2001 Toyota Highlander Owners Manual - Page 197

'01 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0106) Winter driving tips D In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving. z Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the engine or other components does not occur. Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage. Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and premature failure, and may also enter the differentials, transmission and transfer case, reducing the gear oil's lubricating qualities. z Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drums and around brake discs may affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system components. z Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off −road driving that has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduled maintenance information, refer to the "Scheduled Maintenance Guide" or "Owner's Manual Supplement". Make sure you have a proper freeze protection of engine coolant. Your coolant must contain ethylene−glycol type coolant for a proper corrosion protection of aluminum components. Use "TOYOTA Long Life Coolant" or equivalent. See page 253 in Section 7 −2 for details about coolant type selection. D When driving off−road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also risking expensive damage to your vehicle's suspension and chassis. NOTICE Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone. When it is extremely cold, we recommend to use 60% solution for your Toyota, to provide protection down to about −50_C ( −58_F). Do not use more than 70% solution for better coolant performance. 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 starting. 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. NOTICE z If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check the depth of the water and the bottom of the river bed for firmness. Drive slowly and avoid deep water. 2001 MY HIGHLANDER_U (OM48432U) 197