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Maintenance
8-3
8 Catalytic converter
E01000200752
For ordinary use, there are no particular precautions except that
of using unleaded petrol.
The exhaust gas scavenging devices used with the catalytic
converter are extremely efficient for the reduction of noxious
gases. The catalytic converter is installed in the exhaust sys-
tem.
It is important to keep the engine properly tuned to ensure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst damage.The catalytic converter itself gets hot quickly, and may be dam-
aged if overheated. The following points should be noted in
order to prevent the ignition of unburned petrol within the cata-
lytic converter.
●Use UNLEADED PETROL ONLY of the type recom-
mended in “Fuel selection” on page 2.
●Do not drive with an extremely low fuel level; running out
of fuel could cause damage to the catalytic converter.
●Do not try to start the engine by pushing the vehicle. If the
battery is weak or discharged, use another battery to start
the engine.
●Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires discon-
nected or removed such as performing diagnostic tests.
●Do not idle the engine for prolonged periods during very
rough idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
●Do not race the engine when turning off the ignition
switch. This will cause the catalytic converter to be dam-
aged due to contact with unburnt fuel.
●Stop driving the vehicle if you think the performance is
noticeably low, or that there is unnecessary engine rota-
tion, or any other engine trouble, such as with the ignition,
etc.
If it is impractical to stop driving immediately, reduce the
speed and drive for only a short time. We recommend you
to have your vehicle inspected as soon as possible.
CAUTION
!●Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your
vehicle is not kept in proper operating condition. In
the event of an engine malfunction particularly
involving engine misfire or other apparent loss of
performance have your vehicle serviced promptly.
Continued operation of your vehicle with a severe
overheated condition may result in possible damage
to the converter and vehicle.
WARNING
!●As with any vehicle, do not park or operate this
vehicle in areas where combustible materials such as
dry grass or leaves can come in contact with the hot
exhaust since fire could occur.●Paint should not be applied to the catalytic con-
verter.
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Page 364 of 458

8-8 Maintenance
8
The engine oil used has a significant effect on the engine’s per-
formance, service life and startability. Be sure to use oil of the
recommended quality and appropriate viscosity.
All engines consume a certain amount of oil during normal
operation, and engine oil consumption is greatly influenced by
payload, engine speed, etc. Therefore, it is important to check
the oil level at regular intervals or before starting a long trip.
This check must be made with the engine warm but not run-
ning. Park the vehicle on a level surface, stop the engine, and
then wait a few moments to allow the engine oil in circulation
to return to the oil pan to ensure accurate measurement.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean cloth. Reinsert
the dipstick as far as it goes. Remove the dipstick and read the
oil level, which should always be within the range indicated.
If the oil level is below the specified limit, remove the cap
located on the cylinder head cover and add enough oil to raise
the level to within the specified range.
Be sure to use the specified engine oil and do not mix various
types of oil. Also, avoid mixing different makes of oil together
if possible.
After adding oil, close the cap securely.
Use only the recommended oils with an ACEA or API classifi-
cation as specified in this manual.NOTE●Engine oil consumption is greatly influenced by payload,
engine speed, etc. It may reach 1.0 lit./1,000 km depend-
ing on style of driving.●The engine oil will deteriorate rapidly if the vehicle is
subjected to severe conditions (for example, repeated
operation on rough roads, in mountainous regions, on
roads with many uphill and downhill gradients, or over
short distances). Consequently, the oil will require earlier
replacement.
●For handling of used engine oils, refer to page 7.
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8-18 Maintenance
8
During cold weatherThe capacity of the battery is reduced at low temperatures. This
is an inevitable result of its chemical and physical properties.
This is why a very cold battery, particularly one that is not fully
charged anyway, will only deliver a fraction of the starter cur-
rent which is normally available.
We recommend you to have the battery checked before the start
of cold weather and, if necessary, have it charged or replaced.
This does not only ensures reliable starting, but a battery which
is kept fully charged also has a longer life.Disconnection and connectionTo disconnect the battery cable, stop the engine, first discon-
nect the negative (–) terminal and then the positive (+) termi-
nal. When connecting the battery, first connect the positive (+)
terminal and then the negative (–) terminal.
NOTE●Open the terminal cover (A) before disconnecting or con-
necting the positive (+) terminal of the battery.
●Loosen the nut (B), and then disconnect the battery cable
from the positive (+) terminal.Petrol-powered vehicles
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