Lexus GX470 2004 Engine / LEXUS 2004 GX470 FROM SEP. 2004 PROD. OWNER'S MANUAL (OM60B57U)

DRIVING TIPS
452
OFF-ROAD DRIVINGPRECAUTIONS
When driving your vehicle off-road, please observe the
following precautions to ensure your driving enjoyment and to
help prevent the closure of areas to off-road vehicles.
a. Drive your vehicle only in areas where of f-road vehicles are
permitted to travel.
b. Respect private property. Get owner's permission before
entering private property.
c. Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers
and signs that restrict travel.
d. Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet,
driving techniques should be changed or travel delayed to
prevent damage to roads.
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining to driving your
vehicle off-road, consult the following organizations.
 State and Local Parks and Recreation Departments
 State Motor Vehicle Bureau
 Recreational Vehicle Clubs
 U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
CAUTION
Always observe the following precautions to minimize
the risk of serious personal injury or damage to your
vehicle:
Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take
unnecessary risks by driving in dangerous places.
 Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving
off-road. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure
your hands. Keep both hands and especially your
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
 Always check your brakes for effectiveness
immediately after driving in sand, mud, water or
snow.
 After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand,
rivers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the
underbody. If the vehicle is used with these materials
trapped or adhering to the underbody, a breakdown
or fire could occur.
 In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing
a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers
should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is
moving.

DRIVING TIPS
453
When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not
drive at excessive speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause loss of control or
vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage to your vehicle's
suspension and chassis.

DRIVING TIPS
454
NOTICE
If driving through water, such as when crossingshallow streams, first check the depth of the waterand the bottom of the river bed for firmness. Driveslowly and avoid deep water.
Take all necessary safety measures to ensure thatwater damage to the engine or other componentsdoes not occur.
Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe
engine damage.
Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings,causing rusting and premature failure, and may alsoenter the differentials, transmission and transfercase, reducing the gear oil's lubricating qualities.
Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drumsand around brake discs may affect braking ef ficiency
and may damage brake system components.
Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driving that has taken you throughrough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For scheduledmaintenance information, refer to the Owner'sManual Supplement/Scheduled Maintenanceº.

DRIVING TIPS
455
WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure your coolant is properly protected against
freezing.
Only use Toyota Super Long Life Coolantº 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 levelº on page 566 for
details of coolant type selection.
For the U.S.A. Ð Toyota Super Long Life Coolantº is a mixture
of 50% coolant and 50% deionized water. This coolant
provides protection down to about -35C (-31F).
For Canada Ð Toyota Super Long Life Coolantº is a mixture
of 55% coolant and 45% deionized water. This coolant
provides protection down to about -42C (-44F).
NOTICE
Do not use plain water alone.

DRIVING TIPS
456Check the condition of the battery and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so it
must be in top shape to provide enough power for winter
starting. Page 611
tells you how to visually inspect the battery.
Your Lexus dealer and most service stations will be pleased to
check the battery charge level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold
weather.
See page 565 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 Lexus dealer Ð they will be pleased to help. Check the electronic ignition system for loose
connections or obvious damage.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt
lock de-icer or glycerine into the locks to keep them from
freezing.
Use a washer fluid containing an antifreeze solution.
This product is available at your Lexus dealer and most auto
parts stores. Follow the manufacturer's directions for how
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any other substitute because it may damage your vehicle's paint.

DRIVING TIPS
457
Do not use your parking brake when there is a possibility
it could freeze.
When
parking, put the transmission into Pº and block the front
wheels. Do not use the parking brake, or snow or water
accumulated in and around the parking brake mechanism may
freeze the parking brake, making it hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders can make steering
difficult. During bad winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving, we recommend you
carry some emergency equipment.
Some of the thi ngs you might put in the vehicle are tire chains,
window scraper, bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.
DINGHY TOWING
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with four
wheels on the ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground. This may cause serious damage to your vehicle.

DRIVING TIPS
458
TRAILER TOWING
(vehicles with kinetic dynamic suspension system)
Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
It is not designed for a towing hitch receiver.
TRAILER TOWING
(vehicles without kinetic dynamic suspension system)
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and-load
carrying vehicle. Towing a trailer will have an adverse ef fect on
handling, performance, braking, durability and driving
economy (fuel consumption, etc.). Your safety and satisfaction
depend on the proper use of correct equipment and cautious
driving habits. For your safety and the safety of others, you
must not overload your vehicle or trailer. Lexus warranties do
not apply to damage or malfunction caused by towing a trailer
for commercial purposes. Ask your local Lexus dealer for
further details before towing.
CAUTION
When disconnecting a trailer, put the vehicle height in
the LOº (low) mode and push the HEIGHT CONTROL
OFFº switch to turn off the rear height control air
suspension. Otherwise, the vehicle height may be
changed in the automatic leveling function, resulting in
accident. For details see Rear height control air
suspensionº on page 411.

DRIVING TIPS
459
Weight limits
Before towing, make sure the total trailer weight, gross
vehicle weight, gross axle weight and trailer tongue load
are all within the limits.
The total trailer weight and tongue load can be measured with
platform scales found at a highway weighing station, building
supply company, trucking company, junk yard, etc.

Certification label

Weight distributing hitch receiver

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460
CAUTION
The maximum gross trailer weight (trailer weight plus
cargo weight) must never exceed the following for
vehicle with equipped.
For weight carrying hitch 2268 kg (5000 lb.)
Also for weight distributing hitch 2948 kg (6500 lb.)
If towing a trailer and cargo weighting over 2268 kg
(5000 lb.), it is necessary to use a weight distributing
hitch.
If towing a trailer and cargo weighing over 907 kg
(2000 lb.), Lexus recommends to use a sway control
device with sufficient capacity. The combination of
the gross trailer weight added to the total weight of
the vehicle, occupants and vehicle cargo must never
exceed a total of the following.
According to the hitch receiver type, the maximum
gross trailer weight and hitch that can be used
differs. Refer to the illustrations to confirm the hitch
receiver type for your vehicle.
For weight carrying hitch 4764 kg (10500 lb.)
Also for weight distributing hitch 5443 kg (12000 lb.)
Exceeding the maximum weight of the trailer, the
vehicle, or the vehicle and trailer combination, can
cause an accident resulting in serious personal
injuries.
 Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight
capacities established by the hitch manufacturer.
Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine
the maximum weight rating of the particular hitch
assembly and never exceed the maximum weight
rating specified for the trailer hitch. Exceeding the
maximum weight rating set by the trailer hitch
manufacturer can cause an accident resulting in
serious personal injuries.
 The gross vehicle weight must not exceed the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) indicated on the
Certification Label. The gross vehicle weight is the
sum weight of the unloaded vehicle, driver,
passengers, luggage, hitch and trailer tongue load.
It also includes the weight of any special equipment
installed on your vehicle.
 The load on either the front or rear axle resulting from
distribution of the gross vehicle weight on both axles
must not exceed the front and rear Gross Axle W eight
Ratings (GAWR) listed on the Certification Label.

Tongue load
Total trailer weight x 100 = 10%
DRIVING TIPS
461

Total trailer weight
Tongue load

The trailer cargo load should be distributed so that
the tongue load is 10% of the total trailer weight, not
exceeding the maximum of the following.
For weight carrying hitch 227 kg (500 lb.)
Also for weight distributing hitch 294 kg (650 lb.)
 Never load the trailer with more weight in the back
than in the front. About 60% of the trailer load should
be in the front half of the trailer and the remaining 40%
in the rear.