check oil MITSUBISHI L200 2011 Owner's Manual (in English)

Indication and warning lampsE00501502002
Type 1Type 21.CRUISE indication lamp* ® p. 4-49
2. Turn-signal indication lamps/Hazard warning indication lamps ® p. 3-07
3. High-beam indication lamp ® p. 3-07
4. Front fog lamp indication lamp* ® p. 3-07
5. Rear fog lamp indication lamp ® p. 3-07
6. Seat belt reminder/warning lamp ® p. 2-10
7. Low fuel warning lamp ® p. 3-04
8. 2WD/4WD operation indication lamp* ® p. 4-27, 4-32
9. Rear differential lock indication lamp* ® p. 4-34
10. Check engine warning lamp ® p. 3-08
11. Diesel preheat indication lamp ® p. 3-07
12. Oil pressure warning lamp ® p. 3-0913.
Fuel filter indication lamp ® p. 3-07
14. Charge warning lamp ® p. 3-09
15. A/T (automatic transmission) fluid temperature warning lamp (vehicles
with A/T) ® p. 4-18
16. Overdrive off indication lamp (vehicles with 4A/T) ® p. 4-18
17. Selector lever position indicator (vehicles with A/T) ® p. 4-16, 4-23
18. Brake warning lamp ® p. 3-08
19. Active Stability & Traction Control (ASTC) OFF indication
lamp* ® p. 4-47
20. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) warning lamp* ® p. 4-44
21. Active Stability & Traction Control (ASTC) indication lamp* ® p. 4-47
22. Door ajar warning lamp ® p. 3-09
23. Supplement Restraint System (SRS) warning lamp ® p. 2-38
Instruments and controls
3-06
3

CAUTIONlIf the lamp illuminates while
the engine is running, avoid
driving at high speeds and we
recommend you to have the sys-
tem checked.
During vehicle operation with
the lamp illuminated, the vehi-
cle may not accelerate when
you depress the accelerator ped-
al.
When the vehicle is stationary
with the lamp illuminated, you
must depress the brake pedal
more firmly than usual since
the engine idling speed is high-
er than usual and the vehicle
with an A/T has a stronger ten-
dency to creep forward.
NOTE
l The engine electronic control mod-
ule accommodating the onboard di-
agnostic system has various fault
data (especially about the exhaust
emission) stored.
This data will be erased if a bat-
tery cable is disconnected which
will make a rapid diagnosis diffi-
cult. Do not disconnect a battery
cable when the check engine warn-
ing lamp is ON.
Charge warning lamp E00502700821
This lamp illuminates when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position,
and goes off after the engine has started.CAUTIONl If the lamp comes on while the
engine is running, the probable
cause is as shown below.
Park the vehicle immediately at
a safe place and we recommend
you to have it checked. •Broken drive belt or abnor-
mality in the charging sys-
tem. A broken drive belt cau-
ses poor braking efficiency.
Depress the brake pedal
harder than usual to park
the vehicle in a safe place.Oil pressure warning lamp E00502800620
This lamp illuminates when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position,
and goes off after the engine has started.
If it illuminates while the engine is run-
ning, the oil pressure is too low.
If the warning lamp illuminates while
the engine is running, turn the engine off
and have it inspected.CAUTIONl If this lamp illuminates when
the engine oil level is not low,
have it inspected.
l This warning lamp does not in-
dicate the amount of oil in the
crankcase. This must be deter-
mined by checking the oil level
on the dipstick, while the en-
gine is switched off.
l If you continue driving with
low engine oil level or with this
warning lamp illuminated, en-
gine seizure may occur.
NOTE
l The oil pressure warning lamp
should not be treated as an indica-
tion of the engine’s oil level. The
oil level must be checked using
the dipstick.
Door ajar warning lamp E00503300475
This lamp illuminates when a door is ei-
ther open or not completely closed.
If the vehicle speed reaches approximate-
ly 8 km/h (5 mph) with a door open or
incompletely closed, the warning lamp
flashes 16 times and a buzzer simultane-
ously sounds 16 times as a warning.
Instruments and controls
3-09
3

