4-6 Driving safety
4
Check the engine antifreeze.
If there is not enough coolant because of a leak or from
engine overheating, add high-quality ethylene glycol anti-
freeze and water. The recommended blend is about 50 %
water and 50 % anti-freeze. Use a higher concentration
(not over 60 %) when the outside temperature is -31 °F
(-35 °C) or lower. When the engine is working very hard
(for example, during mountain driving and/or when the
outside temperature is high), use a 50 % concentration.
This blend will provide adequate protection from corro-
sion and boiling.
Braking
N00629500420
All the parts of the brake system are critical to safety. Have the
vehicle serviced by an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or
a repair facility of your choice at regular intervals according to
the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.When brakes are wetCheck the brake system while driving at a low speed immedi-
ately after starting, especially when the brakes are wet, to con-
firm they work normally.
A film of water can be formed on the brake discs and prevent
normal braking after driving in heavy rain or through large
puddles, or after the vehicle is washed. If this occurs, dry the
brakes out by driving slowly while lightly depressing the brake
pedal.When driving in cold weatherOn snowy roads, ice can form on the braking system, making
the brakes less effective. While driving in such conditions, pay
close attention to preceding and following vehicles and to the
condition of the road surface. From time to time, lightly
depress the brake pedal and check how effective the brakes are.When driving downhillIt is important to take advantage of the engine braking by shift-
ing to a lower gear of the sports mode while driving on steep
downhill roads in order to prevent the brakes from overheating.
WA R N I N G
!Never open the radiator cap when the radiator is
hot. You could be seriously burned.
BK0102600US.book 6 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Driving safety
4-17
4
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and then the
tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper.
Keep the trailer tongue load at 10 % of the loaded trailer
weight for dead weight hitches. Tongue loads can be adjusted
by proper distribution of the load in the trailer. This can be
checked by separately weighing the loaded trailer and then the
tongue.Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)The GAWRs are printed on the certification label which is riv-
eted on the door sill on the driver’s side.
Refer to “Vehicle labeling” on page 9-2.Trailer hitchesChoose a proper hitch and ball, and make sure it is installed at a
height that is compatible with the trailer.
Use a good equalizing hitch which uniformly distributes the
trailer tongue load throughout the frame.NOTEMitsubishi recommends that sway control be used when-
ever you are towing, to improve towing stability.
For details, please consult your authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer.
Safety chainsA safety chain must always be used between the towing vehi-
cle and the trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns.
The chain should cross under the trailer tongue to prevent the
tongue from dropping to the ground in case it becomes dam-
aged or separated.
For correct safety chain procedures, consult your authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer.Maintenance when trailer towingYour vehicle will need service more often when you’re towing
a trailer. Refer to “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE
MANUAL”. Especially important in trailer operation are auto-
matic transaxle fluid, engine oil, rear axle oil, belt, cooling sys-
tem and brake system. Each of these is covered in this manual.
For details, please refer to the “Vehicle care maintenance” sec-
tion.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
WA R N I N G
!If you make any holes in the body of your vehicle for
installing a trailer hitch, be sure to seal the holes
later when you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal
them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from your
exhaust can enter your vehicle. Refer to “Exhaust
system” on page 7-34.
CAUTION
!Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain
securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle.
If the coupling unit or hitch ball experiences a prob-
lem, the trailer may separate from your vehicle.
BK0102600US.book 17 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-6 Vehicle care and maintenance
7View of the engine compartment
N00937600595
Engine oil and oil filter
N00937700743
To check and refill engine oil It is normal for an engine to use oil. You may need to add oil
between the recommended oil change intervals. Before starting
the engine, check the engine oil level. Refill if necessary.
To check the oil level, remove the dipstick, wipe it off, and
gently insert it all the way into the crankcase. Slowly remove it
again. The oil level must not go above the line on the dipstick.
If the level does not reach the line, which shows the smallest
amount of oil required, remove the oil filler cap on the engine
valve cover, and fill to within the “Good” range.
1- Power steering fluid reservoir
2- Brake fluid
3- Battery
4- Windshield and rear window washer fluid reservoir
5- Engine oil level dipstick
6- Radiator cap
7- Engine oil filler cap
8- Automatic transaxle fluid level dipstick
9- Engine coolant reservoir
10- Air cleaner filter
Good
BK0102600US.book 6 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-9
7
To replace the oil filterThe oil filter should be replaced at the time or mileage speci-
fied in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MAN-
UAL”.
Only use high quality replacement filters on this vehicle. The
manufacturer’s specifications for Genuine Mitsubishi oil filters
require that the filter can withstand a pressure of 256 psi
(1.8 MPa). A Genuine Mitsubishi oil filter is the best replace-
ment filter.
Follow the installation instructions printed on the filter.
Engine coolant
N00937800395
To check the coolant level The coolant reserve system provides a quick visual method for
determining the coolant level. When the engine is cold, the
level of the coolant in the reserve tank should be between the
“F” (FULL) and “L” (LOW) marks. The radiator normally
remains completely full so there is no need to remove the radi-
ator cap except for checking the coolant freeze point or replac-
ing the antifreeze coolant.
