Winter Driving - Hyundai 2003 Accent Owner's Manual

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
o Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine. Lugging
is driving too slowly in too high a gear result-
ing in the engine bucking. If this happens,
shift to a lower gear. Over-revving is racing
the engine beyond its safe limit. This can be
avoided by shifting at the recommended
speeds.
o Use your air conditioning sparingly. The air
conditioning system is operated by engine
power so your fuel economy is reduced
when you use it.
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SMOOTH CORNERING
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners, es-
pecially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners
should always be taken under gentle accelera-
tion. If you follow these suggestions, tire wear
will be held to a minimum.
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WINTER DRIVING

The more severe weather conditions of winter
result in greater wear and other problems. To
minimize the problems of winter driving, you
should follow these suggestions:
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Snowy or Icy Conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be
necessary to use snow tires or to install tire
chains on your tires. If snow tires are needed, it
is necessary to select tires equivalent in size
and type to the original equipment tires. Failure
to do so may adversely affect the safety and
handling of your car. Furthermore, speeding,
rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications,
and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous
practices.
During deceleration, use engine braking to the
fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on
snowy or icy roads may cause skids to occur.
You need to keep sufficient distance between
the vehicle in operation in front and your vehicle.
Also, apply the brake gently. It should be noted
that installing tire chains on the tire will provide
a greater driving force, but will not prevent side
skids.
NOTE:
Tire chains are not legal in all states. Check
state laws before fitting tire chains.
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Use High Quality Ethylene Glycol
Coolant
Your Hyundai is delivered with high quality eth-
ylene glycol coolant in the cooling system. It is
the only type of coolant that should be used
because it helps prevent corrosion in the cooling
system, lubricates the water pump and prevents
freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish your
coolant in accordance with the maintenance
schedule in Section 5. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing point is
sufficient for the temperatures anticipated dur-
ing the winter.
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Check Battery and Cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the battery
system. Visually inspect the battery and cables
as described in Section 6. The level of charge in
your battery can be checked by your Hyundai
dealer or a service station.
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Change to "Winter Weight" Oil if
Necessary
In some climates it is recommended that a lower
viscosity "winter weight" oil be used during cold
weather. See Section 9 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you should use,
consult your Hyundai dealer.