4-wheel drive operationE00606600920
By selecting 4-wheel drive, both axles of the vehi-
cle are rigidly connected with each other. This im-
proves the traction characteristics. When turning
sharp corners or moving forward and backward re-
peatedly, however, the drive line is stressed, which
is felt as a braking effect. A 4-wheel drive vehicle
can accelerate more quickly and smoothly.
However, note that the braking distance is not short-
er than that of a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
When using 4-wheel drive on rough roads (snow,
mud, sand, etc.), it is important to operate the vehi-
cle correctly.
NOTE l The driving posture should be more upright
and closer to the wheel than usual; adjust the
seat to a good position for easy steering and
pedal operation. Be sure to wear the seat belt.
l After driving on rough roads, check each
part of the vehicle and wash it thoroughly
with water. Refer to the “Vehicle care” sec-
tion and “Inspection and maintenance follow-
ing rough road operation” on page 4-40.
Driving on dry paved road and highway
Select “2H” position (easy select 4WD), “2H” or
“4H” position (super select 4WD) to drive on the
dry paved road. Especially on dry highway, never
select the “4H” or “4L” position (easy select
4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (super select
4WD).CAUTIONl Selecting “4H” or “4L” position (easy se-
lect 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) to drive on dry paved
road will increase the fuel consumption
with possible noise generation and early
tyre wear.
It may also increase the differential oil
temperature, resulting in possible dam-
age to the driving system.
Further, the drive train will be subjected
to excessive loading, possibly leading to
oil leakage, component seizure, or other
serious faults.
Driving on snowy or icy roads
Set the transfer shift lever to “4H” or “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4H” or “4HLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) in accordance with the road condi-
tions, and then gradually depress the accelerator ped-
al for a smooth start.
NOTE l The use of snow tyres and/or tyre chains is
recommended.
l Maintain a safe distance between vehicles,
avoid sudden braking, and use engine brak-
ing (downshifting).
CAUTIONl Avoid sudden braking, sudden accelera-
tion, and sharp turning; such operations
could cause skidding and spinouts.Driving on sandy or muddy roads
Set the transfer shift lever to “4H” or “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position (su-
per select 4WD) and then gradually depress the ac-
celerator pedal for a smooth start. Keep the pres-
sure on the accelerator pedal as constant as possi-
ble, and drive at low speed.CAUTIONl Do not force the vehicle or drive reckless-
ly on sandy surfaces. In comparison with
normal road surfaces, the engine and oth-
er drive-system components are put un-
der excessive strain when driving on such
a surface, and this could lead to accidents.
l If any of following conditions occur while
the vehicle is being driven, immediately
park your vehicle in a safe place and fol-
low these procedures: •The needle in the temperature gauge
approaches the overheating zone.
Refer to “Engine overheating” on
page 6-04.
• Automatic transmission fluid temper-
ature warning lamp comes on.
Refer to “When the A/T (automatic
transmission) fluid temperature warn-
ing lamp comes on” on pages 4-18,
4-23.
Starting and driving
4-38
4

Crossing a stream
4-wheel drive vehicles are not necessarily water-
proof. If the electrical circuits become wet, further
operation of the vehicle will be impossible; there-
fore, avoid crossing streams unless absolutely nec-
essary. If crossing a stream is unavoidable, use the
following procedure: 1.Check depths of a stream and geographical
features before attempting to cross a stream
and ford the stream where the water is as shal-
low as practicable.
2. Set the transfer shift lever to “4L” position
(easy select 4WD), “4LLc” position (super se-
lect 4WD).
3. Drive slowly at a speed of approximately
5 km/h (3 mph) to avoid splashing too much
water.CAUTIONl Never cross a stream where the water is
deep.
Do not change gears while crossing the
stream.
Frequent crossing of streams can adverse-
ly affect the life span of the vehicle; we rec-
ommend you to take the necessary meas-
ures to prepare, inspect, and repair the ve-
hicle.
After crossing a stream, apply the brakes to be sure
they are functioning properly. If the brakes are wet
and not functioning properly, dry them out by driv-
ing slowly while lightly depressing the brake pedal.
Inspect each part of the vehicle carefully.
Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation E00606700048
After operating the vehicle in rough road condi-
tions, be sure to perform the following inspection
and maintenance procedures:
l Check that the vehicle has not been damaged
by rocks, gravel, etc.
l Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
After washing, drive the vehicle slowly
while lightly depressing the brake pedal in or-
der to dry out the brakes. If the brakes still
do not function properly, we recommend you
to have the brakes checked as soon as possible.
l Remove the insects, dried grass, etc. clog-
ging the radiator core.
l After crossing a stream, be sure to have the
following items inspected at a MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point and take
the necessary measures. •Check the brake system and, if necessary,
have it serviced.
• Check the engine, transmission, transfer,
and differential oil or grease level and tur-
bidity. If the oil or grease is milky, it indi-
cates water contamination. Replace it
with new oil or grease.
• Grease the propeller shaft.
• Check the inside of the vehicle. If ingress
of water is found, dry the carpet etc.
• Inspect the headlamps. If the headlamp
bulb is flooded with water, we recom-
mend you to have it drained.Cautions on handling of 4-wheel
drive vehicles E00606800368
Tyres and wheels
Since the driving torque can be applied to the 4
wheels, the performance of the vehicle when oper-
ating in 4-wheel drive is greatly affected by the con-
dition of the tyres.

