Page 283 of 364
&Turbo models1) Air cleaner element (page 11-15)
2) Manual transmission oil level gauge (MT)
(page 11-19) or Differential gear oil level
gauge (AT) (page 11-21)
3) Automatic transmission fluid level gauge (page 11-20)
4) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-26)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-25)
6) Fuse box (page 11-42)
7) Battery (page 11-41)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-36)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-8)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-13)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11-8)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-13)
13) Power steering fluid reservoir (page 11- 24)Maintenance and service
11-7
Page 295 of 364
Manual transmission oil &Checking the oil level
5-speed transmission (Non-turbo model)
1) Yellow handle
5-speed transmission (Turbo model)
6-speed transmission
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
insert it again.
1) Upper level
2) Lower level
3. Pull out the dipstick again and check
the oil level on it. If it is below the lower
level, add oil through the dipstick hole to
bring the level up to the upper level.
CAUTION
Be careful not to spill manual trans-
mission oil when adding it. If oil
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a
fire. If oil gets on the exhaust pipe,
be sure to wipe it off. Maintenance and service
11-19
– CONTINUED –
Page 296 of 364

11-20Maintenance and service
&Recommended grade and viscosity
Each oil manufacturer has its own base
oils and additives. Never use different
brands together.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5
SAE viscosity No. and applicable tempera- ture Automatic transmission fluid &
Checking the fluid level
The 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 warming up the fluid on the“ COLD ”range, we recommend checking
the fluid level when the fluid is at operatingtemperature. ! Checking the fluid level when the
fluid is hot
1. Drive the vehicle several miles to raise
the temperature of the transmission fluid
up to normal operating temperature; 158
to 176 8F (70 to 80 8C) is normal.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
set the parking brake.
3. First shift the selector lever in each
position. Then shift it in the “P ” position,
and run the engine at idling speed.
1) Yellow handle
1) HOT range
2) COLD range
3) Upper level
4) Lower level
Page 297 of 364

4. Pull out the dipstick and check the fluid
level on the gauge. If it is below the lower
level on the“HOT ”range, add the recom-
mended automatic transmission fluid up to
the upper level. ! Checking the fluid level when the
fluid is cold
When the fluid level has to be checked
without time to warm up the automatic
transmission, check to see that the fluid
level is between the lower level and upper
level on the “COLD ”range. If it is below
that range, add fluid up to the upper level.
Be careful not to overfill.
CAUTION
Be careful not to spill automatic
transmission fluid when adding it.
If automatic transmission fluid
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a
fire. If automatic transmission fluid
gets on the exhaust pipe, be sure to
wipe it off. &
Recommended fluid
Use one of the following types of auto-
matic transmission fluid. Genuine Subaru Automatic Transmis-
sion Fruid Type-HP
IDEMITSU ATF HP
Castrol Transmax J
Pennzoil ATF-J*
* Available only in the USA (except
Alaska and Hawaii)
NOTE
For optimum transmission perfor-
mance, only use the automatic trans-
mission fluid that is recommended and
provided by Subaru.
If the recommended automatic trans-
mission fluid is unavailable, Dexron III
may be temporarily used. If the Dexron
III is used continuously there will be a
noticeable increase in the vibration and
noise from the automatic transmission. Front differential gear oil (AT
vehicles) &
Checking the oil level
1) Yellow handle
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
insert it again. Maintenance and service
11-21
– CONTINUED –
Page 301 of 364

