2012 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER XL check oil

3-126 Features and controls
3Inspection and maintenance following
rough road operation
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After operating the vehicle in rough road conditions, be sure to
perform the following inspection and maintenance procedures:

Check that the vehicle has not been damaged by rocks,
gravel, etc.

Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly depressing the
brake pedal in order to dry out the brakes. If the brakes
still do not function properly, contact an authorized Mit-
subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice as
soon as possible to have the brakes checked.

Remove the insects, dried grass, etc. clogging the radiator
core.

After driving through water, check the engine, transaxle
and differential oil. If the oil or grease is milky or cloudy
because of water contamination, it must be replaced with
new oil.

Check the inside of the vehicle. If water entry is found,
dry the carpet etc.

Inspect the headlights. If water is in the headlight housing,
have it drained at an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice.
Cautions on the handling of 4-wheel drive
vehicles
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Tires and wheelsSince the driving torque can be applied to the four wheels, the
driving performance of the vehicle when operating in 4-wheel
drive is greatly affected by the condition of the tires.
Pay close attention to the tires.

Install only the specified tires on all wheels. Refer to
“Tires and wheels” on page 9-10.

Be sure all four tires and wheels are the same size and
type.
When it is necessary to replace any of the tires or wheels,
replace all four.

All tires should be rotated before 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
7-30.

Check the tire inflation pressure regularly.
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Features and controls
3-205
3

There is a fault in the fuel system.
Contact an authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice to have the system
checked.

The vehicle is being driven with the
parking brake still applied.
Release the parking brake. Refer to
“Brake warning display” on page
3-213.

There is a fault in the engine oil circu-
lation system.
Park your vehicle in a safe place as
soon as possible and contact an autho-
rized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a
repair facility of your choice to have
the system checked.
Refer to “Oil pressure warning dis-
play” on page 3-215.

There is a fault in the charging system.
Park your vehicle in a safe place as
soon as possible and contact an autho-
rized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a
repair facility of your choice for assis-
tance.
Refer to “Charging system warning
light” on page 3-212.

There is a fault in the SRS airbag or the
pre-tensioner system.
Contact an authorized Mitsubishi
Motors dealer or a repair facility of
your choice to have the system
checked.
Refer to “SRS airbag/Pre-tensioner
system warning” on page 2-70.
Screen type 1
Screen type 2
Cause
Do this (Reference)
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Features and controls
3-215
3
Oil pressure warning display
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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.
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Driving safety
4-5
4 Vehicle preparation before driving
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For a safer and more enjoyable trip, always check for the fol-
lowing: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 and flap-fold tailgate 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.

In the same way, the front passenger seat should also be
moved as far back as possible.

Make sure that infants and small children are properly
restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.
DefrostersCheck 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 (windshield, door win-
dows)” on page 5-14, 5-23, 5-33, 5-43.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 (including spare tire) for
proper pressure. 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 Mitsub-
ishi Motors 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
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.
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4-6 Driving safety
4Safe 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.

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
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Check the battery. At the same time, check the terminals
and wiring. 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. 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 lubrication
points.
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.
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Driving safety
4-19
4
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.NOTE
Mitsubishi Motors recommends that sway control be used
whenever you are towing, to improve towing stability.
For further information, please contact 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 man-
ual transaxle oil, automatic transaxle fluid, engine oil, rear axle
oil, belt, cooling system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual.
For details, please refer to the “Vehicle care and maintenance”
section.
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 7-38.
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.
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7-8 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Engine oil and oil filter
N00937700857
To check and refill engine oilIt 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 reinsert it all the way. Slowly pull the dipstick straight
out and check the oil level by checking the upper surface of the
dipstick. The oil level must not go above the line on the dip-
stick.NOTE
If it is difficult to verify the oil level, wipe off the dipstick
and reinsert it. Wait a moment and then recheck the oil
level by checking the upper surface of 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.
2.4 L models
Good
Good 3.0 L models
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-13
7
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.
If the engine coolant temperature does not rise after the
engine is warmed-up, take your vehicle to an authorized
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
!
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