Get Driving tips -> Winter driving Guide for Subaru XV SUV First Generation (2010-2016)

8-8 Driving tips/Winter driving

Winter driving

the vehicle.

CAUTION

SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-

& Operation during cold

tains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%

. Adjust the washer fluid concen-

weather

surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-

tration appropriately for the out-

perature varies according to how much it

side temperature. If the concen-

! Maintenance

is diluted, as indicated in the following

tration is inappropriate, sprayed

table.

washer fluid may freeze on the

Carry some emergency equipment, such

windshield and obstruct your

as a window scraper, a bag of sand,

Washer Fluid Con-

view, and the fluid may freeze in

flares, a small shovel and jumper cables.

Freezing Temperature

centration

the reservoir tank.

Check the battery and cables. Cold

30%

10.48F (−128C)

. State or local regulations on

temperatures reduce battery capacity.

volatile organic compounds may

50%

−48F (−208C)

The battery must be in good condition to

restrict the use of methanol, a

provide enough power for cold winter

100%

−498F (−458C)

common windshield washer anti-

starts.

freeze additive. Washer fluids

In order to prevent freezing of washer

It normally takes longer to start the engine

containing non-methanol anti-

fluid, check the freezing temperatures in

in very cold weather conditions. Use an

freeze agents should be used

the table above when adjusting the fluid

engine oil of a proper grade and viscosity

only if they provide cold weather

concentration to the outside temperature.

for cold weather. Using heavy summer oil

protection without damaging

If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with

will make it harder to start the engine.

your vehicle’s paint, wiper blades

a different concentration from the one

or washer system.

Keep the door locks from freezing by

used previously, purge the old fluid from

squirting them with deicer or glycerin.

the piping between the reservoir tank and

! Before driving your vehicle

washer nozzles by operating the washer

Forcing a frozen door open may damage

for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if

Before entering the vehicle, remove any

or separate the rubber weather strips

the concentration of the fluid remaining in

snow or ice from your shoes because that

around the door. If the door is frozen,

the piping is too low for the outside

could make the pedals slippery and

use hot water to melt the ice, and after-

temperature, it may freeze and block the

driving dangerous.

wards thoroughly wipe the water away.

nozzles.

While warming up the vehicle before

Use a windshield washer fluid that con-

driving, check that the accelerator pedal,

tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use

brake pedal, and all other controls operate

engine antifreeze or other substitutes

smoothly.

because they may damage the paint of

8-9

Driving tips/Winter driving

Clear away ice and snow that has

brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-

Always maintain ample distance between

accumulated under the fenders to avoid

ness.

your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you

making steering difficult. During severe

to avoid the need for sudden braking.

WARNING

winter driving, stop when and where it is

To supplement the foot brake, use the

safe to do so and check under the fenders

engine brake effectively to control the

Snow can trap dangerous exhaust

periodically.

vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear

gases under your vehicle. Keep

when necessary.)

! Parking in cold weather

snow clear of the exhaust pipe and

Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-

Do not use the parking brake when

from around your vehicle if you park

vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly

parking for long periods in cold weather

the vehicle in snow with the engine

leading to loss of vehicle control.

since it could freeze in that position.

running.

Instead, you should observe the following

An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-

tips.

hances your vehicle’s braking perfor-

! Refueling in cold weather

1. Place the shift lever in “1” or “R” for MT

mance on snowy and icy roads. For

To help prevent moisture from forming in

models, or the select lever in “P” for CVT

information on braking on slippery sur-

the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,

models.

faces, refer to “ABS (Anti-lock Brake

use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel

2. Use tire stops under the tires to

System)” F7-27 and “Vehicle Dynamics

tank is recommended during cold weather.

prevent the vehicle from moving.

Control system” F7-29.

Use only additives that are specifically

designed for this purpose. When an

When the vehicle is parked in snow or

WARNING

antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts

when it snows, raise the wiper blades off

longer if the tank is refilled whenever the

the glass to prevent damage to them.

Do not use the cruise control on

fuel level reaches half empty.

slippery roads such as snowy or icy

When the vehicle has been left parked

roads. This may cause loss of

If your SUBARU is not going to be used

after use on roads heavily covered with

vehicle control.

for an extended period, it is best to have

snow, or has been left parked during a

the fuel tank filled to capacity.

snowstorm, icing may develop on the

brake system, which could cause poor

& Driving on snowy and icy

CAUTION

braking action. Check for snow or ice

roads

buildup on the suspension, disc brakes

Avoid prolonged continuous driving

To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid

and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.

in snowstorms. Snow will enter the

sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-

engine’s intake system and may

If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,

speed driving, and sharp turning when

hinder the airflow, which could re-

being careful not to damage the disc

driving on snowy or icy roads.

