Fuel efficient driving tips
Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient Driving Tips to help you achieve the most fuel economy from your vehicle.
1. Use smooth accelerator and brake pedal application.
• Avoid rapid starts and stops.
• Use smooth, gentle accelerator and
brake application whenever possible.
• Maintain constant speed while commuting
and coast whenever possible.
2. Maintain constant speed.
• Look ahead to try and anticipate and
minimize stops.
• Synchronizing your speed with
traffic
lights allows you to reduce your number
of stops.
• Maintaining a steady speed can minimize
red light stops and improve fuel efficiency.
3. Use air conditioning (A/C) at higher vehicle speeds.
• Below 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is more
efficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load.
• Above 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is more
efficient to use A/C to cool the vehicle
due to increased aerodynamic drag.
• Recirculating the cool air in the cabin
when the A/C is on reduces cooling load.
4. Drive at economical speeds and distances.
• Observing the speed limit and not
exceeding
60 MPH (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel efficiency
due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
• Maintaining a safe following distance
behind other vehicles reduces unnecessary
braking.
• Safely monitoring traffic to anticipate
changes in speed permits reduced braking
and smooth acceleration changes.
• Select a gear range suitable to road
conditions.
5. Use cruise control.
• Using cruise control during highway
driving helps maintain a steady speed.
• Cruise control is particularly effective
in
providing fuel savings when driving on
flat terrains.
6. Plan for the shortest route.
• Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save time.
7. Avoid idling.
• Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30-60 seconds saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
• Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising speed through the toll and avoid stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
• Limit idling time to minimize impact to
fuel
economy.
• Vehicles typically need no more than 30
seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
• Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating
temperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
• Park your vehicle in a covered parking
area or in the shade whenever possible.
• When entering a hot vehicle, opening the
windows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system.
See also:
Vehicle loading information
- It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area inside the vehicle.
In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
- Do not allow people to r ...
Precautions on cruise control
● If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light in the vehicle information display then
blinks to warn the driver, see “Vehicle information
d ...
Fuel recommendation
Use unleaded regular gasoline with an octane
rating of at least 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number
(Research octane number 91).
CAUTION
● Only vehicles with the E-85 filler door
label can ope ...