2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV check oil

4-6 Driving safety
4
TiresCheck all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear pat-
terns. Look for stones, nails, glass, or other objects stuck in the
tread. Look for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the
wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires for proper pressures.
Replace your tires before they are heavily worn out.
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure
sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement
should, therefore, be performed only by a certified i-MiEV
dealer.LightsHave someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on
and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and high-beam
indicators on the instrument panel. Fluid leaksCheck the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are cor-
rect.
Safe driving techniques
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Even this vehicle’s safety equipment, and your safest driving,
cannot guarantee that you can avoid an accident or injury.
However, if you give extra attention to the following areas, you
can better protect yourself and your passengers:

Drive defensively. Be aware of traffic, road and weather
conditions. Leave plenty of stopping distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

Before changing lanes, check your mirrors and use your
turn signal light.

While driving, watch the behavior of other drivers, bicy-
clists, and pedestrians.

Always obey applicable laws and regulations. Be a polite
and alert driver. Always leave room for unexpected
events, such as sudden braking.
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Driving safety
4-7
4 Driving during cold weather
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Check the 12V starter battery, including terminals and
cables. During extremely cold weather, the 12V starter
battery will not be as strong and its power level may drop.
Before driving the vehicle, check to see if the headlights
are as bright as normal. Charge or replace the 12V starter
battery if necessary. During extreme cold weather, it is
possible that a very low 12V starter battery could freeze.
Check the antifreeze.
If there is not enough coolant because of a leak, add high-
quality ethylene glycol antifreeze and water. Use Dia
Queen Super Long Life Coolant Premium or an equiva-
lent. 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 electric motor unit is working very hard (for
example, during mountain driving and/or when the out-
side temperature is high), use a 50 % concentration. This
blend will provide adequate protection from corrosion and
boiling.
WA R N I N G
!
The 12V starter battery gives off explosive hydrogen
gas. Any spark or flame can cause the 12V starter
battery to explode, which could cause serious injury
or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your 12V starter battery, or let a
skilled mechanic do it.
WA R N I N G
!
Never open the coolant reservoir cap while it is hot.
You could be seriously burned.
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7-10 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
To add coolant
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Mitsubishi Genuine Coolant provides excellent protection
against corrosion and rust formation on all metals, including
aluminum.
If you need to add coolant often, the cooling system should be
pressure-tested for leaks. Take your vehicle to a certified i-
MiEV dealer for testing.
Reservoir cap
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The reservoir cap (E) must be tightly sealed to prevent losing
coolant which may result in electric motor or nearby parts of
the room under the hood damage. Only use a Genuine
Mitsubishi Parts reservoir cap, or an approved equivalent.
Use “Dia Queen Super Long Life Coolant Premium” or an
equivalent*.
*: similar high quality ethylene glycol based non-silicate, non-
amine, non-nitrate and non-borate coolant with long life
hybrid organic acid technology
CAUTION
!
Do not use alcohol or methanol antifreeze or any
coolants that contain them. Using the wrong anti-
freeze can corrode aluminum parts.
The required concentration of anti-freeze differs
depending on the expected ambient temperature.
Above -31 °F (-35 °C): 50 % concentration of anti-
freeze
Below -31 °F (-35 °C): 60 % concentration of anti-
freeze
You can check the concentration level with a gauge
from an automotive supply store, or a certified i-
MiEV dealer or service station can check it for you.
Do not use water to adjust the concentration of cool-
ant.

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 tap water. It
can cause corrosion and rust.
WA R N I N G
!
Wait for the electric motor to cool down before
opening the reservoir cap. Otherwise hot steam or
boiling coolant could spray up from the reservoir
and scald you.
CAUTION
!
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-27
7 General maintenance
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The next pages list the maintenance service recommended by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. In addition to the general
maintenance that needs to be performed at the times listed,
there are other parts which do not usually need regular mainte-
nance.
But, if any of these parts stops working properly, your vehicle
performance could suffer. Have these items checked if you
notice a problem with them.
See a certified i-MiEV dealer for assistance, if you have any
questions.Disc brake pads, rear drum brake linings and
rear wheel cylinders
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Good brakes are essential to safe driving. Check the brake pads
and brake linings for wear and check the rear wheel cylinders
for leaks. For good braking performance, replace the brake
pads with the same type pads as the originals.Brake hoses
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Brake hoses and tubing should be checked for:

Severe surface cracking, scuffing or worn spots. If the
fabric casing of the hose is showing through any cracks or
worn spots in the rubber hose cover, the hose should be
replaced. The brakes can fail if the hose wears through.

Improper installation may cause twisting, or wheel, tire or
chassis interference.
Ball joint, steering linkage seals and drive shaft
boots
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Check the following parts for damage and grease leaks:

Ball joint boots of the front suspension and steering link-
age

Bellows on both ends of the drive shaftHood lock release mechanism and safety catch
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The hood lock release mechanism and hood safety catch should
be checked, cleaned, and oiled when needed for easy move-
ment and to stop rust and wear. Use Multipurpose Grease
NLGI Grade 2 sparingly for all sliding parts of the hood latch
and release lever. Work the grease into the hood lock mecha-
nism until all the movable surfaces are covered.
Also, put a light coat of the same grease on the safety catch
wherever moving parts touch.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-35
7 Replacement of light bulbs
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Before replacing a bulb, be sure the light is off. Do not touch
the glass part of the new bulb with your bare fingers; the oil
from your skin will stay on the glass and dim or destroy the
bulb when it gets hot.NOTE
If you are unsure of how to carry out the work as required,
it is recommended that these procedures be carried out by
a certified i-MiEV dealer.

Be careful not to scratch the vehicle body when removing
a light and lens.

When it rains, or when the vehicle has been washed, the
inside of the lens sometimes becomes temporarily foggy.
This is the same phenomenon as when window glass mists
up on a humid day, and does not indicate a functional
problem.
When the light is switched on, the heat will remove the
fog. However, if water collects inside the light, please
have it checked by a certified i-MiEV dealer.
CAUTION
!
Never use a fuse with a capacity greater than the one
listed or any substitute, such as wire, foil etc. This
would cause the circuit wiring to heat up and could
cause a fire.
If the replacement fuse blows again after a short
time, have the electrical system checked by a certi-
fied i-MiEV dealer to find and correct the cause.
CAUTION
!
Bulbs are extremely hot immediately after being
turned off.
When replacing a bulb, wait for it to cool sufficiently
before touching it. You could otherwise be burned.
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