2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner's Manual - Page 226

9-10 Driving and Operating Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice Use a low gear when driving in mud - the deeper the mud, the lower the gear. Keep the vehicle moving to avoid getting stuck. Traction changes when driving on sand. On loose sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes, the tires tend to sink into the sand. This affects steering, accelerating, and braking. Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. Traction is reduced on hard packed snow and ice and it is easy to lose control. Reduce vehicle speed when driving on hard packed snow and ice. { WARNING Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can be dangerous. Ice conditions vary greatly and the vehicle could fall through the ice; you and your passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle on safe surfaces only. Notice: Do not drive through standing water if it is deep enough to cover the wheel hubs, axles or exhaust pipe. Deep water can damage the axle and other vehicle parts. If the standing water is not too deep, drive slowly through it. At faster speeds, water splashes on the ignition system and the vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you get the exhaust pipe under water. While the exhaust pipe is under water, you will not be able to start the engine. When going through water, the brakes get wet, and it might take longer to stop. See Driving on Wet Roads on page 9‑11. Driving in Water { WARNING Driving through rushing water can be dangerous. Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream and you and your passengers could drown. If it is only shallow water, it can still wash away the ground from under your tires. Traction could be lost, and the vehicle could roll over. Do not drive through rushing water.