2011 MITSUBISHI L200 recommended oil

4-wheel drive operationE00606600920
By selecting 4-wheel drive, both axles of the vehi-
cle are rigidly connected with each other. This im-
proves the traction characteristics. When turning
sharp corners or moving forward and backward re-
peatedly, however, the drive line is stressed, which
is felt as a braking effect. A 4-wheel drive vehicle
can accelerate more quickly and smoothly.
However, note that the braking distance is not short-
er than that of a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
When using 4-wheel drive on rough roads (snow,
mud, sand, etc.), it is important to operate the vehi-
cle correctly.
NOTE l The driving posture should be more upright
and closer to the wheel than usual; adjust the
seat to a good position for easy steering and
pedal operation. Be sure to wear the seat belt.
l After driving on rough roads, check each
part of the vehicle and wash it thoroughly
with water. Refer to the “Vehicle care” sec-
tion and “Inspection and maintenance follow-
ing rough road operation” on page 4-40.
Driving on dry paved road and highway
Select “2H” position (easy select 4WD), “2H” or
“4H” position (super select 4WD) to drive on the
dry paved road. Especially on dry highway, never
select the “4H” or “4L” position (easy select
4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (super select
4WD).CAUTIONl Selecting “4H” or “4L” position (easy se-
lect 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) to drive on dry paved
road will increase the fuel consumption
with possible noise generation and early
tyre wear.
It may also increase the differential oil
temperature, resulting in possible dam-
age to the driving system.
Further, the drive train will be subjected
to excessive loading, possibly leading to
oil leakage, component seizure, or other
serious faults.
Driving on snowy or icy roads
Set the transfer shift lever to “4H” or “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4H” or “4HLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) in accordance with the road condi-
tions, and then gradually depress the accelerator ped-
al for a smooth start.
NOTE l The use of snow tyres and/or tyre chains is
recommended.
l Maintain a safe distance between vehicles,
avoid sudden braking, and use engine brak-
ing (downshifting).
CAUTIONl Avoid sudden braking, sudden accelera-
tion, and sharp turning; such operations
could cause skidding and spinouts.Driving on sandy or muddy roads
Set the transfer shift lever to “4H” or “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) and then gradually depress the ac-
celerator pedal for a smooth start. Keep the pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal as constant as possi-
ble, and drive at low speed.CAUTIONl Do not force the vehicle or drive reckless-
ly on sandy surfaces. In comparison with
normal road surfaces, the engine and oth-
er drive-system components are put un-
der excessive strain when driving on such
a surface, and this could lead to accidents.
l If any of following conditions occur while
the vehicle is being driven, immediately
park your vehicle in a safe place and fol-
low these procedures: •The needle in the temperature gauge
approaches the overheating zone.
Refer to “Engine overheating” on
page 6-04.
• Automatic transmission fluid temper-
ature warning lamp comes on.
Refer to “When the A/T (automatic
transmission) fluid temperature warn-
ing lamp comes on” on pages 4-18,
4-23.
Starting and driving
4-38
4

CAUTIONlNote that the support bar may disengage
the bonnet if the open bonnet is lifted by
a strong wind.
l Always insert the support bar into the
hole provided specifically for this pur-
pose. Supporting the bonnet at any other
location could result in the support bar
slipping out and lead to an accident.
To close
Unlatch the support bar and clip it in its holder.
Slowly lower the bonnet to a position about 20 cm
above the closed position, then let it drop.
NOTE
l If this does not close the bonnet, release it
from a slightly higher position.
l Do not press down the bonnet hard with a
hand as it may damage the bonnet.
CAUTIONl Be careful that hands or fingers are not
trapped when closing the bonnet.
l Before driving, make sure that the bon-
net is securely locked. An incompletely
locked bonnet can suddenly open while
driving. This can be extremely dangerous.Engine oil E01000402455
To check and refill engine oil
Type 1Type 2
The engine oil used has a significant effect on the
engine’s performance, 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 running. Park the vehicle on a level surface,
stop the engine, and then wait a few moments to al-
low 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 al-
ways be within the range indicated.
Maintenance
8-04
8

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 differ-
ent makes of oil together if possible.
After adding oil, close the cap securely.

Use only the recommended oils with an ACEA or
API classification as specified in this manual.
NOTE l 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.
l For handling of used engine oils, refer to
page 05.
Selection of engine oill Select engine oil of the proper SAE viscosity
number according to the atmospheric temper-
ature.
l Use engine oil conforming to the following
classification: • ACEA classification:“For service A1/ B1, A3/B3, A3/B4,
A5/B5”
• API classification: “For service CF-4”
NOTE l Use of additives is not recommended since
they may reduce the effectiveness of addi-
tives already included in the engine oil. It
may result in failure of the mechanical assem-
bly.Engine coolant E01000501202
To check the coolant level
A translucent coolant reserve tank is located in the
engine compartment.
The coolant level in this tank should be kept be-
tween the “LOW” and “FULL” marks when meas-
ured while the engine is cold.
To add coolant
The cooling system is a closed system and normal-
ly the loss of coolant should be very slight. A no-
ticeable drop in the coolant level could indicate leak-
age. If this occurs, we recommend you to have the
system checked as soon as possible.
If the level should drop below the “LOW” level on
the reserve tank, open the lid and add coolant.
Also, if the reserve tank is completely empty, re-
move the radiator cap and add coolant until the lev-
el reaches the filler neck.
Maintenance
8-05
8

Wheel conditionE01001800797
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
Check the tyres for cuts, cracks and other damage.
Replace the tyres if there are deep cuts or cracks.
Also check each tyre for pieces of metal or pebbles.
The use of worn tyres can be very dangerous be-
cause of the greater chance of skidding or hydro-
planing. The tread depth of the tyres must exceed
1.6 mm in order for the tyres to meet the minimum
requirement for use.
If there are tread wear indicators on the tyres, they
will appear in six places on the surface of the tyre
as the tyre wears, thereby indicating that the tyre
no longer meets the minimum requirement for use.
When these wear indicators appear, the tyres must
be replaced with new ones.
Check that the wheel nuts are tightened correctly.
Refer to the section entitled “For emergencies” for
information concerning replacement of the tyres.
NOTE
l The mark and the location of the tyre tread
wear indicators are different depending on
the tyre manufacturer.

On 4-wheel drive vehicles, when replacement of
any of the tyres is necessary, replace all of them.CAUTIONl Always use tyres of the same size, same
type, and same brand, and which have no
wear differences.
Using tyres of different size, type, brands
or degree of wear, will increase the differ-
ential oil temperature, resulting in possi-
ble damage to the driving system. Fur-
ther, the drive train will be subjected to
excessive loading, possibly leading to oil
leakage, component seizure, or other seri-
ous faults.Replacing tyres and wheels E01007200038CAUTIONlAvoid using different size tyres from the
one listed and the combined use of differ-
ent types of tyres, as this can affect driv-
ing safety.
Refer to “Tyres and wheels” on page
9-17.CAUTIONl Even if a wheel has the same rim size and
offset as the specified type of wheel, its
shape may prevent it from being fitted cor-
rectly. We recommend you to consult a
specialist before using wheels that you
have.Tyre rotation E01001900990
Tyre wear varies with vehicle conditions, road sur-
face conditions and individual driver’s driving hab-
its. To equalize the wear and help extend tyre life,
it is recommended to rotate the tyres immediately
after discovery of abnormal wear, or whenever the
wear difference between the front and rear tyres is
recognizable.
Maintenance
8-13
8