²Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go
driving.
Maintenance
²Keep tires properly inflated and use only
recommended size.
²Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of
alignment will reduce fuel economy.
²Use recommended engine oil. Refer toLubricant
Specifications.
²Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance
items. Follow the recommended maintenance
schedule and owner maintenance checks found in
your vehicle Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
Conditions
²Heavily loading a vehicle or towing a trailer may
reduce fuel economy at any speed.
²Carrying unnecessary weight may reduce fuel
economy (approximately 2 km/h [1 mpg] is lost
for every 180 kg [400 lb] of weight carried).
²Adding certain accessories to your vehicle (for
example bug deflectors, rollover/light bars,
running boards, ski/luggage racks) may reduce
fuel economy.
²Using fuel blended with alcohol may lower fuel
economy.
²Fuel economy may decrease with lower
temperatures during the first 12±16 km
(8±10 miles) of driving.
²Driving on flat terrain offers improved fuel
economy as compared to driving on hilly terrain.
²Transmissions give their best fuel economy when
operated in the top cruise gear and with steady
pressure on the gas pedal.
²Close windows for high speed driving.
Maintenance and care
174
Do not park, idle, or drive your vehicle in
dry grass or other dry ground cover. The
emission system heats up the engine compartment
and exhaust system, which can start a fire.
Illumination of the charging system warning light,
ªService Engine Soonº light or the temperature
warning light, fluid leaks, strange odors, smoke or
loss of oil pressure, could indicate that the emission
control system is not working properly.
Exhaust leaks may result in entry of harmful
and potentially lethal fumes into the
passenger compartment.
Do not make any unauthorized changes to your
vehicle or engine. By law, vehicle owners and anyone
who manufactures, repairs, services, sells, leases,
trades vehicles, or supervises a fleet of vehicles are
not permitted to intentionally remove an emission
control device or prevent it from working.
Information about your vehicle's emission system is
on the Vehicle Emission Control Information Decal
located on or near the engine. This decal identifies
engine displacement and gives some tune up
specifications.
Please consult your ªWarranty Guideº for complete
emission warranty information.
Readiness for Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
testing
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to
pass an I/M test of the on-board diagnostics system.
If your ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light is
on, refer to the description in theWarning Lights
and Chimessection of theInstrumentation
chapter. Your vehicle may not pass the I/M test with
the ªCheck Engine/Service Engine Soonº light on.
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176
