Winter Driving; Before Driving; Driving Tips- Page 125

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Before Driving

Driving Tips

Winter Driving

Carry emergency gear, including tire 

chains, window scraper, flares, a small 

shovel, jumper cables, and a small bag of 

sand or salt.

Ask an Authorized Mazda Dealer to check 

the following:



 Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in the 

radiator.

  Refer to Engine Coolant on page 

6-28.



 Inspect the battery and its cables. Cold 

reduces battery capacity.



 Use an engine oil appropriate for the 

lowest ambient temperatures that the 

vehicle will be driven in (page 6-25).



 Inspect the ignition system for damage 

and loose connections.



 Use washer fluid made with antifreeze—

but do not use engine coolant antifreeze 

for washer fluid (page 

6-30).

NOTE



(Without electric parking brake)

  Do not use the parking brake in freezing 

weather as it may freeze. Instead, shift 

to P with an automatic transaxle and to 

1 or R with a manual transaxle. Block 

the rear wheels.



  Remove snow before driving. Snow left 

on the windshield is dangerous as it 

could obstruct vision.



  Do not apply excessive force to a 

window scraper when removing ice or 

frozen snow on the mirror glass and 

windshield.



  Never use warm or hot water for 

removing snow or ice from windows and 

mirrors as it could result in the glass 

cracking.



  Drive slowly. Braking performance 

can be adversely affected if snow or 

ice adheres to the brake components. If 

this situation occurs, drive the vehicle 

slowly, releasing the accelerator pedal 

and lightly applying the brakes several 

times until the brake performance 

returns to normal.

 Snow Tires

Use snow tires on all four wheels

Do not go faster than 120 km/h (75 mph) 

while driving with snow tires. Inflate snow 

tires 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm

2

, 4.3 psi) more 

than recommended on the tire pressure 

label (driver's door frame), but never 

more than the maximum cold-tire pressure 

shown on the tires.

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