Improving gas mileage in vehicles can decrease your monthly spending and help save the environment. There are various tips that encourage better fuel efficiency, but it's a little more difficult in large SUVs like the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Determine your miles per gallon (MPG) for an initial gauge of your fuel efficiency. To do this, fill the tank--taking note of the gallons deposited--set your trip odometer to zero, and run through the tank of gas until your gas light comes on. Before you refill your tank, look at your trip odometer and divide that number by the gallons of gas you filled. This is your MPG. Use this number to gauge how well you are improving your gas efficiency.
Remove or avoid snow tires altogether. Snow tires increase rotational friction and decrease fuel efficiency. If you live in a climate where snow tires are necessary, remember to remove them in early spring to get the most out of your fuel economy. Rotation on normal Land Cruiser tires offer a more fair perspective of fuel efficiency.
Decrease the amount of recreational accessories on the Land Cruiser. Many of these vehicles come with roof racks and bike racks. Removing these encumbrances decreases the overall weight of the Land Cruiser and will increase your MPG. Or, if you use the racks, remove them after each trip.
Eliminate idling, especially warm-up idling. Land Cruisers tend to pull an exorbitant amount of fuel while idling, and you can avoid this by simply pulling the SUV into gear once you turn it on. Saving gas in colder climates may be more beneficial than a warmed-up car that's been idling for 10 to 15 minutes.
Avoid erratic driving. Observing the speed limit, avoiding excessive braking and accelerating, and using cruise control will help increase fuel efficiency.
