Winter Driving Tips - Toyota Land Cruiser PRADO Owner's Manual

Winter driving tips
Make sure your coolant is properly pro-
tected against freezing.
Only use "Toyota Super Long Life Coolant"
or similar high quality ethylene glycol
based non-silicate, non-amine, non-nitrite,
and non-borate coolant with long-life
hybrid organic acid technology. (Coolant
with long-life hybrid organic acid
technology is a combination of low
phosphates and organic acids.)
See "Checking the engine coolant level"
on page 303 in Section 7-2 for details of
coolant type selection.
"Toyota Super Long Life Coolant" is a mix-
ture of 50% coolant and 50% deionized
water. This coolant provides protection
down to about -35°C (-31°F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.
246
Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape
to provide enough power for winter start-
ing. Section 7-3 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer
and most service stations will be pleased
to check the level of charge.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 301 in Section 7-2 for recom-
mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy sum-
mer oil in your vehicle during winter
months may cause harder starting. If you
are not sure about which oil to use, call
your Toyota dealer-they will be pleased
to help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de-icer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing.
Use a washer fluid containing an anti-
freeze solution.
This product is available at your Toyota
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer's directions for how
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute as washer fluid be-
cause it may damage your vehicle's
paint.
Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
"P" (automatic) or into first or reverse
(manual) and block the front wheels. Do
not use the parking brake, or snow or
water accumulated in and around the
parking brake mechanism may freeze,
making it hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders
can make steering difficult. During bad
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving,
we recommend you carry some emer-
gency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.