Fuel Economy; Vehicle Condition; Driving Habits - Honda Accord 4D 2003-2006 Owner's Manual

03/09/03 14:49:01 32SEA610_305

Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and your
driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
consumption.

Vehicle Condition

Always maintain your car according
to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte-
nance is the Owner Maintenance
Checks (see page 357
example, an underinflated tyre
causes more ''rolling resistance,''
which uses fuel. It also wears out
faster, so check the tyre pressure at
least monthly.
In winter, the build-up of snow on
your car's underside adds weight and
rolling resistance. Frequent cleaning
helps your fuel consumption and re-
duces the chance of corrosion.
302
Before Driving

Driving Habits

You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
). For time you slow down and speed up,
your car uses extra fuel. Use the
cruise control (on some types), when
appropriate, to increase fuel
economy.
A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to
''warm-up'' a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive
away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get
better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of ''cold starts,'' try to
combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning (on some types)
puts an extra load on the engine
which makes it use more fuel. Turn
off the A/C to cut down on air condi-
tioning use. Use the flow-through
ventilation when the outside air
temperature is moderate.