tires lexus LS400 1995 Exterior Equipment / 1995 LS400: DRIVING TIPS

DRIVING TIPS
149

Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
It can cause dangerous overheating, needless wear,
and poor fuel economy.

To drive down a long or steep hill, reduce your speed
and downshift. Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and not work
properly. See page 134.

Be careful when accelerating, upshifting,
downshifting or braking on a slippery surface. The
abrupt change in engine speed, such as sudden
acceleration or engine braking, could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.

Do not drive in excess of the speed limit, Even if the
legal speed limit permits it, do not drive over 140
km / h (85 mph) unless your vehicle has high−speed
capability tires. Driving over 140 km / h (85 mph) may
result in tire failure, loss of control and possible
injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle are high−speed
capability tires or not before driving at such speeds.

Do not continue normal driving when the brakes are
wet. If they are wet, your vehicle will require a longer
stopping distance, and it may pull to one side when
the brakes are applied. Also, the parking brake will
not hold the vehicle securely.WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure you have ethylene−glycol antifreeze in the
radiator.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze.
Check 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 224 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 204 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 − they will be pleased to help.
Check the electronic ignition system / distributor 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. To open a frozen lock, try heating the key before
inserting it.

DRIVING TIPS
152
Hitches

If you wish to install a trailer hitch, your Lexus dealer should
be consulted.

Use only a hitch which is recommended by the hitch
manufacturer and conforms to the total trailer weight
requirement

Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.

Lexus recommends removing the trailer hitch whenever
you are not towing a trailer to reduce the possibility of
additional damage caused by the hitch if your vehicle is
struck from behind. After removing the hitch, seal any
mounting holes in the vehicle body to prevent entry of
pollutants such as exhaust fumes, dirt, water, etc.
NOTICE

Install the trailer hitch using only the position
recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body
damage.

Do not use axle−mounted hitches as they can cause
damage to the axle housing, wheel bearings, wheels
or tires.
Brakes and safety chains

Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to
any applicable federal and state / provincial
regulations.

A safety chain must always be used between the towing
vehicle and the trailer. Leave sufficient slack in the
chain for turns. The chain should cross under the trailer
tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the
ground in case it becomes damaged or separated. For
correct safety chain procedures, follow the hitch or
trailer manufacturer’s recommendations.
CAUTION

If the total trailer weight exceeds 450 kg (1000 lb.),
trailer brakes are required.

Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system as it
will lower its braking effectiveness.

DRIVING TIPS
153

Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain
securely attached to both the trailer and the vehicle.
If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball,
there is possible danger of the trailer wandering over
into another lane.
Tires

Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated below:

Tire pressure, kPa (kgf / cm
2 or bar, psi)
Front 220 (2.2, 32)
Rear 220 (2.2, 32)

The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure
recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect to the
total trailer weight.
Trailer lights

Trailer lights must comply with federal, state / provincial and
local regulations. See your local recreational vehicle dealer
or rental agency for the correct type of wiring and relays for
your trailer. Check for correct operation of the turn signals
and stop lights each time you hitch up. Direct splicing may
damage your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a
malfunction of your lights.
Break−in schedule

Lexus recommends that you do not tow a trailer with anew
vehicle or a vehicle with any new power train component
(engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearing, etc.) for
the first 800 km (500 miles) of driving.
Maintenance

If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional load. Refer to the
maintenance schedule under severe driving conditions
(Schedule A) in Section 5 for specific information.
Pre−towing safety check

Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or
unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has an
abnormal nose−up or nose−down condition, and check for
improper tongue load, overload, worn suspension or other
possible causes.

Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that it
cannot shift.

Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal,
state / provincial or local regulation. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.

DRIVING TIPS
156

Slow down and downshift before descending steep
or long downhill grades. Do not make sudden
downshifts.

Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or too
frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking efficiency.HOW TO SAVE FUEL AND MAKE
YOUR VEHICLE LAST LONGER
Getting more kilometer / mileage from a liter / gallon of fuel is
easy − just take it easy. It will help make your vehicle last
longer, too. Here are some specific tips on how to save money
on both fuel and repairs:

Keep your tires inflated at the correct pressure. Check
the pressure every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Underinflation causes tire wear and wastes fuel.

Do not carry unneeded weight in your vehicle. Excess
weight puts a heavier load on the engine, causing greater
fuel consumption.

Avoid lengthy warm−up idling. Once the engine is
running smoothly, begin driving − but gently. Remember,
however, that on cold winter days this may take a little
longer.

Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts.

Avoid long engine idling. If you have a long wait and you
are not in traffic, it is better to turn off the engine and start
again later.

Avoid engine overrevving. Use a gear position suitable for
the road on which you are traveling.

Avoid continuous speeding up and slowing down.
Stop−and−go driving wastes fuel.