1999 Ford Ranger Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 185

Maintenance and care Driving style - good driving and fuel economy habits Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change a number of variables and improve your fuel economy. Habits • Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel. • Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel economy. • Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste fuel. • Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop. • Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy. • Slow down gradually. • Drive at reasonable speeds (traveling at 105 km /h [65 mph] uses 15% more fuel than traveling at 88 km/h [55 mph]). • Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy. • Use of the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy. • Use of speed control (if equipped) may improve fuel economy. Speed control can help maintain a constant speed and reduce speed changes. You may want to turn off the speed control in hilly terrain as unnecessary shifting between third and fourth gears may occur and could result in reduced fuel economy. • Warming up a vehicle on cold mornings is not required and may reduce fuel economy. • Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel economy. • Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving. Maintenance • Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size. • Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel economy. • Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Lubricant Specifications . • Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks found in your vehicle maintenance guide and or service guide. 185