2011 SUBARU FORESTER coolant level

11-8Maintenance and service
& Turbo models
1) Power steering fluid reservoir
(page 11-24)
2) Differential gear oil level gauge (AT) (page 11-22)
3) Clutch fluid reservoir (page 11-26)
4) Automatic transmission fluid level gauge (page 11-21)
5) Brake fluid reservoir (page 11-25)
6) Fuse box (page 11-45)
7) Battery (page 11-44)
8) Windshield washer tank (page 11-38)
9) Engine oil filler cap (page 11-9)
10) Engine coolant reservoir (page 11-14)
11) Engine oil level gauge (page 11-9)
12) Radiator cap (page 11-14)
13) Air cleaner case (page 11-16)

11-14Maintenance and service
Refer to“Fuses ”F 11-45 and “Fuse panel
located in the engine compartment ”F 12-
13.
If frequent addition of coolant is neces-
sary, there may be a leak in the engine
cooling system. It is recommended that
the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
& Engine coolant
! Checking the coolant level
1) “FULL ”level mark
2) “LOW ”level mark
Check the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside
of the reservoir 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 refill
as required.
3. After refilling the reserve tank and the
radiator, reinstall the caps and check that
the rubber gaskets inside the radiator cap
are in the proper position.
CAUTION
. 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. If engine coolant gets on
the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe
it off.
. Do not splash the engine coolant over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
! Changing the coolant
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor 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 boil-
ing hot coolant when the cap isremoved.
Always add genuine SUBARU cooling
system conditioner whenever the coolant
is replaced.
Change the engine coolant and add
genuine SUBARU cooling system condi-
tioner using the following procedures
according to the maintenance schedule.
1. Remove the under cover.

2. Place a proper container under the
drain plug and loosen the drain plug.
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 only)
The cap (without tabs) on top of the
radiator does not need to be removed.
To add coolant, remove the cap (with
tabs) on the coolant tank on top of theengine.
4. Install the under cover.Non-turbo models
1) Fill up to this level
Turbo models
1) Fill up to this level
5. Slowly pour the coolant and fill up to
just below the filler neck, allowing enough room to add genuine SUBARU cooling
system conditioner in the radiator. Add
genuine SUBARU cooling system condi-
tioner 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. NOTE
For guidelines on coolant quantity
(including the coolant in resorvoir
tank), refer to
“Engine coolant ”F 12-9.
Maintenance and service
11-15
– CONTINUED –

11-16Maintenance and service
1)“FULL ”level mark
2) “LOW ”level mark
CAUTION
. 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. If engine coolant gets on
the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe
it off.
. Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
6. Pour the coolant and fill to the reser-
voir tank ’s “FULL ”level mark.
7. Put the radiator cap back on and
tighten firmly. At this time, make sure that
the rubber gasket in the radiator cap is
correctly in place.
8. Start and race the engine at 2,000 to
3,000 rpm for 5 to 6 times within 40seconds.
9. Stop the engine and wait until the
coolant cools down (122 to 140 8F [50 to
60 8C]). If there is any loss of coolant, add
coolant to the radiator ’s filler neck and to
the reserve tank ’s “FULL ”level.
10. Put the radiator cap and reservoir cap
back on and tighten firmly. Air cleaner element
WARNING
Do not operate the engine with the
air cleaner element removed. The air
cleaner element not only filters
intake air but also stops flames if
the engine backfires. If the air
cleaner element is not installed
when the engine backfires, you
could be burned.
CAUTION
When replacing the air cleaner ele-
ment, use a genuine SUBARU air
cleaner element. If it is not used,
there is the possibility of causing a
negative effect to the engine.
The air cleaner element functions as a
filter screen. When the element is perfo-
rated or removed, engine wear will be
excessive and engine life shortened.
It is not necessary to clean or wash the element.

