2004 Toyota Tacoma Owners Manual - Page 243

'04 Tacoma U (L/O 0309) How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 4. Apply the parking brake firmly. 5. Shift into first or reverse (manual) or "P" (automatic) and turn off the engine. When restarting out after parking on a slope: 1. With the transmission in "P" position (automatic) or the clutch pedal depressed (manual), start the engine. (With an automatic transmission, be sure to keep the brake pedal depressed.) 2. Shift into gear. 3. Release the parking brake (also foot brake on automatic transmission vehicles) and slowly pull or back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply your brakes. 4. Have someone retrieve the blocks. CAUTION D Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower. Because instability (swaying) of a towing vehicletrailer combination usually increases as the speed increases, exceeding 72 km/h (45 mph) may cause loss of control. 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. 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 Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do not make sudden downshifts. D Avoid lengthy warm- up idling. Once the engine is running smoothly, begin driving-but gently. Remember, however, that on cold winter days this may take a little longer. D Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency. D Always keep the automatic transmission overdrive switch turned on. Driving with the overdrive switch off will reduce the fuel economy. (For details, see "Automatic transmission" in Section 1- 7.) D Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high gear as quickly as possible. 243 2004 TACOMA from Sep. '03 Prod. (OM35814U)