1996 Toyota Avalon Owners Manual - Page 139

S S S S S S Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down. Stop-and-go driving wastes fuel. 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. 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 economy. 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. Keep the front wheels in proper 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. S S Keep the bottom of your vehicle free from mud, etc. This not only lessens weight but also helps prevent corrosion. 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 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 often drive under severe conditions, see that your vehicle receives more frequent maintenance (For scheduled maintenance information, please refer to the separate "Owner's Manual Supplement/Maintenance Schedule"). ! CAUTION Never turn off the engine to coast down hills. Your power steering and brake booster will not function without the engine running. Also, the emission control system operates properly only when the engine is running. 133