2001 SUBARU LEGACY checking oil

Climate control4-19
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Operating tips for heater and air conditioner
Cleaning ventilator grille
HB5019BC
Always keep the front ventilator inlet g rille free of snow, leaves, or oth-
er ob struc tions to ensure effic ient heating and d ef rosting . Sinc e the
c ond enser is loc ated in front of the rad iator, this area should b e kep t
c lean b ec ause c ooling p erformanc e is imp aired b y an y ac c umulation
of insec ts and leaves on the c ond enser. Efficient cooling after parking in direct sunlight
After p arking in d irec t sunlig ht, d rive with the wi nd ows op en for a few
minutes to allow outsid e air to c irc ulate into the heated interior. This
results in q uic ker c ooling b y the air c ond itioner. Keep the wind ows
c losed d uring the op eration of the air c ond itioner for maximum c ool-
ing effic ienc y. Lubrication oil circulation in the refrigerant circuit
Op erate the air c ond itioner c omp ressor at a low eng ine sp eed (at id le
or low d riving sp eed s) a few minutes eac h month d ur ing the off-sea-
son to c irc ulate its oil. Checking air conditioning system before summer season
Chec k the air c ond itioner unit for refrig erant leak s, hose c ond itions,
and p rop er op eration eac h sp ring . This c hec k is b es t p erformed b y
your SUBARU d ealer.

11-4
Always use the proper tools and make certain that they are
well maintained. Never get under the vehicle supported only by a jack. Always
use a safety stands to support the vehicle. Never keep the engine running in a poorly ventilated area,
such as a garage or other closed areas. Do not smoke or allow open flames around the fuel or battery.
This will cause a fire. Because the fuel system is under pressure, replacement of the
fuel filter should be performed only by your SUBARU dealer. Wear adequate eye protection to guard against getting oil or
fluids in your eyes. If something does get in your eyes, thorough-
ly wash it out with clean water. Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS airbag system or
seatbelt pretensioner system, or attempt to take its connectorsapart, as that may activate the system or it can render it inopera-tive. The wiring and connectors of these systems are yellow for
easy identification. NEVER use a circuit tester for these wiring. If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensioner needs service, con-
sult your nearest SUBARU dealer. Before checking or servicing in the engine compart- ment
Always stop the engine and set the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving. Always let the engine cool down. Engine parts become very
hot when the engine is running and remain hot for some time af-ter the engine is stopped. Do not spill engine oil, engine coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components. This may cause a fire. Always remove the key from the ignition switch. When the
ignition switch is in the “ON” position, the cooling fan may oper-
ate suddenly even when the engine is stopped.

Maintenance and service11-9
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Engine oil
Checking the oil level
Chec k the eng ine oil level at eac h fuel stop .
HSB008BB
HBB004BA
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the eng ine.
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Be sure the d ip stic k is c orrec tly inserted until it stop s with the
g rap hic symb ol
on its top ap p earing as shown in the illustra-
tion.
4. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil to b ring the level up to t he up p er level.
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the recommended grade and viscosity.
If you c hec k the oil level just after stop p ing the eng ine, wait a few min-
utes for the oil to d rain b ac k into the oil p an b ef ore c hec king the level.
Just after d riving or while the eng ine is warm, the eng ine oil level
read ing may b e in a rang e b etween the up p er level a nd the notc h
mark. This is c aused b y thermal exp ansion of the en g ine oil.
To p revent overfilling the eng ine oil, d o not ad d a ny ad d itional oil
ab ove the up p er level when the eng ine is c old .

Maintenance and service11-23
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sc hed ule in the
“Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”. Consult your
SUBARU d ealer for rep lac ement.
If a b elt is loose, c rac ked , or worn, c ontac t your SUBARU d ealer.
Manual transmission oil Checking the oil level
Chec k the oil level monthly.
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the eng ine.
OM-H0210
Upper level Lower level
HBB004DB
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil throug h the d ip stic k hole to b ring the level up
to the up p er level. Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5

11-26Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles)
Checking the oil level
Chec k the d ifferential oil level monthly.
HBA010BB
Lower level Upper levelHBB004EB
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the
eng ine.
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil to b ring the level up to t he up p er level.
Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5

Maintenance and service11-27
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SAE viscosity No. and Applicable Temperature
OM-H0212
Rear differential gear oil
Checking the gear oil level CAUTION
If the vehicle requires frequent refilling, there may be an oil leak. If you suspect a problem, have the vehicle checked at your
SUBARU dealer.
Your vehic le may b e eq uip p ed with a rear d ifferenti al p rotec tor. The
d ifferential p rotec tor p rovid es p rotec tion to the r ear d ifferential assem-
b ly d uring off-road use. Removal of the rear d iffer ential p rotec tor is not
req uired when c hec king the oil level.

Maintenance and service11-29
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Power steering fluid
Checking the fluid level
WARNING
Be careful not to burn yourself because the fluid may be hot.
CAUTION
When power steering fluid is being added, use only clean fluid,
and be careful not to allow any dirt into the tank. And never use
different brands together. Avoid spilling fluid when adding it in the tank.
The p ower steering fluid exp and s g reatly as its tem p erature rises; the
fluid level d iffers ac c ord ing to fluid temp erature. Therefore, the reser-
voir tank has two d ifferent c hec king rang es for hot and c old fluid s.
Chec k the p ower steering fluid level monthly.
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e, and stop the eng ine.
2. Chec k the fluid level of the reservoir tank.
When the fluid is hot after the vehic le has b een ru n: Chec k that the oil
level is b etween “HOT MIN ” and “HOT MAX ” on the surfac e of the
reservoir tank.
When the fluid is c ool b efore the vehic le is run: C hec k that the oil level
is b etween “COLD MIN ” and “COLD MAX ” on the surfac e of the res-
ervoir tank.
3. If the fluid level is lower than the ap p lic ab le “MIN ” line, ad d the
rec ommend ed fluid as nec essary to b ring the level b etween the
“ MIN ” and “MAX ” line.