2005 SUBARU LEGACY engine coolant

11 - 1
11
Maintenance and service
Maintenance schedule ................................. 11-3
Maintenance precautions ............................ 11-3 Before checking or servicing in the engine compartment .................................................. 11-4
When you do checking or servicing in the engine compartment while the engine is
running ............................................................ 11-5
Engine hood .................................................. 11-5
Engine compartment overview ................... 11-8 2.5-liter non-turbo models ................................ 11-8
2.5-liter non-turbo California-spec. models .... 11-9
2.5-liter turbo models ....................................... 11-10
3.0-liter models .................................................. 11-11
Engine oil ...................................................... 11-12 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-12
Changing the oil and oil filter .......................... 11-13
Recommended grade and viscosity ................ 11-16
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions .............................. 11-17
Cooling system ............................................. 11-18 Hose and connections ...................................... 11-19
Engine coolant .................................................. 11-19
Air cleaner element ...................................... 11-24 Replacing the air cleaner element ................... 11-24
Spark plugs ................................................... 11-29 Recommended spark plugs ............................. 11-29
Drive belts ..................................................... 11-30 2.5-liter models .................................................. 11-30
3.0-liter models .................................................. 11-30
Manual transmission oil ............................... 11-31 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-31
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-32
Automatic transmission fluid ...................... 11-33 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-33
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-35
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ...... 11-35 Checking the oil level ....................................... 11-35
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-36
Rear differential gear oil ............................... 11-37 Checking the gear oil level .............................. 11-37
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-40
Power steering fluid ...................................... 11-41 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-41
Recommended fluid ......................................... 11-42
Brake fluid ..................................................... 11-42 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-42
Recommended brake fluid ............................... 11-43
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) ............................ 11-43 Checking the fluid level .................................... 11-43
Recommended clutch fluid .............................. 11-44
Brake booster ................................................ 11-44
Brake pedal .................................................... 11-45 Checking the brake pedal free play ................ 11-45
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ... 11-45
Clutch pedal (Manual transmission vehicles) ..................................................... 11-46Checking the clutch function .......................... 11-46
Checking the clutch pedal free play ............... 11-46
Replacement of brake pad and lining ......... 11-47

11 - 4
Maintenance and service
the materials in the vehicle may be hazardous if
improperly used or handled, for example, bat-tery acid. "
Your vehicle should only be serviced by per-
sons fully competent to do so. Serious person-
al injury may result to persons not experienced
in servicing vehicles. " 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 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." Wear adequate eye protection to guard
against getting oil or fluids in your eyes. If
something does get in your eyes, thoroughly
wash them out with clean water. " Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS air-
bag system or seatbelt pretensioner system, or
attempt to take its connectors apart, as that may activate the system or it can render it inop-
erative. The wiring and connectors of these
systems are yellow for easy identification. NEV-
ER use a circuit tester for these wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensioner
needs service, consult your nearest SUBARU
dealer.
! Before checking or servicing in the en-
gine 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 the en-
gine 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 “ON”
position, the cooling fan may operate suddenly

11 - 8
Maintenance and service
Engine compartment overview !
2.5-liter non-turbo models
12 3 45 6
7
8
9
10
11
13 12
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1) Power steering fluid reservoir
(page 11-41)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge (MT) (page 11-31) or Dif-
ferential gear oil level gauge
(AT) (page 11-35)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-
43)
4) Automatic transmission fluid lev- el gauge (page 11-33)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11- 42)
6) Fuse box (page 11-68)
7) Battery (page 11-67)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-58)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-12)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-19)
11) Radiator cap (page 11-19)
12) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 12)
13) Air cleaner element (page 11- 24)

11 - 9
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
!2.5-liter non-turbo California-spec. models
123 45 6
7
8
9
10
11
13 12
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1) Power steering fluid reservoir
(page 11-41)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge (MT) (page 11-31) or Dif-
ferential gear oil level gauge
(AT) (page 11-35)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-
43)
4) Automatic transmission fluid lev- el gauge (page 11-33)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11- 42)
6) Fuse box (page 11-68)
7) Battery (page 11-67)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-58)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-12)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-19)
11) Radiator cap (page 11-19)
12) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 12)
13) Air cleaner element (page 11- 24)

11 - 1 0
Maintenance and service !
2.5-liter turbo models
12 4 6
35
13 12 11 10 9 8 7
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1) Power steering fluid reservoir (page 11-41)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge (MT) (page 11-31) or Dif-
ferential gear oil level gauge
(AT) (page 11-35)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-
43)
4) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11- 42)
5) Automatic transmission fluid lev- el gauge (page 11-33)
6) Fuse box (page 11-68)
7) Battery (page 11-67)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-58)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-12)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-19)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 12)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-19)
13) Air cleaner element (page 11- 24)

11-11
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
!3.0-liter models
12 3 45
12 10
11 9 8 76
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1) Power steering fluid reservoir
(page 11-41)
2) Differential gear oil level gauge (AT) (page 11-35)
3) Automatic transmission fluid lev- el gauge (page 11-33)
4) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-
42)
5) Fuse box (page 11-68)
6) Battery (page 11-67)
7) Windshield washer tank (page 11-58)
8) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-12)
9) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-19)
10) Radiator cap (page 11-19)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11- 12)
12) Air cleaner element (page 11-
24)

11 - 1 8
Maintenance and service
API classification SL (or SJ):
SAE viscosity No.:
30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50
Cooling system
Never attempt to remove the radiator cap until
the engine has been shut off and has cooled
down completely. Since the coolant is under
pressure, you may suffer serious burns from a
spray of boiling hot coolant when the cap is re-
moved.
"The cooling system has been filled at the fac-
tory with a high quality, corrosion-inhibiting,
year-around coolant which provides protection
against freezing down to –33 °F (–36 °C). For
adding, use genuine SUBARU coolant or an
equivalent: a mixture of 50% soft water and 50%
ethylene-glycol basis coolant. Use of improper
coolants may result in corrosion in the cooling
system. It is important to maintain protection
against freezing and corrosion, even if freezing
temperatures are not expected. Never mix dif-
ferent kinds of coolant. " Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-

11 -1 9
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the engine
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 exceeds the
normal operating range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
If the fuse is not blown, have the cooling system
checked by your SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is necessary, there may
be a leak in the engine cooling system. It is recom-
mended that the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness. !
Engine coolant
! Checking the coolant level
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.
FULL
LOW
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