Pay close attention to the tyres.
l Install specified tyres on all wheels. Refer to
“Tyres and wheels” on page 9-17.
l Be sure to fit all 4 tyres and wheels of the
same size and type.
When replacement of any of the tyres or
wheels is necessary, replace all of them.
l All tyres should be rotated whenever the
wear difference between the front and rear
tyres is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be expected if
there is a difference in wear between tyres. Refer to
“Tyre rotation” on page 8-13.
l Check the tyre inflation pressure regularly.
Starting and driving
4-40
4

4.After the engine coolant temperature has drop-
ped to the normal temperature, stop the engine.
5. Check the coolant level in the reserve tank.
WARNINGl If there is none, make sure that the en-
gine has cooled down before removing
the radiator cap, because hot steam or boil-
ing water otherwise will gush from the fill-
er port and may scald you.6. Add coolant to the radiator and/or reserve
tank if necessary (refer to the “Maintenance”
section.)CAUTIONl Do not add coolant while the engine is
hot. Suddenly adding cold coolant could
damage the engine. Wait for the engine to
cool down, then add coolant a little at a
time.
7. Examine the radiator hoses for coolant leak-
age and the drive belt for looseness or damage.
If there is anything wrong with the cooling
system or drive belt, we recommend you to
have it checked and repaired.
Bleeding the fuel system E00800700178
The fuel system should be bled to remove air as de-
scribed below if the fuel supply is exhausted during
travel.
Type 1 1.Loosen the air plug (A) at the top of the fuel
filter.
For emergencies
6-05
6

Six wheel nuts
CAUTIONlNever use your foot or a pipe extension
for extra force in the wheel nut wrench.
If you do so, you will tighten the nut too
much.
13. Lower and remove the jack, then store the
jack, jack handle, wheel nut wrench, flat
tyre, and chocks. Have your damaged tyre re-
paired as soon as possible.
14. Check your tyre inflation pressure. The cor-
rect pressures are shown on the door label.
See the illustration.
CAUTIONl The tyre pressure should be periodically
checked and maintained at the specified
pressure while the tyre is stowed.
l After changing the tyre and driving the ve-
hicle about 1,000 km (620 miles), retight-
en the wheel nuts to make sure that they
have not come loose.
l If the steering wheel vibrates when driv-
ing after changing the tyre, we recom-
mend you to have the tyres checked for
balance.
l Do not mix one type of tyre with another
or use a different size from the one listed.
This would cause early wear and poor han-
dling.Towing E00801502816
If your vehicle needs to be towed
If towing is necessary, we recommend you to have
it done by your MITSUBISHI MOTORS Author-
ized Service Point or a commercial tow truck service.

In the following cases, transport the vehicle using a
tow truck.
l The engine runs but the vehicle does not
move or abnormal noise is produced.
l Inspection of the vehicle’s underside reveals
that oil or some other fluid is leaking.
If a wheel gets stuck in a ditch, do not try to tow
the vehicle. Please contact your MITSUBISHI
MOTORS Authorized Service Point or a commer-
cial tow truck service for assistance.

