel is assigned the number 100, and conventional fuel that ignites with extreme difficulty (methylnaphthalene), - the number 0. The cetane number shows how many percent of cetane (by volume) must be mixed with this reference fuel so that it has the same flammability as the measured fuel.
Fuel handling
Fuel handling is a dangerous business, so maintenance and repair of fuel system components should not be taken lightly. Extreme care must be taken especially when emptying the fuel tank. In general, when handling fuel, the following safety precautions must be observed:
- Disconnect the battery first, secure the wire from touching the battery poles.
- Have a powder, carbon dioxide, or other fire extinguisher on hand to put out liquids.
- Empty the fuel tank only outdoors. This requires an appropriate pumping device (e.g. bellows pump with hose). Under no circumstances empty the tank through the opening for the fuel level sensor by tipping the tank or by sucking the fuel through a hose through the mouth - risk of poisoning by highly toxic additives!
- Avoid skin contact with fuel! To do this, you can wear fuel-resistant gloves.
- Never empty the tank above the inspection hole. The escaping gases are heavier than air, so they can remain in the pit for several hours. This is a health hazard, and there is also an immediate risk of explosion.
- Ensure that there are no powered appliances, open flames, heat sources or sparks nearby while handling fuel.
- Fuel may only be poured into a resealable container clearly labeled accordingly. To do this, there are special containers with ignition protection and a lid with a pressure equalization device.
- After emptying, there are residual gases in the tank. These gases are also dangerous, so all work must be carried out with particular care!
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