2003 SUBARU FORESTER engine

7-29
Starting and operating
–CONTINUED –
they may burn easily if they come near hot en-
gine or exhaust system parts.Be sure to stop the engine if you take a nap in
the vehicle. If engine exhaust gas enters the
passenger compartment, occupants in the ve-
hicle could die from carbon monoxide (CO)
contained in the exhaust gas. Hill holder (for manual transmission
— if equipped)
The Hill holder is a device to make starting on an uphill
grade easier.
On an uphill grade, when the clutch pedal is de-
pressed while the brake pedal is also depressed, brak-
ing power is maintained temporarily by the Hill holder
when the brake pedal is released. The driver is there-
fore able to start the vehicle the same way as on a lev-
el grade, just using the clutch and accelerator pedal.
HS7021BA

8-1
8
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the first
1,000 miles (1,600 km) ................................. 8-2
Fuel economy hints ..................................... 8-2
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .. 8-3
Catalytic converter ...................................... 8-4
Periodic inspections ................................... 8-5
Driving in foreign countries ........................ 8-5
Driving tips for AWD vehicles .................... 8-6
Off road driving ........................................... 8-7
Winter driving .............................................. 8-9 Operation during cold weather ...................... 8-9
Driving on snowy and icy roads .................... 8-11
Corrosion protection ...................................... 8-12
Snow tires ........................................................ 8-12
Tire chains ....................................................... 8-13
Rocking the vehicle ........................................ 8-13
Loading your vehicle .................................. 8-14 Vehicle capacity weight .................................. 8-15
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ......... 8-16
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ............. 8-17
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ........................... 8-22 Connecting a trailer ........................................ 8-22
When you do not tow a trailer ........................ 8-24
Trailer towing ............................................... 8-25 Warranties and maintenance ......................... 8-25
Maximum load limits ....................................... 8-25
Trailer hitches ................................................. 8-30
Connecting a trailer ........................................ 8-31 Trailer towing tips ........................................... 8-32

8-2
Driving tips
Driving tips
New vehicle break-in driving – the
first 1,000 miles (1,600 km)
The performance and long life of your vehicle are de-
pendent on how you handle and care for your vehicle
while it is new. Follow these instructions during the
first 1,000 miles (1,600 km):
Do not race the engine. And do not allow engine
speed to exceed 4,000 rpm except in an emergency. Do not drive at one constant engine or vehicle
speed for a long time, either fast or slow. Avoid starting suddenly and rapid acceleration, ex-
cept in an emergency. Avoid hard braking, except in an emergency.
The same break-in procedures should be applied to
an overhauled engine, newly mounted engine or when
brake pads or brake linings are replaced with new
ones.
Fuel economy hints
The following suggestions will help to save your fuel. Select the proper gear position for the speed and
road conditions. Avoid sudden acceleration or deceleration. Always
accelerate gently until you reach the desired speed.
Then try to maintain that speed for as long as possible. Do not pump the accelerator and avoid racing the
engine. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
Keep the engine properly tuned.
Keep the tires inflated to the correct pressure shown
on the tire placard, which is located under the door
latch on the driver’s side. Low pressure will increase
tire wear and fuel consumption. Use the air conditioner only when necessary.
Keep the front and rear wheels in proper alignment.
Avoid carrying unnecessary cargo.

8-3
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
Engine exhaust gas (Carbon monox-
ide)
Never inhale engine exhaust gas. Engine ex-
haust gas contains carbon monoxide, a color-
less and odorless gas which is dangerous, or
even lethal, if inhaled. Always properly maintain the engine exhaust
system to prevent engine exhaust gas from en-
tering the vehicle. Never run the engine in a closed space, such
as a garage, except for the brief time needed to
drive the vehicle in or out of it. Avoid remaining in a parked vehicle for a
lengthy time while the engine is running. If that
is unavoidable, then use the ventilation fan to
force fresh air into the vehicle. Always keep the front ventilator inlet grille
free from snow, leaves or other obstructions to
ensure that the ventilation system always
works properly. If at any time you suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering the vehicle, have the problem
checked and corrected as soon as possible. If
you must drive under these conditions, drive only with all windows fully open.
Keep the rear gate closed while driving to
prevent exhaust gas from entering the vehicle.
NOTE
Due to the expansion and contraction of the met-
als used in the manufacture of the exhaust sys-
tem, you may hear a crackling sound coming from
the exhaust system for a short time after the en-
gine has been shut off. This sound is normal.