Only when you cannot receive a towing service
from a MITSUBISHI MOTORS Authorized Serv-
ice Point or commercial tow truck service, tow
your vehicle carefully in accordance with the in-
structions given in “Emergency towing” in this part.
For emergencies
6-20
6

CAUTIONlNote that the support bar may disengage
the bonnet if the open bonnet is lifted by
a strong wind.
l Always insert the support bar into the
hole provided specifically for this pur-
pose. Supporting the bonnet at any other
location could result in the support bar
slipping out and lead to an accident.
To close
Unlatch the support bar and clip it in its holder.
Slowly lower the bonnet to a position about 20 cm
above the closed position, then let it drop.
NOTE
l If this does not close the bonnet, release it
from a slightly higher position.
l Do not press down the bonnet hard with a
hand as it may damage the bonnet.
CAUTIONl Be careful that hands or fingers are not
trapped when closing the bonnet.
l Before driving, make sure that the bon-
net is securely locked. An incompletely
locked bonnet can suddenly open while
driving. This can be extremely dangerous.Engine oil E01000402455
To check and refill engine oil
Type 1Type 2
The engine oil used has a significant effect on the
engine’s performance, service life and startability.
Be sure to use oil of the recommended quality and
appropriate viscosity.
All engines consume a certain amount of oil during
normal operation, and engine oil consumption is
greatly influenced by payload, engine speed, etc.
Therefore, it is important to check the oil level at
regular intervals or before starting a long trip.
This check must be made with the engine warm but
not running. Park the vehicle on a level surface,
stop the engine, and then wait a few moments to al-
low the engine oil in circulation to return to the oil
pan to ensure accurate measurement.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean cloth.
Reinsert the dipstick as far as it goes. Remove the
dipstick and read the oil level, which should al-
ways be within the range indicated.
Maintenance
8-04
8

If the oil level is below the specified limit, remove
the cap located on the cylinder head cover and add
enough oil to raise the level to within the specified
range.
Be sure to use the specified engine oil and do not
mix various types of oil. Also, avoid mixing differ-
ent makes of oil together if possible.
After adding oil, close the cap securely.

Use only the recommended oils with an ACEA or
API classification as specified in this manual.
NOTE l The engine oil will deteriorate rapidly if the
vehicle is subjected to severe conditions (for
example, repeated operation on rough roads,
in mountainous regions, on roads with many
uphill and downhill gradients, or over short
distances). Consequently, the oil will require
earlier replacement.
l For handling of used engine oils, refer to
page 05.
Selection of engine oill Select engine oil of the proper SAE viscosity
number according to the atmospheric temper-
ature.
l Use engine oil conforming to the following
classification: • ACEA classification:“For service A1/ B1, A3/B3, A3/B4,
A5/B5”
• API classification: “For service CF-4”
NOTE l Use of additives is not recommended since
they may reduce the effectiveness of addi-
tives already included in the engine oil. It
may result in failure of the mechanical assem-
bly.Engine coolant E01000501202
To check the coolant level
A translucent coolant reserve tank is located in the
engine compartment.
The coolant level in this tank should be kept be-
tween the “LOW” and “FULL” marks when meas-
ured while the engine is cold.
To add coolant
The cooling system is a closed system and normal-
ly the loss of coolant should be very slight. A no-
ticeable drop in the coolant level could indicate leak-
age. If this occurs, we recommend you to have the
system checked as soon as possible.
If the level should drop below the “LOW” level on
the reserve tank, open the lid and add coolant.
Also, if the reserve tank is completely empty, re-
move the radiator cap and add coolant until the lev-
el reaches the filler neck.
Maintenance
8-05
8

WARNINGlDo not open the radiator cap while the en-
gine is hot.
The coolant system is under pressure and
any hot coolant escaping could cause se-
vere burns.
Anti-freeze
The engine coolant contains an ethylene glycol anti-
corrosion agent. The cylinder head and water pump
housing are cast aluminium alloy, and periodic
changing of the engine coolant is necessary to pre-
vent corrosion of these parts.

