2005 SUBARU FORESTER fuel

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
– CONTINUED –
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

11 -1 7
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
„Engine coolant
T Checking the coolant level
A) “FULL” level mark
B) “LOW” level mark
Check the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside of the reser-
voir 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 re-
fill as required. A) Rubber gaskets
3. After refilling the reserve tank and the radiator, re-
install the caps and check that the rubber gaskets in-
side the radiator cap are in the proper position.
y Be careful not to spill engine coolant when
adding it. If coolant touches the exhaust pipe, it
may cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire. y Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the engine
HSB018CC
A
B
A
HSB026BC

11 - 4 4
Maintenance and service
it difficult to steer the vehicle in a straight line, one
of the tires and/or wheels may be damaged. 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, adjust
the pressure of each tire (including the spare) at least
once a month (for example, during a fuel stop) and be-
fore 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 placard is lo-
cated on the door pillar on the driver’s side.
Driving even a short distance warms up the tires and
increases the tire pressures. Also, the tire pressures
are affected by the outside temperature. It is best to
check tire pressure outdoors before driving the vehi- cle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside it expands,
causing the tire pressure to increase. Be careful not to
mistakenly release air from a warm tire to reduce itspressure.
NOTE y
The air pressure in a tire increases by approxi-
mately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kgf/cm 2
) when the tire
becomes warm. y The tires are considered cold when the vehicle
has been parked for at least three hours or has
been driven less than one mile (1.6 km).
Do not let air out of warm tires to adjust press-rue. Doing so will result in low tire pressure.HS8024BA

11 -4 5
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
Incorrect tire pressures detract from controllability and
ride comfort, and they cause the tires to wear abnor-
mally. yCorrect tire pressure (tread worn evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is responsive. Roll-
ing resistance is low, so fuel consumption is also low-er. y
Abnormally low tire pressure (tread worn at
shoulders)
Rolling resistance is high, so fuel consumption is also
higher.
HSB052AA
HSB053AA

11 - 5 0
Maintenance and service
Aluminum wheels (if equipped)
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and damaged
easily. Handle them carefully to maintain their appear-
ance, performance, and safety. y
When any of the wheels is removed and replaced
for tire rotation or to change a flat, always check the
tightness of the wheel nuts after driving approximately
600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose, tighten it to
the specified torque.y Never apply oil to the threaded parts, wheel nuts, or
tapered surface of the wheel.y Never let the wheel rub against sharp protrusions or
curbs. y Be sure to fit tire chains on uniformly and completely
around the tire, otherwise the chains may scratch the
wheel.y When wheel nuts, balance weights, or the center
cap is replaced, be sure to replace them with genuine
SUBARU parts designed for aluminum wheels.Windshield washer fluid
Check the level of the washer fluid at each fuel stop. If
the level is low, fill the fluid up to the neck of the reser- voir.
Use windshield washer fluid. If windshield washer fluid
is unavailable use clean water.
In areas where water freezes in winter, use an anti-
freeze type windshield washer fluid. SUBARU Wind-
shield Washer Fluid contains 58.5% methyl alcohol
and 41.5% surfactant, by volume. Its freezing temper-
ature varies according to how much it is diluted, as in-
dicated in the following table.
HSB018IA

12-4
Specifications „
Capacities
AT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmission
Fuel tank15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)
Engine oil4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
Transmission oilMT3.7 US qt (3.5 liters, 3.1 Imp qt)
AT9.8 US qt (9.3 liters, 8.2 Imp qt)
AT differential gear oil1.3 US qt (1.2 liter, 1.1 Imp qt)
Rear differential gear oil0.8 US qt (0.8 liter, 0.7 Imp qt)
Power steering gear fluid0.7 US qt (0.7 liter, 0.6 Imp qt)
Engine coolant2.5-liter non-turbo modelsMT7.3 US qt (6.9 liters, 6.1 Imp qt)
AT7.2 US qt (6.8 liters, 6.0 Imp qt)
2.5-liter turbo modelsMT7.8 US qt (7.4 liters, 6.5 Imp qt)
AT7.7 US qt (7.3 liters, 6.4 Imp qt)

14-4
Index
Starting ........................................................... 7-9
Stopping ....................................................... 7-12
Exterior care ...................................................... 10-2 F
Flat tires .............................................................. 9-3
Floor mat ........................................................... 6-15Fluid level Automatic transmission .............................. 11-29
Brake .......................................................... 11-36
Clutch (MT vehicles) ................................... 11-37
Power steering ............................................ 11-34
Fog light button ................................................. 3-27
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ............ 11-31
Front seatbelt pretensioners .............................. 1-31
Front seats .......................................................... 1-2 Fore and aft adjustment ........................... 1-3, 1-5
Reclining .................................................. 1-4, 1-7
Fuel ..................................................................... 7-2 Economy hints ................................................ 8-2
Filler lid and cap ............................................. 7-4
Gauge ............................................................. 3-9
Requirements ................................................. 7-2
Fuses .............................................................. 11-60
Fuses and circuits ............................................. 12-6 G
GAWR ............................................................... 8-16
Glove box ............................................................ 6-5
Gross Axle Weight Rating ................................. 8-16
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ............................ 8-16
GVWR ............................................................... 8-16 H
Hazard warning flasher ....................................... 3-7
Headlight flasher ............................................... 3-24
Headlights ......................................................... 3-23
Headrest adjustment ......................................... 1-12
Heater operation ................................................. 4-6
High beam indicator light ................................... 3-21
Hill holder ............................................... 7-36, 11-40
Horn .................................................................. 3-40 I
Ignition switch ...................................................... 3-3
Illuminated entry ................................................ 2-11
Illumination brightness control ........................... 3-26
Immobilizer indicator light .................................... 2-5
Indicator light ..................................................... 3-12
Inside mirror ...................................................... 3-35
Interior lights ........................................................ 6-2