2005 SUBARU FORESTER maintenance

11 - 8
Maintenance and service
Engine compartment overview „
Non-turbo models
13 12 11 10 9 8 23
5
46
17USB102BB
1) Air cleaner element (page 11-
21)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge (MT) (page 11-27) or Dif-
ferential gear oil level gauge
(AT) (page 11-31)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-
37)
4) Automatic transmission fluid lev- el gauge (page 11-29)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11- 36)
6) Windshield washer tank (page
11-50)
7) Fuse box (page 11-60)
8) Battery (page 11-58)
9) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-16)
10) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-10)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 10)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-16)
13) Power steering fluid reservoir (page 11-34)

11 - 9
Maintenance and service
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„Turbo models
1
23 5
467
8
9
10
11
12
13
USB101BB
1) Manual transmission oil level
gauge (MT) (page 11-27) or Dif-
ferential gear oil level gauge
(AT) (page 11-31)
2) Air cleaner element (page 11- 21)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-
37)
4) Automatic transmission fluid lev- el gauge (page 11-29)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11- 36)
6) Windshield washer tank (page
11-50)
7) Fuse box (page 11-60)
8) Battery (page 11-58)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-10)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-16)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 10)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-16)
13) Power steering fluid reservoir (page 11-34)

11 - 1 0
Maintenance and service
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 the en-
gine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert it
again.
3. Be sure the dipstick is correctly inserted until it
stops with the graphic symbol “ ” on its top ap-
pearing as shown in the illustration. A) Notch
B) Upper level
C) Lower level
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.
y Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity. y Be careful not to spill engine oil when adding
it. If oil touches the exhaust pipe, it may cause
HSB018BA
A B
C
UGB082BC

11-11
Maintenance and service
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a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire.
If you check the oil level just after stopping the engine,
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 en-
gine oil level reading may be in a range between the
upper level and the notch mark. This is caused by ther-
mal expansion of the engine oil.
To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not add any
additional oil above the upper level when the engine is cold. „ Changing the oil and oil filter
Change the oil and oil filter according to the mainte-
nance schedule in the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.
The engine oil and oil filter must be changed more fre-
quently than listed in the maintenance schedule when
driving on dusty roads, when short trips are frequently
made, when towing a trailer, or when driving in ex-
tremely cold whether.
1. Warm up the engine by letting the engine idle for
about 10 minutes to ease draining the engine oil.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop the en- gine.
3. Remove the oil filler cap.
4. Open the access cover by removing the six clips
and turning the access cover counterclockwise. The
drain plug will be exposed.
HSB025BA

11 - 1 2
Maintenance and service
5. Drain out the engine oil by removing the drain plug
while the engine is still warm. The used oil should be
drained into an appropriate container and disposed of
properly.
Be careful not to burn yourself with hot engine
oil.
6. Wipe the seating surface of the drain plug with a
clean cloth and tighten it securely with a new sealing
washer after the oil has completely drained out. 7. Remove the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
8. Before installing a new oil filter, apply a thin coat of
engine oil to the seal.
9. Clean the rubber seal seating area of the bottom of
engine and install the oil filter by hand turning. Be
careful not to twist or damage the seal.
10.Tighten the oil filter by the amount indicated in the
following table after the seal makes contact with the
bottom of engine.
HSB020DAHSB020EA

11 -1 3
Maintenance and service
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Never over tighten the oil filter because that can
result in an oil leak.
11.Close the access cover by turning it clockwise and
reinstall the six clips in their original positions.
12.Pour engine oil through the filler neck.
Oil quantity (guideline):
4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
The oil quantity indicated above is only a guideline.
The necessary quantity of oil depends on the quantity
of oil that has been drained. The quantity of drained oil
differs slightly depending on the temperature of the oil
and the time the oil is left flowing out. After pouring oil
into the engine, therefore, you must use the dipstick to
confirm that the level is correct.
13.Start the engine and make sure that no oil leaks ap- pear around the filter’s rubber seal.
14.Run the engine until it reaches the normal operat-
ing temperature. Then stop the engine and wait a few
minutes to allow the oil drain back. Check the oil level
again and if necessary, add more engine oil. „
Recommended grade and viscosity
Oil grade:
ILSAC GF-3, which can be identified with the new
API certification mark (Starburst mark)
or API classification SL with the words “ENERGY
CONSERVING” (if you cannot obtain the oil with
SL grade, you may use SJ grade “ENERGY CON-
SERVING” oil).
These recommended oil grades can be identified by
looking for either or both of the following marks dis-
played on the oil container.
Oil filter color Part number Amount of rotation
Black 15208AA080 1 rotation
White 15208AA09A 2/3 – 3/4 rotation

11 - 1 4
Maintenance and service
API Service label
A) Indicates the oil quality by API designations
B) Indicates the SAE oil viscosity grade
C) Indicates that the oil has fuel saving capabilities
New API Certification Mark (Starburst Mark)
In choosing an oil, you want the proper quality and vis-
cosity, as well as one that will add to fuel economy.
The following table lists the recommended viscosities
and applicable temperatures.
When adding oil, different brands may be used togeth-
er as long as they are the same API classification and
SAE viscosity as those recommended by SUBARU.
APISERVICESL
ENERGYCONSERVING
SAE
5W-30
A
B
C
HSB022BC
AMERICANPETROLEUMINSTITUTE
CERTIFIED
HSB023AA

11 -1 5
Maintenance and service
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SAE viscosity number and applicable temperature
*: 5W-30 is preferred.
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.
Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity. „
Recommended grade and viscosity
under severe driving conditions
If the vehicle is used in desert areas, in areas with very
high temperatures, or used for heavy-duty applica-
tions such as towing a trailer, use of oil with the follow-
ing grade and viscosities is recommended.
API classification SL (or SJ):
SAE viscosity No.:
30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50
„ Synthetic oil
You can use synthetic engine oil that meets the same
requirements given for conventional engine oil. When
using synthetic oil, you must use oil of the same clas-
sification, viscosity and grade shown in this owner’s
manual, and must follow the oil and filter changing in-
tervals shown in the maintenance schedule.
5W-30*
10W-30, 10W-40
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
-20
06 0
20 80 100 40
UGB084BA