2002 SUBARU IMPREZA fuel

Driving tips
8-27
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Trailer towing
Your car is designed and intended to be used pri-
marily as a passenger-carrying vehicle. Towing a
trailer puts additional loads on your car ’s engine, dri-
vetrain, brakes, tires and suspension and has an
adverse effect on fuel economy.
If you do decide to tow a trailer, your safety and sat-
isfaction depend upon proper use of correct equip-
ment and cautious operation of your vehicle. Seekthe advice of your SUBARU dealer to assist you in
purchasing a hitch and other necessary towing
equipment appropriate for your vehicle. In addition,
be sure to follow the instructions on correct installa-
tion and use provided by the trailer and other towing
equipment manufacturers.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for injuries or
vehicle damage that result from trailer towing equip-
ment, or from any errors or omissions in the instruc- tions accompanying such equipment or for your fail-
ure to follow the proper instructions. Warranties and maintenance
SUBARU warranties do not apply to vehicle damage or malfunction caused by trailer towing. If you use
your vehicle to tow a trailer, more frequent mainte-
nance will be required due to the additional load. (Refer to
“Maintenance schedule under severe driv-
ing conditions ” in the “Warranty and Maintenance
Booklet”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer be towedwith a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new power-
train component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of driving. Maximum load limits
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum load limits ex-
plained below. Exceeding the maximum loadlimits could cause personal injury and/or ve-hicle damage.
CAUTION
Adequate size trailer brakes are required
when the trailer and its cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg) total weight. Before towing a trailer, check the trailer total
weight, GVW, GAWs and tongue load. Make sure the load and its distribution in your
vehicle and trailer are acceptable.

Appearance care
10-2
Exterior care Washing
The best way to preserve your vehicle ’s beauty is
frequent washing. Wash the vehicle at least once a
month to avoid contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of luke-
warm or cold water. Do not wash the vehicle with hot
water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot and bird droppings
should be washed off by using a light detergent, as
required. If you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use strong soap or chemical detergents. All cleaning agents should
be promptly flushed from the surface and not al-
lowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water
off with a chamois or soft cloth. NOTE When having your vehicle washed in an auto- matic car wash, make sure beforehand that thecar wash is of suitable type. If the vehicle is
equipped with a rear/roof spoiler, it may be dam-aged by car wash brushes or other equipment.CAUTION
When washing the vehicle, the brakes may
get wet. As a result, the brake stopping dis-
tance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly press-ing the brake pedal to heat up the brakes. Do not wash the engine compartment and
area adjacent to it. If water enters the engineair intake, electrical parts or the power steer-
ing fluid reservoir, it will cause engine trouble
or faulty power steering respectively.
Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road
surfaces are extremely corrosive, accelerating the
corrosion of underbody components, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the
fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent in-
tervals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents.
Using a warm water washer
Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm) or more
between the washer nozzle and the vehicle. Do not wash the same area continuously.

Appearance care
10-4
Corrosion protection
Your SUBARU has been designed and built to resist
corrosion. Special materials and protective finishes
have been used on most parts of the vehicle to help
maintain fine appearance, strength, and reliable op- eration. Most common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion are:
1. The accumulation of moisture retaining dirt and
debris in body panel sections, cavities, and other
areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective coatings caused by gravel and stone chips or minor acci- dents.
Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle when:
1. It is exposed to road salt or dust control chemi-
cals, or used in coastal areas where there is more
salt in the air, or in areas where there is considerable industrial pollution.
2. It is driven in areas of high humidity, especially
when temperatures range just above freezing.
3. Dampness in certain parts of the vehicle remains
for a long time, even though other parts of the ve-
hicle may be dry. 4. High temperatures will cause corrosion to parts
of the vehicle which cannot dry quickly due to lack
of proper ventilation.
To help prevent corrosion
Wash the vehicle frequently. If you drive on salted
roads in the winter or if you live in a coastal area,
you should flush the underbody with fresh water fre-
quently.
After the winter has ended, it is recommended that
the underbody be given a very thorough washing.
Before the beginning of winter, check the condition of underbody components, such as the exhaust sys- tem, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, suspension, steering system, floor pan, and fenders. If any of
them are found to be rusted, they should be given
an appropriate rust prevention treatment or should
be replaced. Contact your SUBARU dealer to per-
form this kind of maintenance and treatment if you need assistance. Repair chips and scratches in the paint as soon as you find them.
Check the interior of the vehicle for water and dirt
accumulation under the floor mats because that
could cause corrosion. Occasionally check under

