Get Driving tips -> Winter driving Guide for Subaru XV SUV Second Generation (2017-2022)

8-7

Driving tips/Winter driving

Winter driving

stops. This could create a fire hazard.

mode= F7-26.

Precautions when driving under espe-

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& After driving

& Operation during cold weath-

cially dangerous situations:

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. Always check your brakes for effective-

. If driving through water, such as when

ness immediately after driving in sand,

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crossing shallow streams, first check the

! Maintenance

mud or water. Do this by driving slowly and

depth of the water and the bottom of the

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Carry some emergency equipment, such

stepping on the brake pedal. Repeat that

stream bed for firmness and ensure that

as a window scraper, a bag of sand, flares,

process several times to dry out the brake

the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly

a small shovel and jumper cables.

discs and brake pads.

and cross the stream without stopping.

. After driving through tall grass, mud,

The water should be shallow enough that it

Check the battery and cables. Cold tem-

rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that there is

does not reach the vehicle9s undercar-

peratures reduce battery capacity. The

no grass, bush, paper, rags, stones, sand,

riage. Water entering the engine air intake

battery must be in good condition to

etc. adhering to or trapped on the under-

or the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto

provide enough power for cold winter

body. Clear off any such matter from the

electrical parts may damage your vehicle

starts.

underbody. If the vehicle is used with these

and may cause it to stall. Never attempt to

It normally takes longer to start the engine

materials trapped or adhering to the

drive through rushing water; regardless of

in very cold weather conditions. Use an

underbody, a mechanical breakdown or

its depth, it can wash away the ground

engine oil of a proper grade and viscosity

fire could occur.

from under your tires, resulting in possible

for cold weather. Using heavy summer oil

loss of traction and even vehicle rollover.

. Wash the vehicle9s underbody after off-

will make it harder to start the engine.

road driving. Suspension components are

. If you must rock the vehicle to free it

Keep the door locks from freezing by

particularly prone to dirt buildup, so they

from sand or mud, depress the accelerator

squirting them with deicer or glycerin.

need to be washed thoroughly.

pedal slightly and move the shift lever/

select lever back and forth between <1=/<D=

Forcing a frozen door open may damage

and <R= repeatedly. Do not race the

or separate the rubber weather strips

engine. For the best possible traction,

around the door. If the door is frozen, use

avoid spinning the wheels when trying to

hot water to melt the ice, and afterwards

free the vehicle.

thoroughly wipe the water away.

. When the road surface is extremely

Use a windshield washer fluid that con-

slippery, you can obtain better traction by

tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use

starting the vehicle with the transmission in

engine antifreeze or other substitutes

2nd than 1st (both for MT and CVT). For

because they may damage the paint of

CVT models, refer to <Selection of manual

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8-8

Driving tips/Winter driving

the vehicle.

Clear away ice and snow that has accu-

CAUTION

mulated under the fenders to avoid making

SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid con-

steering difficult. During severe winter

tains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%

. Adjust the washer fluid concen-

driving, stop when and where it is safe to

surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-

tration appropriately for the out-

do so and check under the fenders

perature varies according to how much it is

side temperature. If the concen-

periodically.

diluted, as indicated in the following table.

tration is inappropriate, sprayed

washer fluid may freeze on the

! Parking in cold weather

Washer Fluid Con-

windshield and obstruct your

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Freezing Temperature

centration

view, and the fluid may freeze in

WARNING

the reservoir tank.

30%

10.48F (2128C)

Snow can trap dangerous exhaust

. State or local regulations on

50%

248F (2208C)

gases under your vehicle. Keep

volatile organic compounds may

100%

2498F (2458C)

snow clear of the exhaust pipe and

restrict the use of methanol, a

from around your vehicle if you park

common windshield washer anti-

In order to prevent freezing of washer fluid,

the vehicle in snow with the engine

freeze additive. Washer fluids

check the freezing temperatures in the

running.

containing non-methanol anti-

table above when adjusting the fluid

freeze agents should be used

concentration to the outside temperature.

only if they provide cold weather

If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with

CAUTION

protection without damaging

a different concentration from the one

your vehicle9s paint, wiper blades

. Do not use the parking brake

used previously, purge the old fluid from

or washer system.

when parking for long periods in

the piping between the reservoir tank and

cold weather since it could freeze

washer nozzles by operating the washer

! Before driving your vehicle

in that position.

for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if

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the concentration of the fluid remaining in

Before entering the vehicle, remove any

. When the vehicle is parked in

the piping is too low for the outside

snow or ice from your shoes because that

snow or when it snows, raise the

temperature, it may freeze and block the

could make the pedals slippery and driving

wiper blades off the glass to

nozzles.

dangerous.

prevent damage to them.

. When the vehicle has been left

While warming up the vehicle before

parked after use on roads heavily

driving, check that the accelerator pedal,

covered with snow, or has been

brake pedal, and all other controls operate

left parked during a snowstorm,

smoothly.

8-9

Driving tips/Winter driving

an extended period, it is best to have the

icing may develop on the brake

roads. This may cause loss of vehi-

fuel tank filled to capacity.

system, which could cause poor

cle control.

braking action. Check for snow or

& Driving on snowy and icy

ice buildup on the suspension,

roads

CAUTION

disc brakes and brake hoses

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To prevent skidding and slipping, avoid

underneath the vehicle. If there

Avoid prolonged continuous driving

sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-

is caked snow or ice, remove it,

in snowstorms. Snow will enter the

speed driving, and sharp turning when

being careful not to damage the

engine9s intake system and may

driving on snowy or icy roads.

disc brakes and brake hoses and

hinder the airflow, which could re-

ABS harness.

Always maintain ample distance between

sult in engine shutdown or even

your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you

breakdown.

