From Toyota: http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/ne...toyotatips.html Toyota Tips to Maximize Gas Mileage As gas prices continue to rise, U.S. drivers are looking for ways to get more mileage from a tank of gas. Toyota offers up six simple tips for getting the most miles from a fill-up, regardless of the type of vehicle you drive. 1. Plan ahead; combine several short trips in order to minimize cold engine starts. 2. Accelerate at a moderate pace. 3. Monitor highway speed. Fuel economy suffers at speeds higher than about 65 mph and drops significantly above 70 mph. 4. Regularly check and maintain proper tire pressure. 5. Don't carry unnecessary loads. Excess weight reduces fuel economy. 6. Use the air conditioner and defroster only as needed; both reduce fuel economy. In addition to the tips above, two more steps Prius drivers can take to increase fuel mileage are: 1. Monitor the flow of traffic to plan your moves well ahead. If traffic is slowing, use moderate early braking or coasting instead of hard braking. 2. In slow-and-go traffic, accelerate to the desired speed, then lift off the throttle to maintain that speed under electric power. You may be able to sustain speeds in the 20-40 mph range without engaging the gasoline engine.
