How To Save Fuel And Make Your Vehicle Last Longer, Too - Toyota 2003 ECHO Owner's Manual

How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer, too
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 cor-
rect pressure. Underinflation causes
tire wear and wastes fuel. See Section
7–2 for instructions.
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. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving—but gently. Remember, howev-
er, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.
D
Always keep the automatic transmis-
sion overdrive turned on. Driving with
the overdrive off will reduce the fuel
economy. (For details, see "Automatic
transmission" in Section 1–6.)
D
Accelerate slowly and
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high
gear as quickly as possible.
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 lugging or over–rev-
ving. Use a gear position suitable for
the road on which you are travelling.
D
Avoid continuous speeding up and
slowing down.
wastes fuel.
D
Avoid unnecessary
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.
D
Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams
whenever possible.
D
Do not rest your foot on the clutch
or brake pedal. This causes needless
smoothly. wear, overheating and poor fuel econo-
my.
D
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.
D
Keep
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
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 corro-
Stop–and–go driving
sion.
D
Keep your vehicle tuned–up and in
stopping and
top
improper valve clearance, dirty plugs,
dirty
adjusted,
performance and contribute to poor fuel
economy. For longer life of all parts
and lower operating costs, keep all
maintenance work on schedule, and if
you
conditions,
receives more frequent maintenance.
(For
information,
"Scheduled
"Owner's Manual Supplement".)
2003 ECHO from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM52481U)
the front wheels in proper
shape. A dirty air cleaner,
oil and grease,brakes not
etc. all lower engine
often drive under severe
see that your vehicle
scheduled maintenance
please refer to the
Maintenance Guide" or
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