8-4
Driving tips
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter is installed in the exhaust sys-
tem. It serves as catalyst to reduce HC, CO and NOx
in exhaust gases, thus providing cleaner exhaust.
To avoid damage to the catalytic converter:
Use only unleaded fuel. Even a small amount of
leaded fuel will damage the catalytic converter. Never start the engine by pushing or pulling the ve-
hicle. Avoid racing the engine.
Never turn off the ignition switch while the vehicle is
moving.
Keep your engine tuned-up. If you feel the engine
running rough (misfiring, backfiring or incomplete
combustion), have your vehicle checked and repaired
by an authorized SUBARU dealer. Do not apply undercoating or rust prevention treat-
ment to the heat shield of catalytic converter and the
exhaust system.
Avoidfirehazards.Donotdriveorparkthe
vehicle anywhere near flammable materials
(e.g. grass, paper, rags or leaves), because the
catalytic converter operates at very high tem-
peratures. Keep everyone and flammable materials
away from the exhaust pipe while the engine is
running. The exhaust gas is very hot.
HS8002BA

8-6
Driving tips
Driving tips for AWD vehicles
All wheel drive distributes the engine power to all four
wheels. AWD vehicles provide better traction when
driving on slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt and sand. By shifting
power between the front and rear wheels, SUBARU
AWD can also provide added traction during acceler-
ation and added engine braking force during deceler-
ation.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle may handle
differently than an ordinary two wheel drive vehicle
and it contains some features unique to AWD. For
safety purposes as well as to avoid damaging the
AWD system, you should keep the following tips inmind:
An AWD vehicle is better able to climb steeper
roads under snowy or slippery conditions than a two
wheel drive vehicle. There is little difference in han-
dling, however, during extremely sharp turns or sud-
den braking. Therefore, when driving down a slope or
turning corners, be sure to reduce your speed and
maintain an ample distance from other vehicles. When replacing a tire, make sure you use only the
same size, construction, brand, and load range as the
original tires listed on the tire placard. Using other siz-
es or construction may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your vehicle and may af-
fect ride, handling, braking, speedometer/odometer
calibration, and clearance between the body and tires.
It also may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control. Always check the cold tire pressure before starting
to drive. The recommended tire pressure is provided
on the tire placard, which is located under the door
latch on the driver’s side. Tire chains should always be placed on the front
wheels only. There are some precautions that you must observe
when towing your vehicle. For detail information, see
HS8003BA

8-8
Driving tips

Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering
wheel. A bad bump could jerk the wheel and injure
your hands. Instead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim. If driving through water, such as when crossing
shallow streams, first check the depth of the water and
the bottom of the stream bed for firmness and ensure
that the bed of the stream is flat. Drive slowly and com-
pletely through the stream. The water should be shal-
low enough that it does not reach the vehicle’s
undercarriage. Water entering the engine air intake or
the exhaust pipe or water splashing onto electrical
parts may damage your vehicle and may cause it to
stall. Never attempt to drive through rushing water; re-
gardless of its depth, it can wash away the ground
from under your tires, resulting in possible loss of trac-
tion and even vehicle rollover. Always check your brakes for effectiveness immedi-
ately after driving in sand, mud or water. Do this by
driving slowly and stepping on the brake pedal. Re-
peat that process several times to dry out the brake
discs and brake pads. Do not drive or park over or near flammable materi-
als such as dry grass or fallen leaves, as they may
burn easily. The exhaust system is very hot while the
engine is running and right after the engine stops. This
could create a fire hazard.
After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, riv-
ers, etc., check that there is no grass, bush, paper,
rags, stones, sand, etc. adhering to or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter from the under-
body. If the vehicle is use d with these materials
trapped or adhering to the underbody, a mechanical
breakdown or fire could occur. Secure all cargo carried inside the vehicle and make
certain that it is not piled higher than the seatbacks.
During sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo could
be thrown around in the vehicle and cause injury. Do
not pile heavy loads on the roof. Those loads raise the
vehicle’s center of gravity and make it more prone to
tip over. If you must rock the vehicle to free it from sand or
mud, depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move
the selector lever back and forth between “D” and “R”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For the best pos-
sible traction, avoid spinning the wheels when trying to
free the vehicle.
When the road surface is extremely slippery, you can
obtain better traction by starting the vehicle with the
transmission in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT). Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those
specified in this manual. Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle under hard-driv-
ing conditions such as rough roads or off roads will ne-

8-9
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
cessitate more frequent replacement of engine oil,
brake fluid and transmission oil than that specified in
the maintenance schedule described in the “Warranty
and Maintenance Booklet”.
Remember that damage done to your Subaru while
operating it off-road and not using common sense pre-
cautions such as those listed above is not eligible for
warranty coverage.
Always maintain a safe driving speed accord-
ing to the road and weather conditions in order
to avoid having an accident on a sharp turn,
during sudden braking or under other similar
conditions. Always use the utmost care in driving – over-
confidence because you are driving an all
wheel drive vehicle could easily lead to a seri-
ous accident.
Winter driving Operation during cold weather
Carry some emergency equipment, such as tire
chains, a window scraper, a bag of sand, flares, a
small shovel, and jumper cables.
Check the battery and cables. Cold temperatures re-
duce battery capacity. The battery must be in good
condition to provide enough power for cold winterstarts.
Use an engine oil of proper grade and viscosity for
cold weather. Heavy summer oil will cause harder
HS8004AA