CAUTION
!Take care not to bend the oil filter cover when
replacing the oil filter.
BK0102600US.book 9 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-10 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
To add coolant Use Mitsubishi Genuine Coolant or an equivalent.
Mitsubishi Genuine Coolant provides excellent protection
against corrosion and rust formation on all metals, including
aluminum, and prevents blockages in the radiator, heater, cyl-
inder head, engine block, etc.
If you need to add coolant often, or if the level in the reserve
tank does not drop when the engine cools, the cooling system
should be pressure-tested for leaks. Take your vehicle to an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice for testing.
Radiator capThe radiator cap must be tight sealed to prevent losing coolant
which may result in engine damage. Only use a Genuine Mit-
subishi Parts radiator cap, or an approved equivalent.Points to remember Do not overfill the reserve tank.
Your vehicle uses a special radiator cap that stays sealed
and lets the coolant flow from the reserve tank back to the
radiator when the engine cools down. If you need to
change the cap, use the exact same kind.
Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator with the
proper gauge, and only when it is safe. If you add anti-
freeze, the contents of the reserve tank must be protected
against freezing.
Keep the front of the radiator and condenser clean.
CAUTION
!Do not use alcohol or methanol antifreeze or any
engine coolants that contain them. Using the wrong
antifreeze can corrode aluminum parts. When you need to add coolant to the reserve tank,
use at least a 50 % concentration of ethylene-glycol
antifreeze in water. Do not overfill. Use a higher con-
centration (not over 60 %) when the outside temper-
ature is -31 °F (-35 °C) or lower. When the engine is
working very hard (for example, during mountain
driving and/or when the outside temperature is
high), use a 50 % concentration. You can check the
concentration level with a gauge from an automotive
supply store, or your authorized Mitsubishi Motors
dealer or service station can check it for you. Use
only high quality ethylene-glycol antifreeze coolant
that is made to prevent corrosion of all cooling sys-
tem metals.
Do not top off the tank with plain water only. Water
by itself boils at a lower temperature and does not
stop rust or freezing. If the water freezes, it will
damage your cooling system. Do not use tapwater. It
can cause corrosion and rust.
WA R N I N G
!Wait for the engine to cool down before opening the
radiator cap. Otherwise hot steam or boiling coolant
could spray up from the radiator and scald you.
CAUTION
!
BK0102600US.book 10 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-13
7
Fluid typeUse only “DIAMOND ATF SP III” transaxle fluid to ensure
optimum transaxle performance. Special additives Mitsubishi Motors Corporation does not recommend the addi-
tion of any fluid additives to the transaxle.
Transfer oil (All-wheel drive models)
N00938400170
Whenever the transfer oil level is checked, add oil as necessary
to maintain the proper level.
Fill or change the oil according to the table.Oil type
Lubricant Hypoid gear oil API classification GL-5
Viscosity range SAE 90
BK0102600US.book 13 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Rear axle oil (All-wheel drive models)
N00915200171
Whenever the oil level is checked, add oil as necessary to
maintain the proper level.
Fill or change oil according to the table.Oil type
Wa s h e r f l u i d
N00938600198
The windshield and rear window washer fluid reservoir is in
the engine compartment.
Check the washer fluid level at regular intervals and add
washer fluid to reservoir if necessary. During cold weatherWhen freezing weather is anticipated, flush out the water in the
reservoir by operating the pump. Fill the reservoir with wind-
shield antifreeze (not radiator antifreeze), and operate the sys-
tem for a few seconds to flush out the residual water.
LubricantHypoid gear oil API
classification GL-5 or higher
Anticipated temperature range Viscosity range
Above -10 °F (-23 °C)SAE90
SAE85W-90
SAE80W-90
-30 °F to -10 °F
(-34 °C to -23 °C)SAE80W
SAE80W-90
Below -30 °F (-34 °C) SAE75W
BK0102600US.book 14 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-26 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Replacing tires and wheels
N00939600283
Tire maintenance
N00939700138
The following maintenance steps are recommended:
Check tire pressures regularly. Have regular maintenance done on the wheel balance and
front and rear suspension alignment.
Rotate your tires regularly as described in the “Tire rota-
tion” section on page 7-27.
Tread wear indicators
N00939800168
Tread wear indicators are built into the original equipment tires
on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be
replaced. Many states have laws requiring that you replace
your tires at this point.
These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread
grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to
1/16 inch (1.6 mm).
CAUTION
!Avoid using different size tires from the one listed
and the combined use of different types of tires, as
this can affect driving safety.
Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 9-7.On all-wheel drive vehicles, always use tires of the
same size, type, and brand that have no wear differ-
ences. Using tires of different size, type, brand or
degree of wear, will increase the differential oil tem-
perature, and result in possible damage to the driv-
ing system. Further, the drivetrain will be subjected
to excessive loading, possibly leading to oil leakage,
component seizure, or other serious problems.As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system, use only Mitsubishi genuine
wheels.
Other wheels do not permit correct installation of
tire inflation pressure sensors and can cause air
leakage and sensor failure, which would not be cov-
ered by your vehicle’s warranty.
See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer when
you replace a tire or wheel.
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
BK0102600US.book 26 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分