Use “DIA QUEEN SUPER LONG LIFE COOL-
ANT” or equivalent.
MITSUBISHI Genuine Coolant has excellent pro-
tection against corrosion and rust formation of all
metals including aluminium and can avoid block-
ages in the radiator, heater, cylinder head, engine
block, etc.
Because of the necessity of this anti-corrosion
agent, the coolant must not be replaced with plain
water even in summer. The required concentration
of anti-freeze differs depending on the expected am-
bient temperature.
Ambient
temperature
( minimum) °C-15-20-25-30-35-50Anti-freeze
concentra- tion %303540455060CAUTIONl Do not use alcohol or methanol anti-
freeze or any engine coolants mixed with
alcohol or methanol anti-freeze. The use
of an improper anti-freeze can cause cor-
rosion of the aluminium components.
l For effective anti-corrosion and anti-
freeze performance, keep the anti-freeze
concentration within the range of 30 to
60 %.
Concentrations exceeding 60 % will re-
sult in a reduction of both the anti-freeze
and cooling performance thus adversely
affecting the engine.
l Do not top up with water only.
Water by itself reduces the rust-protec-
tive and anti-freeze qualities of the cool-
ant and has a lower boiling point. It can
also cause damage to the cooling system if
it should freeze. Do not use tapwater, as it
can cause corrosion and rust formation.
During cold weather
If the temperatures in your area drop below freez-
ing, there is the danger that the coolant in the en-
gine or radiator could freeze and cause severe dam-
age to the engine and/or radiator. The concentra-
tion should be checked before the start of cold weath-
er and anti-freeze added to the system if necessary.
Add a sufficient amount of anti-freeze to the cool-
ant to prevent it from freezing.
The concentration should be checked before the
start of cold weather and anti-freeze added to the
system if necessary.
Automatic transmission fluid* E01000600974
The proper amount of automatic transmission fluid
is essential to the life and operation of the automat-
ic transmission. Either insufficient fluid or exces-
sive fluid could cause transmission trouble. The
transmission fluid filler port cap is equipped with a
dipstick. Use the following procedure to check the
fluid level.
Procedure for checking the fluid level 1.Check the fluid level after the vehicle has
been driven enough to warm up the transmis-
sion fluid.
2. Park the vehicle on a flat, level surface and
apply the parking brake.
3. With the engine idling and the brake pedal
fully depressed, move the transmission selec-
tor lever through all the positions from the
"P” (PARK) to “L” (LOW) (with 4A/T), the
“P” (PARK) to “D” (DRIVE) (with 5A/T),
stopping momentarily at each position.
4. Move the selector lever to the “P” (PARK)
position.
5. Remove the dipstick and wipe it with a clean
lint-free cloth.
6. Reinsert the dipstick as far as it goes.
Maintenance
8-06
8

Wheel conditionE01001800797
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
Check the tyres for cuts, cracks and other damage.
Replace the tyres if there are deep cuts or cracks.
Also check each tyre for pieces of metal or pebbles.
The use of worn tyres can be very dangerous be-
cause of the greater chance of skidding or hydro-
planing. The tread depth of the tyres must exceed
1.6 mm in order for the tyres to meet the minimum
requirement for use.
If there are tread wear indicators on the tyres, they
will appear in six places on the surface of the tyre
as the tyre wears, thereby indicating that the tyre
no longer meets the minimum requirement for use.
When these wear indicators appear, the tyres must
be replaced with new ones.
Check that the wheel nuts are tightened correctly.
Refer to the section entitled “For emergencies” for
information concerning replacement of the tyres.
NOTE
l The mark and the location of the tyre tread
wear indicators are different depending on
the tyre manufacturer.

On 4-wheel drive vehicles, when replacement of
any of the tyres is necessary, replace all of them.CAUTIONl Always use tyres of the same size, same
type, and same brand, and which have no
wear differences.
Using tyres of different size, type, brands
or degree of wear, will increase the differ-
ential oil temperature, resulting in possi-
ble damage to the driving system. Fur-
ther, the drive train will be subjected to
excessive loading, possibly leading to oil
leakage, component seizure, or other seri-
ous faults.Replacing tyres and wheels E01007200038CAUTIONlAvoid using different size tyres from the
one listed and the combined use of differ-
ent types of tyres, as this can affect driv-
ing safety.
Refer to “Tyres and wheels” on page
9-17.CAUTIONl Even if a wheel has the same rim size and
offset as the specified type of wheel, its
shape may prevent it from being fitted cor-
rectly. We recommend you to consult a
specialist before using wheels that you
have.Tyre rotation E01001900990
Tyre wear varies with vehicle conditions, road sur-
face conditions and individual driver’s driving hab-
its. To equalize the wear and help extend tyre life,
it is recommended to rotate the tyres immediately
after discovery of abnormal wear, or whenever the
wear difference between the front and rear tyres is
recognizable.
Maintenance
8-13
8