When parking for long periods in cold

to avoid the need for sudden braking.

weather, you should observe the following

To supplement the foot brake, use the

tips.

! Wiper operation when snowing

engine brake effectively to control the

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1. For MT models, place the shift lever in

vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear

Before driving in cold weather, make sure

the <1= or <R= position. For CVT models,

when necessary.)

the wiper blade rubbers are not frozen to

place the select lever in the <P= position.

Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-

the windshield or rear window.

2. Use tire stops under the tires to prevent

vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly

If the wiper blade rubbers are frozen to the

the vehicle from moving.

leading to loss of vehicle control.

windshield or rear window, perform the

An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-

following procedure.

! Refueling in cold weather

hances your vehicle9s braking perfor-

. To thaw the windshield wiper blade

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To help prevent moisture from forming in

mance on snowy and icy roads. For

rubbers, use the defroster with the airflow

the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,

information on braking on slippery sur-

selection in < = and the temperature set

use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel

faces, refer to <ABS (Anti-lock Brake

for maximum warmth until the wiper blade

tank is recommended during cold weather.

System)= F7-33 and <Vehicle Dynamics

rubbers are completely thawed. Refer to

Use only additives that are specifically

Control system= F7-35.

<Climate control= F4-1.

designed for this purpose. When an anti-

. If your vehicle is equipped with a wiper

freeze additive is used, its effect lasts

WARNING

deicer, use it. It is helpful to thaw the

longer if the tank is refilled whenever the

windshield wiper blade rubbers. Refer to

For models with cruise control:

fuel level reaches half empty.

<Defogger and deicer= F3-87.

Do not use the cruise control on

If your SUBARU is not going to be used for

. To thaw the rear wiper blade rubbers,

slippery roads such as snowy or icy

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8-10

Driving tips/Winter driving

use the rear window defogger. Refer to

(b) Circumference

radial, belted bias or bias tires

<Defogger and deicer= F3-87.

since it may cause dangerous

handling characteristics and lead

(d) Load index

When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts

to an accident.

to stick on the surface of the windshield

(e) Construction

despite wiper operation, use the defroster

Your vehicle is equipped with <all season

(f) Manufacturer

with the airflow selection in < = and the

tires= as original equipment, which are

(g) Brand (tread pattern)

temperature set for maximum warmth.

designed to provide an adequate measure

After the windshield gets warmed enough

(h) Degrees of wear

of traction, handling and braking perfor-

to melt the frozen snow on it, wash it away

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

mance in year-round driving. In winter, it

using the windshield washer. Refer to

obey the specification that is

may be possible to enhance performance

<Windshield washer= F3-76.

printed on the tire placard. The

through use of tires designed specifically

tire placard is located on the

for winter driving conditions.

Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the

driver9s door pillar.

When you choose to install winter tires on

wiper from working effectively. If snow is

your vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire

stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to

If all of four winter tires are not

size and type. You must install four winter

a safe place, then remove it. If you stop the

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

tires that are of the same size, construc-

vehicle at road side, use the hazard

serious mechanical damage

tion, brand and load range and you should

warning flasher to alert other drivers. Refer

could occur to the drive train of

never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires

to <Hazard warning flasher= F3-8.

your car, and affect the following.

since this may result in dangerous hand-

4 Ride

& Corrosion protection

ling characteristics. When you choose a

4 Handling

tire, make sure that there is enough

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Refer to <Corrosion protection= F10-4.

4 Braking

clearance between the tire and vehicle

body.

& Snow tires

4 Speedometer/Odometer

calibration

Remember to drive with care at all times

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WARNING

4 Clearance between the body

regardless of the type of tires on your

and tires

vehicle.

. When replacing or installing win-

It also may be dangerous and

ter tire(s), all four tires must be

lead to loss of vehicle control,

the same for following items.

and it can lead to an accident.

(a) Size

. Do not use a combination of

8-11

Driving tips/Loading your vehicle

& Tire chains

cause you are using a traction device

Loading your vehicle

could easily lead to a serious accident.

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CAUTION

WARNING

& Rocking the vehicle

Tire chains cannot be used on your

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If you must rock the vehicle to free it from

. Never allow passengers to ride

vehicle because of the lack of clear-

snow, sand, or mud, depress the accel-

on a folded rear seatback in the

ance between the tires and vehicle

erator pedal slightly and move the shift

cargo area. Doing so may result

body.

lever/select lever back and forth between

in serious injury.

<1=/<D= and <R= repeatedly. Do not race the

. Never stack luggage or other

NOTE

engine. For the best possible traction,

cargo higher than the top of the

avoid spinning the wheels when trying to

When tire chains cannot be used, use of

seatback because it could tumble

free the vehicle.

another type of traction device (such as

forward and injure passengers in

When the road surface is extremely

spring chains) may be acceptable if use

the event of a sudden stop or

slippery, you can obtain better traction by

on your vehicle is recommended by the

accident. Keep luggage or cargo

starting the vehicle with the transmission in

device manufacturer, taking into ac-

low, as close to the floor as

2nd than 1st (both for MT and CVT

count tire size and road conditions.

possible.

models).

Follow the device manufacturer9s in-

structions, especially regarding max-

If your vehicle is a CVT model, for

imum vehicle speed.

information about holding the transmission

To help avoid damage to your vehicle,

in the 2nd position, refer to <Selection of

drive slowly, readjust or remove the

manual mode= F7-26.

device if it is contacting your vehicle,

and do not spin your wheels. Damage

caused to your vehicle by use of a

traction device is not covered under

warranty.

Make certain that any traction device

you use is an SAE class S device, and

use it on the front wheels only. Always

use the utmost care when driving with a

traction device. Overconfidence be-

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Driving tips -> Winter driving for Your Subaru XV SUV Second Generation (2017-2022)

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