2005 Toyota Tacoma Owners Manual - Page 286

05 02.25 Winter driving tips 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 your coolant is properly protected 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 346 in Section 7- 2 for details of coolant type selection. For the U.S.A.-"Toyota Super Long Life Coolant" is a mixture of 50% coolant and 50% deionized water. This coolant provides protection down to about -35_C (- 31_F). For Canada-"Toyota Super Long Life Coolant" is a mixture of 55% coolant and 45% deionized water. This coolant provides protection down to about -42_C (- 44_F). 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. Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold weather. See page 344 in Section 7- 2 for recommended viscosity. Leaving a heavy summer 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. To open a frozen lock, try heating the key before inserting it. Use a washer fluid containing an antifreeze 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 plain water alone. Check the condition of the battery and cables. 286 2005 TACOMA from Mar. '05 Prod. (OM35862U)