Do-It-Yourself:
Five 60 second Fluid Checks
Engine Oil
When: Every Fuel Stop.
Park your Subaru on a
level surface and stop
the engine. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert it again
until it
stops. Pull out the dipstick again and check the oil level on it. If it
is below
the lower level, add oil to bring it up to the upper level.
Important:
Use only engine oil with the grade and viscosity recommended in your
Owner's
Manual.
Coolant
When: Every Fuel Stop.
Check your car's
coolant level on the outside
of the reservoir while the engine is cool. If the level is close to or
lower
than the "LOW" mark, add coolant up to the "FULL" mark. If the reserve
tank is
empty, remove the radiator cap (Do not open when the radiator is hot!)
and
refill as required. After filling the reserve tank and the radiator,
reinstall
the caps and check that the rubber gasket inside the radiator cap is in
the
proper position. Important: Use the coolant
recommended in your Owner's
Manual only. Use of other coolants may result in corrosion.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When: Monthly.
(Automatic transmission
equipped models only.) Drive
several miles to raise the temperature of your car's transmission fluid
up to
normal operating temperatures (140 to 176 degrees is normal). Park on a
level
surface and set the parking brake. Shift the selector level in each
position.
Then shift it in the "P" position, and run the engine at idling speed.
Pull out
the dipstick and check the fluid level on the gauge. If it is below the
lower
level on the "HOT" side, add the recommended automatic transmission
fluid up to
the upper level. Important: If you don't have time to
warm up the
automatic transmission, check to see that the fluid level is between the
lower
level and the upper level on the "COLD" side. If it is below that range,
add
fluid up to the upper level. Be careful not to overfill.
Manual Transmission Oil
When: Monthly.
(Manual transmission equipped
models only.) Park your
Subaru on a level surface and stop the engine. Pull out the dipstick,
wipe it
clean, and insert it again. Pull out the dipstick again and check the
oil level
on it. If it is below the lower level, add oil to bring the level back
up to the
upper level.
Brake Fluid
When: Monthly.
Check the fluid level on the
outside of the reservoir.
If the level is below "MIN," add the recommended brake fluid to "MAX."
Important: Use only brake fluid from a sealed
container. Never mix
different brands of brake fluid together. Brake fluid absorbs moisture
from the
air. Any absorbed moisture can cause a dangerous loss of braking
performance.
Take care not to splash brake fluid over any painted surfaces or rubber
parts,
as damage may result. If your vehicle requires frequent refilling, there
may be
a leak. Have the vehicle checked at your Subaru
dealership.