Maintenance and service
11-4
Always be very careful to avoid injury when
working on the vehicle. Remember that some of the materials in the vehicle may be hazard-
ous if improperly used or handled, for exam-ple, battery acid. Your vehicle should only be serviced by per-
sons fully competent to do so. Serious per-sonal injury may result to persons not experi-enced in servicing vehicles. Always use the proper tools and make cer-
tain that they are well maintained. Never get under the vehicle supported only
by a jack. Always use a safety stands to sup-port 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 per-
formed only by your SUBARU dealer. Ensure your eyes are free of oil and fluid, as
they can be harmful to your eyes. If you get one in your eyes, wash your eyes with clean
water. For your safety, you are wise to weareye protection.
Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS
airbag system or seatbelt pretensioner sys-tem, or attempt to take its connectors apart,as that may activate the system or it can ren-der it inoperative. The wiring and connectorsof these systems are yellow for easy identifi- cation. NEVER use a circuit tester for these wiring. If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensionerneeds service, consult your nearest SUBARU
dealer. Before checking or servicing in the
engine compartment
Always stop the engine and set the parking
brake firmly to prevent the vehicle from mov- ing. Always let the engine cool down. Engine
parts become very hot when the engine is run-
ning and remain hot for some time after theengine is stopped. Do not spill engine oil, engine coolant, brake
fluid or any other fluid on hot engine compo-nents. This may cause a fire. Always remove the key from the ignition
switch. When the ignition switch is in the

Maintenance and service
11-9
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Engine oil Checking the oil level
Check the engine oil level at each fuel stop.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop theengine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert itagain.
HGB001BA
3. Be sure the dipstick is correctly inserted until it
stops with the graphic symbol i on its top ap-
pearing as shown in the illustration.
HBB061BC
1) Notch
2) Upper level 3) Lower level
4) Front of vehicle
4. 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 up to the upper level.
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity.
If you check the oil level just after stopping the en-
gine, wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan before checking the level.
Just after driving or while the engine is warm, the

Maintenance and service
11-12
Oil grade:API classification SJ or SH with the words “ENERGY CONSERVING II ” (if you cannot obtain
the oil with SJ or SH grade, you may use SG grade oil.) or the new API certification mark (Starburst mark)
displayed on the container.
HGB018BB
API Service label
1) Indicates the oil quality by API designa- tions
2) Indicates the SAE oil viscosity grade
3) Indicates that the oil has fuel saving capabilities
HGB019AA
New API Certification Mark (Starburst Mark)
In choosing an oil, you want the proper quality and
viscosity, as well as one that will add to fuel econo-
my. The following table lists the recommended vis-
cosities and applicable temperatures.
When adding oil, different brands may be used to-
gether as long as they are the same API classifica-
tion and SAE viscosity as those recommended by SUBARU.
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) affects fuel economy.
Oils of lower viscosity provide better fuel economy.
However, in hot weather, oil of higher viscosity is re-
quired to properly lubricate the engine.

Maintenance and service
11-14
Do not splash the engine coolant over
painted parts. The alcohol contained in the en- gine coolant may damage the paint surface.
Hose and connections
Your vehicle employs an electric cooling fan which
is thermostatically controlled to operate when the
engine coolant reaches a specific temperature.If the radiator cooling fan does not operate even
when the engine coolant temperature gauge ex-
ceeds the normal operating range, the cooling fan
circuit may be defective. Check the fuse and re-
place it if necessary. If the fuse is not blown, havethe cooling system checked by your SUBARU deal-
er.
If frequent addition of coolant is necessary, there
may be a leak in the engine cooling system. It is rec-
ommended that the cooling system and connectionsbe checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
Engine coolant
Checking the coolant level
Check the coolant level at each fuel stop.
HGB001CB
1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level mark
1. Check the coolant level on the outside of the res- ervoir while the engine is cool.
2. If the level is close to or lower than the “LOW”
level mark, add coolant up to the “FULL” level mark.
If the reserve tank is empty, remove the radiator cap
and refill as required.

Maintenance and service
11-38
ered and icy roads. However winter tires do not
have adequate performance compared with sum-
mer tires and all season tires on roads other than
snow-covered and icy roads. Tire inspection
Check on a daily basis that the tires are free from serious damage, nails, and stones. At the same
time, check the tires for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immediately if you find
any problem. NOTE When the wheels and tires strike curbs or are
subjected to harsh treatment as when the vehicle is driven on a rough surface, they can suffer
damage that cannot be seen with the naked eye.This type of damage does not become evident
until time has passed. Try not to drive over
curbs, potholes or other rough surface. If doingso is unavoidable, keep the vehicle ’s speed
down to a walking pace or less, and approach
the curbs as squarely as possible. Also, makesure the tires are not pressed against the curbswhen you park the vehicle. If you feel unusual vibration while driving or
find it difficult to steer the vehicle in a straight line, one of the tires and/or wheels may be dam-aged. Drive slowly to the nearest authorized
SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle inspected.
Tire pressures and wear
Maintaining the correct tire pressures helps to maxi-
mize the tires ’ service lives and is essential for good
running performance. Check and, if necessary, ad-
just the pressure of each tire (including the spare) at least once a month (for example, during a fuel stop)
and before any long journey.
Check the tire pressures when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to
the values shown on the tire placard. The tire plac-
ard is located on the door pillar on the driver ’s side.
HB0382