2005 SUBARU LEGACY octane

7-2
Starting and operating
Starting and operatingFuel
Use of a fuel which is low in quality or use of an
inappropriate fuel additive may cause engine
damage.
! Fuel requirements
! 2.5-liter non-turbo models
The 2.5-liter non-turbo engine is designed to operate
using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87
AKI or higher. ! 2.5-liter turbo models and 3.0-liter models
The 2.5-liter turbo engine and 3.0-liter engine are de-
signed to operate using premium unleaded gasoline
with an octane rating of 91 AKI or higher. If premium
unleaded gasoline is not available, regular unleaded
gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI or higher may
be temporarily used.
For optimum engine performance and driveability, it is
required (for 2.5-liter turbo models), and recommend-
ed (for 3.0-liter models) that you use premium grade
unleaded gasoline.
NOTE
Be sure to use premium unleaded gasoline of 91
AKI or higher for a 2.5-liter turbo engine model. If
other gasoline (lower than 91 AKI) is used, knock-
ing, reduced output and poor accelerator re-
sponse will result. ! Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of the Research Oc-
tane and Motor Octane numbers and is commonly re-
ferred to as the Anti Knock Index (AKI).
Using a gasoline with a lower octane rating can cause
persistent and heavy knocking, which can damage the
engine. Do not be concerned if your vehicle some-
times knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when
you accelerate. See your dealer or a qualified service
technician if you use a fuel with the specified octane
rating and your vehicle knocks heavily or persistently. ! Unleaded gasoline
The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designed to accept
only an unleaded gasoline filler nozzle. Under no cir-
cumstances should leaded gasoline be used because
it will damage the emission control system and may
impair driveability and fuel economy. ! California fuel
If your vehicle was certified to California Emission

7-3
Starting and operating
– CONTINUED –
Standards as indicated on the underhood tune-up la-
bel. It is designed to optimize engine and emission
control system performance with gasoline that meets
the clean burning low-sulfur California gasoline speci-
fications. If you live in any other state than California,
your vehicle will operate on gasoline meeting Federal
specifications. Gasoline sold outside California is per-
mitted to have higher sulfur levels, which may affect
the performance of your vehicle’s catalytic converter
and may produce a sulfur exhaust odor or smell. SUB-
ARU recommends that you try a different brand of un-
leaded gasoline having lower sulfur to determine if the
problem is fuel related before returning your vehicle to
an authorized dealer for service. The CHECK EN-
GINE warning light/Malfunction indicator lamp may
also turn on. If this occurs, return to your authorized
SUBARU dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined that
the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, re-
pairs may not be covered by your warranty. !MMT
Some gasoline contains an octane-enhancing additive
called MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tri-
carbonyl). If you use such fuels, your emission control
system performance may deteriorate and the CHECK
ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicator lamp may
turn on. If this happens, return to your authorized
SUBARU Dealer for service. If it is determined that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty. !
Gasoline for cleaner air
Do not let fuel spill on the exterior surfaces of
the vehicle. Fuels containing alcohol may
cause paint damage, which is not covered un-
der the SUBARU Limited Warranty.
Your use of gasoline with detergent additives will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system. This helps keep your engine in tune and your
emission control system working properly, and is a
way of doing your part for cleaner air. If you continu-
ously use a high quality fuel with the proper detergent
and other additives, you should never need to add any
fuel system cleaning agents to your fuel tank.
Many gasolines are now blended with materials called
oxygenates. Use of these fuels can also help keep the
air cleaner. Oxygenated blend fuels, such as MTBE
(Methyl Tertiary Butyl ether) or ethanol (ethyl or grain
alcohol) may be used in your vehicle, but should con-
tain no more than 15% MTBE or 10% ethanol for the
proper operation of your SUBARU.

7-4
Starting and operating
In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now produc-
ing reformulated gasolines, which are designed to re-
duce vehicle emissions. SUBARU approves the use of reformulated gasoline.
If you are not sure what the fuel contains, you should
ask your service station operators if their gasolines
contain detergents and oxygenates and if they have
been reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions.
As additional guidance, only use fuels suited for your
vehicle as explained below. "
Fuel should be unleaded and have an octane rating
no lower than that specified in this manual. " Methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) is sometimes
mixed with unleaded gasoline. Methanol can be used
in your vehicle ONLY if it does not exceed 5% of the
fuel mixture AND if it is accompanied by sufficient
quantities of the proper cosolvents and corrosion in-
hibitors required to prevent damage to the fuel system.
Do not use fuel containing methanol EXCEPT under
these conditions. " If undesirable driveability problems are experienced
and you suspect they may be fuel related, try a differ-
ent brand of gasoline before seeking service at your
SUBARU dealer. " Fuel system damage or driveability problems which
result from the use of improper fuel are not covered under the SUBARU Limited Warranty. !
Fuel filler lid and cap
! Refueling
0
UB7500CA

GAS STATION REFERENCE
Fuel: !2.5-liter non-turbo models
Use only unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
87 AKI or higher. ! 2.5-liter turbo models and 3.0-liter models
Use premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rat-
ing of 91 AKI or higher. For temporary purposes if
premium unleaded gasoline is not available, you
may use regular unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating of 87 AKI or higher. For optimum engine per-
formance and driveability, it is required (for 2.5-liter
turbo models), and recommended (for 3.0-liter mod-
els) that you use premium grade unleaded gasoline. ! Fuel octane rating
This octane rating is the average of the Research Octane and Motor Octane numbers and is commonly
referred to as the Anti Knock Index (AKI). Refer to
“Fuel” section in this manual.
Fuel capacity:
16.9 US gal (64 liters, 14.1 Imp gal) Engine oil:
Use only API classification SL with the words “EN-
ERGY CONSERVING” and the New API certification
mark (starburst mark) displayed on the container. Engine oil capacity:
2.5-liter models: 4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
3.0-liter models: 5.8 US qt (5.5 liters, 4.8 Imp qt)
Cold tire pressure: Tire size P205/55R16 89H 215/45ZR17 P225/60R16 97H P225/55R17 95V
Wheel size 16 x 6.5JJ 17 x 7JJ 16 x 6.5JJ 17 x 7JJ
Pressure Front 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm2
) 35 psi
(240 kPa, 2.4 kgf/cm 2
) 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2
)
Rear 30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm 2
) 33 psi
(230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
) 30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2
)
Rear at trail-
er towing – 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2
)
Temporary
spare tire Size T135/80D16 T135/70D17 T155/70D17
Pressure
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2
)