2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER check oil

Features and controls
3-141
3 Cautions on handling of all-wheel drive
vehicles
N00530800190
Tires and wheelsSince driving torque can be applied to all four wheels, the per-
formance of the vehicle when operating in all-wheel drive is
greatly affected by the condition of the tires.
Pay close attention to the tires.

Install specified tires on all wheels. Refer to “Tires and
wheels” on page 9-9.

Be sure to fit all four tires and wheels of the same size and
type.
When replacement of any of the tires or wheels is neces-
sary, replace all of them.

All tires should be rotated whenever the wear difference
between the front and rear tires is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be expected if there is a dif-
ference in wear between tires. Refer to “Tire rotation” on page
7-35.

Check the tire inflation pressure regularly.
CAUTION
!
Always use tires of the same size, same type, and
same brand, and which have no wear differences.
Using tires that differ in size, type, brands or the
degree of wear, will increase the differential oil tem-
perature, resulting in possible damage to the driving
system. Further, the drive train will be subjected to
excessive loading, possibly leading to oil leakage,
component seizure, or other serious problems.
BK0138600US.book 141 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

Features and controls
3-223
3

The vehicle is being driven with the
parking brake still applied.
Release the parking brake. Refer to
“Brake warning display” on page 3-
231.

There is a fault in the engine oil cir-
culation system.
Park your vehicle in a safe place as
soon as possible and contact an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice to
have the system checked.
Refer to “Oil pressure warning dis-
play” on page 3-233.

There is a fault in the charging sys-
tem.
Park your vehicle in a safe place as
soon as possible and contact an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice for
assistance.
Refer to “Charging system warning
display” on page 3-232.

There is a fault in the SRS airbag or
the seat belt pre-tensioner system.
Contact an authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice to have the system
checked.
Refer to “SRS warning light/dis-
play” on page 2-43.
Screen type1
Screen type 2
Cause
Do this (Reference)
BK0138600US.book 223 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

Features and controls
3-233
3
Oil pressure warning display
N00558700045
Ty p e 1
Ty p e 2
If the engine oil pressure drops while the engine is running, the
warning display is displayed on the information screen in the
multi-information display.
NOTE
The oil pressure warning display does not show the
amount of oil. The oil level must be checked using the
dipstick.
CAUTION
!
If the vehicle is driven while the engine oil is low, or
the oil level is normal but the warning is displayed,
the engine may overheat and damage may result.
If the warning is displayed while the engine is run-
ning, park your vehicle in a safe place as soon as
possible and check the engine oil level.
If this warning display comes on when the engine oil
level is proper, have your vehicle checked at an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice.
BK0138600US.book 233 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

Driving safety
4-5
4 Vehicle preparation before driving
N00629000337
For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always observe the follow-
ing: Seat belts and seats
Before starting the vehicle, make certain that you and all
passengers are seated and wearing their seat belts properly
(with children in the rear seat, in appropriate restraints),
and that all the doors are locked.

Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while
still keeping good visibility, and good control of the steer-
ing wheel, brakes, accelerator, and controls. Check the
instrument panel indicators and multi-information display
for any possible problem.

Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

Make sure that infants and small children are properly
restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.Defrosters Check these by selecting the defroster mode, and set the blower
switch on high. You should be able to feel the air blowing
against the windshield.
(Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the windshield and door
windows” on page 5-10, 5-20, 5-29, 5-39, 5-49.)
Tires Check 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 (including spare tire) 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 an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer.Lights Have 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 leaks Check the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for
fuel, water, oil, or other leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are
correct. Also, if you can smell fuel, you need to find out why
immediately and have it fixed.
BK0138600US.book 5 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

4-6 Driving safety
4Safe driving techniques
N00629200111
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.

If you plan to drive in another country, obey their vehicle
registration laws and make sure you will be able to get the
right fuel.
Driving during cold weather
N00629400344

Check the battery, including terminals and cables. During
extremely cold weather, the battery will not be as strong.
Also, the battery power level may drop because more
power is used for cold starting and driving.
Before driving the vehicle, check to see if the engine runs
at the proper speed and if the headlights are as bright as
normally. Charge or replace the battery if necessary. Dur-
ing extreme cold weather, it is possible that a very low
battery could freeze.

Warm the engine sufficiently. After starting the engine,
allow a short warm-up time to distribute oil to all cylin-
ders and turbocharger. Then drive your vehicle slowly.

Stay at low speeds at first so that the transaxle, transfer
case and rear axle oil have time to spread to all the lubri-
cation points.

Manual transaxle can be harder to shift in cold weather
conditions. This is normal and shifting will get easier as
the transaxle warms up.
WA R N I N G
!
The battery gives off explosive hydrogen gas. Any
spark or flame can cause the battery to explode,
which could cause serious injury or death.
Always wear protective clothes and a face mask
when working with your battery, or let a skilled
mechanic do it.
BK0138600US.book 6 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

7-8 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Engine oil and oil filter
N00937700860
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. Except for vehicles with turbocharger

Good Except for vehicles with engine coverGood Vehicles with engine cover
BK0138600US.book 8 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

7-12 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
To replace the oil filter
N00955100042
The 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
N00937800483
To check the coolant level The coolant reserve tank (A) lets you quickly see when you
need to add coolant. When the engine is cold, the level in the
reserve tank should be between the “FULL” and “LOW”
marks. The radiator usually stays full so there is no reason to
remove the radiator cap (B) except when you check the coolant
freeze point or replace the antifreeze coolant.
BK0138600US.book 12 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分

7-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Radiator capThe radiator cap must be tight sealed to prevent losing coolant
which may result in engine damage. Only use a Genuine
Mitsubishi 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.
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.
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 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
!
BK0138600US.book 14 ページ ２０１１年７月１７日　日曜日　午後２時３２分