– CONTINUED –

8-10 Driving tips/Winter driving

using the windshield washer. Refer to

& Corrosion protection

sult in engine shutdown or even

“Windshield washer” F3-77.

breakdown.

Refer to “Corrosion protection” F10-4.

Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the

& Snow tires

! Wiper operation when snowing

wiper from working effectively. If snow is

stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to

Before driving in cold weather, make sure

a safe place, then remove it. If you stop

WARNING

the wiper blades are not frozen to the

the vehicle at road side, use the hazard

windshield or rear window.

. When replacing or installing win-

warning flasher to alert other drivers.

If the wiper blades are frozen to the

ter tire(s), all four tires must be

Refer to “Hazard warning flasher” F3-5.

windshield or rear window, perform the

the same for following items.

We recommend use of non-freezing type

following procedure.

(a) Size

wiper blades (winter blades) during the

. To thaw the windshield wiper blades,

(b) Circumference

seasons you could have snow and freez-

use the defroster with the airflow selection

ing temperatures. Blades of this type give

in “ ” and the temperature set for

superior wiping performance in snowy

maximum warmth until the wiper blades

(d) Load index

conditions. Be sure to use blades that

are completely thawed. Refer to “Climate

(e) Construction

are suitable for your vehicle.

control” F4-1.

(f) Manufacturer

. If your vehicle is equipped with a wiper

CAUTION

(g) Brand (tread pattern)

deicer, use it. It is helpful to thaw the

windshield wiper blades. Refer to “Defog-

(h) Degrees of wear

During high-speed driving, non-

ger and deicer” F3-88.

freezing type wiper blades may not

For the items (a) to (d), you must

. To thaw the rear wiper blade, use the

perform as well as standard wiper

obey the specification that is

rear window defogger. Refer to “Defogger

blades. If this happens, reduce the

printed on the tire placard. The

and deicer” F3-88.

vehicle speed.

tire placard is located on the

driver’s door pillar.

When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts

If all of four winter tires are not

to stick on the surface of the windshield

NOTE

the same for items (a) to (h),

despite wiper operation, use the defroster

When the season requiring non-freez-

serious mechanical damage

with the airflow selection in “ ” and the

ing type wiper blades is over, replace

could occur to the drive train of

temperature set for maximum warmth.

them with standard wiper blades.

your car, and affect the following.

After the windshield gets warmed enough

to melt the frozen snow on it, wash it away

— Ride

8-11

Driving tips/Winter driving

tire, make sure that there is enough

traction device is not covered under

— Handling

clearance between the tire and vehicle

warranty.

— Braking

body.

Make certain that any traction device

— Speedometer/Odometer

Remember to drive with care at all times

you use is an SAE class S device, and

calibration

regardless of the type of tires on your

use it on the front wheels only. Always

— Clearance between the body

vehicle.

use the utmost care when driving with

and tires

a traction device. Overconfidence be-

It also may be dangerous and

& Tire chains

cause you are using a traction device

lead to loss of vehicle control,

could easily lead to a serious accident.

and it can lead to an accident.

CAUTION

. Do not use a combination of

& Rocking the vehicle

radial, belted bias or bias tires

Tire chains cannot be used on your

If you must rock the vehicle to free it from

since it may cause dangerous

vehicle because of the lack of

snow, sand, or mud, depress the accel-

handling characteristics and lead

clearance between the tires and

erator pedal slightly and move the shift

to an accident.

vehicle body.

lever/select lever back and forth between

“1”/“D” and “R” repeatedly. Do not race the

Your vehicle is equipped with “all season

NOTE

engine. For the best possible traction,

tires” as original equipment, which are

avoid spinning the wheels when trying to

designed to provide an adequate measure

When tire chains cannot be used, use

free the vehicle.

of traction, handling and braking perfor-

of another type of traction device (such

mance in year-round driving. In winter, it

When the road surface is extremely

as spring chains) may be acceptable if

may be possible to enhance performance

slippery, you can obtain better traction by

use on your vehicle is recommended

through use of tires designed specifically

starting the vehicle with the transmission

by the device manufacturer, taking into

for winter driving conditions.

in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and CVT

account tire size and road conditions.

models).

Follow the device manufacturer’s in-

When you choose to install winter tires on

structions, especially regarding max-

your vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire

If your vehicle is a CVT model, for

imum vehicle speed.

size and type. You must install four winter

information about holding the transmission

tires that are of the same size, construc-

To help avoid damage to your vehicle,

in the 2nd position, refer to “Selection of

tion, brand and load range and you should

drive slowly, readjust or remove the

manual mode” F7-21.

never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires

device if it is contacting your vehicle,

since this may result in dangerous hand-

and do not spin your wheels. Damage

ling characteristics. When you choose a

caused to your vehicle by use of a

Driving tips -> Winter driving for Your Subaru XV SUV First Generation (2010-2016)

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