2004 Toyota Tundra Owners Manual - Page 365

'04 TUNDRA_U (L/O 0309) How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 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 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 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 Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel. See Section 7−2 for instructions. D Avoid engine lugging or over−revving. Use a gear position suitable for the road on which you are travelling. D Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down. wastes fuel. Stop−and−go driving 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 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.) 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 clutch or brake pedal. This causes premature wear, overheating and poor fuel economy. D Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high gear as quickly as possible. 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. 365 2004 TUNDRA from Sep. '03 Prod. (OM34426U)