How To Save Fuel And Make Your Vehicle Last Longer - Lexus RX300 2003 Owner's Manual

HOW TO SAVE FUEL AND MAKE
YOUR VEHICLE LAST LONGER
Improving fuel economy is easy—just take it easy. It will help
make your vehicle last longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and repairs:
D Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Check
the pressure every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel.
D Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess
weight puts a heavier load on the engine, causing greater
fuel consumption.
D Avoid lengthy warm–up idling.
running smoothly, begin driving – but gently. Remember,
however, that on cold winter days this may take a little
longer.
D Keep the automatic transmission overdrive turned on
when engine braking is not required. Driving with the
overdrive off will reduce the fuel economy. (For details, see
"Automatic transmission" on page 196.)
D Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts.
D Avoid long engine idling. If you have a long wait and you
are not in traffic, it is better to turn off the engine and start
again later.
D Avoid engine over–revving. Use a gear position suitable
for the road on which you are traveling.
D Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down.
Stop–and–go driving wastes fuel.
D Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking. Maintain a
steady pace. Try to time the traffic signals so you only need
to stop as little as possible or take advantage of through
streets to avoid traffic lights. Keep a proper distance from
other vehicles to avoid sudden braking. This will also
reduce wear on your brakes.
D Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams whenever possible.
D Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This causes
Once the engine is premature wear, overheating and poor fuel economy.
D Maintain a moderate speed on highways. The faster you
drive, the greater the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel consumption.
D Keep the front wheels in proper alignment. Avoid hitting
the curb and slow down on rough roads.
alignment not only causes faster tire wear but also puts an
extra load on the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
D Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud, etc. This
not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion.
2003 RX300 from Aug. 02' Prod. (OM48442U)
Improper