2005 Toyota Land Cruiser Owners Manual - Page 262

How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer, too CAUTION 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 Avoid engine over-revving. Use a gear position suitable for the road on which you are travelling. D Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower. Because instability (swaying) of a towing vehicle− trailer combination usually increases as the speed increases, exceeding 72 km/h (45 mph) may cause loss of control. D Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down. wastes fuel. Stop−and−go driving D Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel. See page on 301. D Avoid 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. 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. whenever possible. D Avoid heavy traffic or traffic jams D Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal. This causes premature wear, overheating and poor fuel economy. D Accelerate slowly and Avoid jackrabbit starts. smoothly. 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 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. 249