How To Save Fuel And Make Your Vehicle Last Longer, Too - Toyota Tacoma 1998 Operating Manual

How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer, too
Getting more kilometers/mileage from a
liter/gallon of fuel 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:
"
Keep your tires inflated at the cor-
rect pressure. Underinflation causes
tire wear and wastes fuel. See Chapter
7- 2 for instructions.
"
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts a
heavier load on the engine, causing
greater fuel consumption.
"
Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving—but gently. Remember, howev-
er, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.
"
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high
gear as quickly as possible.
"
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.
"
Avoid engine lug or overrevving. Use
a gear position suitable for the road on
which you are travelling.
"
Avoid continuous speeding up and
slowing down. Stop-and-go
wastes fuel.
"
Avoid unnecessary stopping
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 dis-
tance from other vehicles to avoid sud-
den braking. This will also reduce wear
on your brakes.
"
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams
whenever possible.
"
Do not rest your foot on the clutch
or brake pedal. This causes needless
wear, overheating and poor fuel econo-
my.
"
Maintain a moderate speed on high-
ways. The faster you drive, the greater
the fuel consumption. By reducing your
speed, you will cut down on fuel con-
sumption.
'98 Tacoma (U)
"
Keep the front wheels
alignment. Avoid hitting the curb and
slow down on rough roads. Improper
alignment not only causes faster tire
wear but also puts an extra load on
driving
the engine, which, in turn, wastes fuel.
"
Keep the bottom of your vehicle free
and
from mud, etc. This not only lessens
weight but also helps prevent corro-
sion.
"
Keep your vehicle tuned-up and in top
shape. A dirty air cleaner, improper
valve clearance, dirty plugs, dirty oil
and grease, brakes not adjusted, etc.
all lower engine
contribute to poor fuel economy. For
longer life of all
operating costs, keep all maintenance
work on schedule, and if you often
drive under severe conditions, see that
your vehicle receives more frequent
maintenance (For
nance information, please refer to the
separate "Owner's Manual Supplement/
Maintenance Schedule").
in proper
performance and
parts and lower
scheduled mainte-
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