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
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-7
7
NOTEEngine oil consumption is greatly influenced by payload,
engine speed, etc.
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 in accordance with the schedule in the
“WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
Engine oil identification markMitsubishi Motors recommends using only engine oils with the
ILSAC certification symbol on the front of the container.
CAUTION
!Overfilling the crankcase will cause oil aeration and
loss of oil pressure, which could damage the engine.
WA R N I N G
!Used engine oil is poisonous, and can damage your
skin. Prolonged and repeated contact may cause
serious skin disorders, including dermatitis and can-
cer. Don’t let used oil touch your skin. Wash thor-
oughly after working with it.Keep used oil out of the reach of children.
ILSAC certification symbol
BK0102600US.book 7 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
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-11
7
If the temperature of the engine coolant does not rise after
the engine is warmed-up, take your vehicle to an autho-
rized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice to have the thermostat checked, and replaced if
necessary.
Air cleaner filter
N00937900295
The air cleaner filter will get dirty and dusty from use and not
filter properly. Replace it with a new filter using the schedule
in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
Unclamp and take out the air cleaner filter.
After replacing the air cleaner filter, put the cover back on in its
original position. NOTEGenuine Mitsubishi Parts are recommended when replac-
ing the air cleaner filter.
CAUTION
!Take care not to scratch the engine air flow sensor
when removing the air cleaner cover.
BK0102600US.book 11 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
Vehicle care and maintenance
7-27
7
When the bands appear next to one another in two or more
places, replace your tires. NOTETire wear indicators can have different marks and loca-
tions depending on the tire manufacturer.Tire rotation
N00939900475
To even out the wear on your tires and make them last longer,
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation recommends that you rotate
your tires at the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL”.
However, the timing for tire rotation may vary according to
your vehicle condition, road surface conditions, and your own
personal driving habits. Any time you notice unusual wear,
rotate your tires as soon as possible.
When rotating tires, check for uneven wear, damage, and wheel
alignment. Abnormal wear is usually caused by a wrong tire
pressure, wheels that are not aligned properly, wheels that are
out-of-balance, or severe braking.
Check with an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice to find out the reason for uneven tread
wear.
The first tire rotation is the most important one. It will allow all
your tires to wear evenly.
*- If the spare tire wheel differs from the standard tire, do not
perform tire rotation using a spare wheel.Spare tire used*
Front
Spare tire not used
Front
Tires that have arrows showing rotation direction
Front
BK0102600US.book 27 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分
7-28 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Snow tires
N00940000405
In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter
driving. If snow tires are required in your area, you must
choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires
provided with your vehicle. Snow tires should also be installed
on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling
can be reduced.
Even where laws may permit it, snow tires should not be oper-
ated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
CAUTION
!A compact spare tire can be fitted temporarily in
place of a tire that has been removed during the tire
rotation. However, it must not be included in the
regular tire rotation sequence.If the tires have arrows (A) indicating the correct
direction of rotation, swap the front and rear tires
on the left-hand side of the vehicle and the front and
rear tires on the right-hand side of the vehicle sepa-
rately. Keep each tire on its original side of the vehi-
cle. When installing the tires, make sure the arrows
point in the direction in which the wheels will turn
when the vehicle moves forward. Any tire whose
arrow points in the wrong direction will not perform
to its full potential.
Front
CAUTION
!Avoid the combined use of different types of tires.
Using different types of tires can affect vehicle per-
formance and safety.
CAUTION
!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 thus 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.
BK0102600US.book 28 ページ 2009年3月30日 月曜日 午後2時2分