2006 SUBARU BAJA engine oil

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Maintenance and service
a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If engine oil
gets on the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
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.
To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not add any
additional oil above the upper level when the engine is cold.
The dipstick has a notch above the upper 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. „ Changing the oil and oil filter
„
Changing
„ Oil and oil filterChange 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, or when driving in extremely cold whether.
1. Warm up the engine by letting the engine idle for
approximately 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.
1) Drain plug
4. 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
1
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Maintenance and service
7. Slide the cover toward the vehicle front to remove it.
8. Remove the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
9. Before installing a new oil
filter, apply a thin coat of
engine oil to the seal.
10.Clean the rubber seal seat ing area of the bottom of
engine and install the oil filter by hand turning. Be
careful not to twist or damage the seal.
11.Tighten the oil filter by the amount indicated in the
following table after the seal makes contact with the
bottom of engine.
y Never over tighten the oil filter because that
can result in an oil leak. y Thoroughly wipe off any engine oil that has
spilled over the exhaust pipe and/or under-cov-
er. If left unremoved, th e oil could catch fire.
12.Reinstall the cover under the oil filter.
13.Pour engine oil through the filler neck.
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Model Oil filter color Part number Amount of
rotation
Non-turbo models Black 15208AA100 1 rotation
White 15208AA09A
2/3 – 3/4 ro-
tation
15208AA060
Turbo mod- els Black 15208AA100 1 rotation
White 15208AA09A 2/3 – 3/4 ro-
tation

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Maintenance and service
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Oil capacity (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 o il 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.
14.Start the engine and make sure that no oil leaks ap-
pear around the filter’s rubber seal and drain plug.
15.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
„Recommended
„ Oil grade and viscosity
Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity.
Oil grade:
ILSAC GF-4, which can be identified with the IL-
SAC certification mark (Starburst mark)
or API classification SM with the words “ENERGY
CONSERVING”
These recommended oil grades can be identified by
looking for either or both of the following marks dis-
played on the oil container.
ILSAC Certification Mark (Starburst Mark)
HSB023AA

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Maintenance and service
API Service label
1) Indicates the oil quality by API designations
2) Indicates the SAE oil viscosity grade
3) Indicates that the oil
has fuel saving capabilities
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. SAE viscosity No. and applicable temperature
*: 5W-30 is preferred.
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) affects fuel economy.
Oils of lower viscosity pr ovide better fuel economy.
However, in hot weather, oil of higher viscosity is re-
quired to properly lubricate the engine. „ Recommended grade and viscosity
under severe driving conditions
„Recommended
„ Oil grade and viscosityIf 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.
APISERVICESM
ENERGYCONSERVING
SAE
5W-30
1
2
3
B00446
5W-30*10W-30, 10W-40
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
-20
06 0
20 80 100 40
HSB024BA

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Maintenance and service
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API classification SM (or SL):
SAE viscosity No.:
30, 40, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50
Cooling systemCooling 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.
yThe 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. y Do not splash the engine coolant over paint-

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Maintenance and service
Turbo models
2. Place a proper container under the drain plug and
loosen the drain plug.
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. 3. Loosen the radiator cap to drain the coolant from
the radiator. Then drain the coolant from the reserve
tank. Tighten the drain plug securely.
NOTE (Turbo models)
The cap (without tabs) on top of the radiator does
not need to be removed. To add coolant, remove
the cap (with tabs) on th
e coolant tank on top of
the engine.
Non-turbo models
1) Filler neck
2) Fill up to here
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Maintenance and service
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„Recommended grade and viscosity„
Recommended
„ Oil grade and viscosityEach oil manufacturer has its own base oils and addi-
tives. Never use differ ent brands together.
Oil grade:
API classification GL-5
SAE viscosity No. and applicable temperature
Automatic transmission fluidAutomatic transmission
Fluid
Fluid level
Automatic transmission
„ Checking the fluid level„Checking
„ Fluid levelThe automatic transmission fluid expands largely as
its temperature rises; the fluid level differs according to
fluid temperature. Therefore, there are two different
scales for checking the level of hot fluid and cold fluid
on the dipstick.
Though the fluid level can be checked without warm-
ing up the fluid on the “COLD” range, we recommend
checking the fluid level when the fluid is at operating
temperature. T Checking the fluid level when the fluid is hot
Check the fluid level monthly.
1. Drive the vehicle several miles to raise the temper-
ature of the transmission fluid up to normal operating
temperature; 158 to 176 °F (70 to 80 °C) is normal.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the park-
ing brake.
3. First shift the selector lever in each position. Then
shift it in the “P” position, and run the engine at idling
speed.
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
-20 0 60 20
80W
75W/90 80 100
40
85W 90
HSB036BA

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Maintenance and service
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Aluminum wheelsAluminum wheels
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and damaged
easily. Handle them carefully to maintain their appear-
ance, performance, and safety. yWhen any of the wheels is removed and replaced
for tire rotation or to c hange 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 t he 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 fluidWindshield
Washer fluid
Never use engine coolant as washer fluid be-
cause it could cause paint damage.
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-
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