2006 Mazda RX-8 Owner's Manual - Page 125

RX-8_8U58-EA-05J_Edition1 Page125 Thursday, August 25 2005 4:54 PM Black plate (125,1) Before Driving Your Mazda Driving Tips Rocking the Vehicle l Winter Driving Carry emergency gear, including tire chains, window scraper, flares, a small shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of sand or salt. WARNING Spinning the Wheels: When the vehicle is stuck, spinning the wheels at high speed is dangerous. The spinning tire could overheat and explode. This could cause serious injuries. Don't spin the wheels at more than 56 km/h (35 mph), and don't allow anyone to stand behind a wheel when pushing the vehicle. Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to perform the following precautions: l Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the radiator. Refer to Engine Coolant on page 8-15. Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold reduces battery capacity. Inspect the ignition system for damage and loose connections. Use washer fluid made with antifreeze―but don't use engine coolant antifreeze for washer fluid (page 8-19). Don't use the parking brake in freezing weather as the parking brake may freeze. Instead, shift to P with an automatic transmission and to 1 or R with a manual transmission. Block the rear wheels. l l CAUTION Too much rocking may cause engine overheating, transmission failure, and tire damage. If you must rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand or mud, depress the accelerator slightly and slowly move the shift lever from 1 (D) to R. l l 4-9 Form No.8U58-EA-05J