&Recommended fluid
Use one of the following types of auto-
matic transmission fluid. “Dexron III ”Type Automatic Transmis-
sion Fluid
Genuine Subaru Automatic Transmis-
sion Fluid Type-HP Brake fluid &
Checking the fluid level
1) “MAX ”level mark
2) “MIN ”level mark
Check the fluid level monthly.
Check the fluid level on the outside of the
reservoir. If the level is below “MIN ”, add
the recommended brake fluid to “MAX ”.
Use only brake fluid from a sealed
container.
WARNING
. Never let brake fluid contact your
eyes because brake fluid can be
harmful to your eyes. If brake
fluid gets in your eyes, immedi-
ately flush them thoroughly with clean water. For safety, when
performing this work, wearing
eye protection is advisable.
. Brake fluid absorbs moisture
from the air. Any absorbed moist-
ure can cause a dangerous loss
of braking performance.
. If the vehicle requires frequent
refilling, there may be a leak. If
you suspect a problem, have the
vehicle checked at your SUBARU
dealer.
CAUTION
. Never use different brands of
brake fluid together. Also, avoid
mixing DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake
fluids even if they are of the samebrand.
. When adding brake fluid, be care-
ful not to allow any dirt into the
reservoir.
. Never splash the brake fluid over
painted surfaces or rubber parts.
Alcohol contained in the brake
fluid may damage them.
. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
when adding it. If brake fluid
touches the exhaust pipe, it may Maintenance and service
11-25
– CONTINUED –
Page 304 of 364

11-28Maintenance and service
&Checking the brake pedal
reserve distance
1) More than 2.56 in (65 mm)
Depress the pedal with a force of approxi-
mately 66 lbs (294 N, 30 kg) and measure
the distance between the upper surface of
the pedal pad and the floor.
When the measurement is smaller than
the specification, or when the pedal does
not operate smoothly, contact with your
SUBARU dealer. Clutch pedal (MT vehicles)
Check the clutch pedal free play and
reserve distance according to the main-
tenance schedule in the
“Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet ”.
& Checking the clutch function
Check the clutch engagement and disen-gagement.
1. With the engine idling, check that there
are no abnormal noises when the clutch
pedal is depressed, and that shifting into
1st or reverse feels smooth.
2. Start the vehicle by releasing the pedal
slowly to check that the engine and
transmission smoothly couple without
any sign of slippage. &
Checking the clutch pedal
free play1) 0.16 –0.51 in (4.0 –13.0 mm)
Lightly press the clutch pedal down with
your finger until you feel resistance, and
check the free play.
If the free play is not within proper
specification, contact your SUBARU deal-
er.
Page 331 of 364
12-2Specifications
Specifications
These specifications are subject to change without notice. &Dimensions
in (mm)
Item Sedan Wagon
2.5-liter
non-turbo 2.5-liter turbo 2.5-liter non-turbo 2.5-liter turbo
2.5i WRX WRX-STI 2.5i OUTBACK SPORTWRX
Drive system AWD
Transmission type AT MT AT MT AT MT AT MT AT MT
Overall length 175.8 (4,465)
Overall width Sedan 68.5 (1,740) –
Wagon –66.7 (1,695) 67.3 (1,710) 66.7 (1,695)
Overall height Without roofrail 56.7 (1,440) 56.3 (1,430) 57.7 (1,465) 58.1 (1,475) 57.7 (1,465)
With roofrail –58.5 (1,485) 58.9 (1,495) 58.5 (1,485)
Wheel base 99.4 (2,525)
Tread Front 58.5 (1,485) 58.7 (1,490) 57.7 (1,465) 57.5 (1,460) 57.7 (1,465)
Rear 58.1 (1,475)
58.3 (1,480) 58.9 (1,495) 57.3 (1,455)
Ground clearance*
16.3 (160) 5.7 (145)6.3 (160)
6.7 (170) 6.3 (160)
*1: Measured with vehicle empty
AT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmission
Page 332 of 364
&Engine
Engine model EJ253
(2.5-liter, SOHC, non-turbo) EJ255
(2.5-liter, DOHC, turbo, WRX) EJ257
(2.5-liter, DOHC, turbo, WRX-STI)
Engine type Horizontally opposed, liquid cooled 4 cylinder, 4-stroke gasoline engine
Displacement cc (cu-in) 2,457 (150)
Bore 6Stroke in (mm) 3.963.1 (99.5 679.0)
Compression ratio 10.0 : 1 8.4 : 1 8.2 : 1
Firing order 1
–3– 2– 4
& Electrical system
Battery type and capacity (5HR) MT 12V-48AH (55D23L)
AT 12V-52AH (75D23L)
Alternator Non-turbo models 12V-90A
Turbo models 12V-110A
Spark plugs Non-turbo engine
FR5AP-11 (NGK)
Turbo engine ILFR6B (NGK)
AT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmission Specifications
12-3
– CONTINUED –