6-29
Interior equipment
– CONTINUED –
Convenient tie-down hooks (if
equipped)
The convenient tie-down hooks are designed
only for securing light cargo. Never try to se-
cure cargo that exceeds the capacity of the
hooks. The maximum load capacity is 44 lbs (20
kg) per hook.
The cargo area is equipped with four tie-down hooks so that cargo can be secured with a luggage net or
ropes.
When using the tie-down hooks, turn them down out of
the storing recesses. When not in use, put the hooks
up into the storing recesses.
UB6238BA
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 .................................... 8-6
Driving in foreign countries ......................... 8-7
Driving tips for AWD vehicles ..................... 8-7
Off road driving ............................................ 8-9
Winter driving ............................................... 8-12 Operation during cold weather ........................ 8-12
Driving on snowy and icy roads ...................... 8-13
Corrosion protection ........................................ 8-14
Snow tires .......................................................... 8-15
Tire chains ......................................................... 8-17
Rocking the vehicle .......................................... 8-17
Loading your vehicle ................................... 8-18 Vehicle capacity weight .................................... 8-19
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating) ........ 8-20
Roof rail and crossbar (if equipped) ............... 8-21
Trailer hitch (if equipped) ............................ 8-27 Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-27
When you do not tow a trailer .......................... 8-30
Trailer towing ................................................ 8-31 Warranties and maintenance ........................... 8-31
Maximum load limits ......................................... 8-31
Trailer hitches ................................................... 8-37
Connecting a trailer .......................................... 8-38 Trailer towing tips ............................................. 8-40
8-12
Driving tips
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 starting.
Keep the door locks from freezing by squirting them
with deicer or glycerin.
Forcing a frozen door open may damage or separate
the rubber weather strips around the door. If the door
is frozen, use hot water to melt the ice, and afterwards
thoroughly wipe the water away.
Use a windshield washer fluid that contains an anti-
freeze solution. Do not use engine antifreeze or other
substitutes because they may damage the paint of the vehicle. !
Before driving your vehicle
Before entering the vehicle, remove any snow or ice
from your shoes because that could make the pedals
slippery and dangerous.
While warming up the vehicle before driving, check
that the accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and all other
controls operate smoothly.
Clear away ice and snow that has accumulated under
the fenders to avoid making steering difficult. During
severe winter driving, stop when and where it is safe
to do so and check under the fenders periodically.
UB8500AA
8-19
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
Do not carry spray cans, containers with flam-
mable or corrosive liquids or any other danger-
ous items inside the vehicle.
NOTE
For better fuel economy, do not carry unneeded
cargo. !Vehicle capacity weight
The load capacity of your vehicle is determined by
weight, not by available cargo space. The maximum
load you can carry in your vehicle is shown on the ve-
hicle placard attached to the driver’s side door pillar. It
includes the total weight of driver and all passengers
and their belongings, any optional equipment such as
a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier, etc., and the
tongue load of a trailer.
UB8200BA
UB8201BA
8-20
Driving tips
!
GVWR and GAWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating and Gross Axle Weight Rating)
Certification label
The certification label attached to the driver’s side
door shows GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
and GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must never exceed
the GVWR. GVW is the combined total of weight of the
vehicle, fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage, any op-
tional equipment and trailer tongue load. Therefore,
the GVW changes depending on the situation. In addition, the total weight applied to each axle
(GAW) must never exceed the GAWR. The front and
rear GAWs can be adjusted by relocating luggage in-
side the vehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is lower than
the vehicle capacity weight, either front or rear GAW
may exceed the GAWR, depending on the distribution
of the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly distributed
throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you should con-
firm that GVW and front and rear GAWs are within the
GVWR and GAWR by putting your vehicle on a vehi-
cle scale, found at a commercial weighing station.
Do not use replacement tires with a lower load range
than the originals because they may lower the GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a high-
er load range than the originals do not increase the
GVWR and GAWR limitations.
UB8222BA
8-39
Driving tips
– CONTINUED –
!Side mirrors
After hitching a trailer to your vehicle, check that the
standard side mirrors provide a good rearward field of
view without significant blind spots. If significant blind
spots occur with the vehicle’s standard side mirrors,
use towing mirrors that conform with Federal, state/
province and/or other applicable regulations. ! Trailer lights
Direct splicing or other improper connection of
trailer lights may damage your vehicle’s electri- cal system and cause a malfunction of your ve-
hicle’s lighting system.
Connection of trailer lights to your vehicle’s electrical
system requires modifications to the vehicle’s lighting
circuit to increase its capacity and accommodate wir-
ing changes. To ensure the trailer lights are connected
properly, please consult your SUBARU dealer. Check
for proper operation of the turn signals, the brake
lights and parking lights each time you hitch up. ! Tires
Never tow a trailer when the temporary spare
tire is used. The temporary spare tire is not de-
signed to sustain the towing load. Use of the
temporary spare tire when towing can result in
failure of the spare tire and/or less stability of
the vehicle.
Make sure that all the tires on your vehicle are properly
inflated.
The recommended cold tire pressure under trailer tow-
ing conditions is shown in chapter 12, “Specifications”
UB8501BA
11 -1 5
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
washer after the oil has completely drained out.
6. Remove the under cover.
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.
Never over tighten the oil filter because that can
result in an oil leak.
11.Reinstall the cover under the oil filter.
12.Pour engine oil through the filler neck.
Oil capacity (Guideline): 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)
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 refilling the
engine with oil, 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 and drain plug.
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.
Model Oil filter color Part number Amount of
rotation
2.5-liter
non-turbo
models Black 15208AA080 1 rotation
White 15208AA060 15208AA09A 2/3 – 3/4
rotation
2.5-liter
turbo models Black 15208AA080 1 rotation
White 15208AA09A 2/3 – 3/4 rotation
3.0-liter
models Black 15208AA031 3/4 rotation
11 - 2 2
Maintenance and service
Turbo models
A) Fill up to here
5. Slowly pour the coolant and fill up to just below the
filler neck, allowing enough room to add genuine Sub-
aru cooling system conditioner in the radiator. Add
genuine Subaru cooling system conditioner until the
coolant level reaches the filler neck. Do not pour the
coolant too quickly, as this may lead to insufficient air
bleeding and trapped air in the system.
Coolant capacity (Guideline): 2.5-liter non-turbo models: MT. 6.8 US qt (6.4 liters, 5.6 Imp qt)
AT. 6.7 US qt (6.3 liters, 5.5 Imp qt)
2.5-liter turbo models: MT. 7.7 US qt (7.3 liters, 6.4 Imp qt)
AT. 7.6 US qt (7.2 liters, 6.3 Imp qt)
3.0-liter models:
7.6 US qt (7.2 liters, 6.3 Imp qt)
" 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. " Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-
ed parts. The alcohol contained in the engine
coolant may damage the paint surface.
A
UBB511BB