Washer fluid level gauge
Remove the washer tank filler cap, then
check the fluid level indicated by the level
gauge (attached to the inside of the cap).
If the level is near the“Low ”mark, add
fluid until it reaches the “Hi ”level on the level gauge or the
“FULL ”mark on the
tank.
Use windshield washer fluid. If windshield
washer fluid is unavailable use clean
water.
In areas where water freezes in winter,
use an anti-freeze type windshield washer
fluid. SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid
contains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%
surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-
perature varies according to how much it
is diluted, as indicated in the followingtable.
Washer Fluid
Concentration Freezing
Temperature
30% 10.48F( 12 8C)
50% 48F( 20 8C)
100% 49 8F( 45 8C)
CAUTION
Never use engine coolant as washer
fluid because it could cause paintdamage.
In order to prevent freezing of washer
fluid, check the freezing temperatures in
the table above when adjusting the fluid
concentration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with a different concentration from the one
used previously, purge the old fluid from
the piping between the reservoir tank and
washer nozzles by operating the washer
for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if
the concentration of the fluid remaining in
the piping is too low for the outside
temperature, it may freeze and block thenozzles.
CAUTION
Adjust the washer fluid concentra-
tion appropriately for the outside
temperature. If the concentration is
inappropriate, sprayed washer fluid
may freeze on the windshield and
obstruct your view, and the fluid
may freeze in the reservoir tank. Maintenance and service
11-39

Parking........................................................ 7-29, 11-30
Pedal .................................................................. 11-27
System ................................................................. 7-22
Brake pedal Free play ............................................................. 11-27
Reserve distance .................................................. 11-28
Brake system ............................................................ 7-22
Warning light ......................................................... 3-20
Braking ..................................................................... 7-22
Tips...................................................................... 7-22
Breaking-in of new brake pads and linings ................... 11-29
Bulb Chart .................................................................. 12-15
Replacing ............................................................. 11-47
C
Cargo area Cover ................................................................... 6-13
Light ............................................................. 6-3, 11-51
Tie-down hooks ..................................................... 6-15
Cargo tray ................................................................. 10-6
Catalytic converter ....................................................... 8-3
Center
Console .................................................................. 6-5
Ventilators ............................................................... 4-3
Center and side ventilators ............................................ 4-3
Changing Coolant ................................................................ 11-14
Flat tire ................................................................... 9-6
Oil and oil filter ..................................................... 11-10
Charge warning light .................................................. 3-17 CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction indicator
lamp ...................................................................... 3-16
Checking
Brake pedal free play ............................................ 11-27
Brake pedal reserve distance ................................. 11-28
Clutch function ..................................................... 11-28
Clutch pedal free play ........................................... 11-28
Coolant level ........................................................ 11-14
Fluid level (automatic transmission fluid) .................. 11-21
Fluid level (brake fluid) .......................................... 11-25
Fluid level (clutch fluid) .......................................... 11-26
Fluid level (power steering fluid) .. ........................... 11-24
Fluid level (washer fluid) ........................................ 11-38
Oil level (engine oil) ................................................ 11-9
Oil level (front differential gear oil) .......................... 11-22
Oil level (manual transmission oil) .......................... 11-20
Child restraint systems ................................................ 1-22
Installation of a booster seat .................................... 1-27
Installation with A/ELR seatbelt ... ............................. 1-24
Lower and tether anchorages ................................... 1-29
Top tether anchorages ............................................ 1-31
Child safety ................................................................... 5
Locks .................................................................... 2-20
Chime Key........................................................................ 3-5Light ..................................................................... 3-29
Seatbelt. ................................................................ 3-13
Cleaning Aluminum wheels ................................................... 10-4
Interior .................................................................. 10-5
Ventilation grille ...................................................... 4-17 Index
14-3

14-10Index
Pressures and wear .............................................. 11-33
Replacement ........................................................ 11-36
Rotation ............................................................... 11-36
Size and pressure ................................................ 12-10
Types .................................................................. 11-30
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). ...... 7-28, 9-9, 11-31
Warning light ......................................................... 3-18
Tires and wheels. ...................................................... 11-30
Tools .......................................................................... 9-4
Top tether anchorages ........................................ 1-29, 1-31
Towing ...................................................................... 9-14
All wheels on the ground ........................................ 9-17
Flat-bed truck ........................................................ 9-17
Hooks ................................................................... 9-14
Weight.................................................................. 8-18
Trailer
Connecting ............................................................ 8-16
Hitch ............................................................ 8-16, 8-21
Towing .................................................................. 8-18
Towing tips ............................................................ 8-23
Trip meter ................................................................... 3-8
Turn signal
Indicator lights ....................................................... 3-25
Lever .................................................................... 3-31
U
Under-floor storage compartment ................................. 6-16
USB storage device operations .................................... 5-33
V
Valet mode ................................................................ 2-18 Vanity mirror
............................................................... 6-5
Vehicle Capacity weight ...................................................... 8-12
Identification ........................................................ 12-18
Symbols .................................................................... 3
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF indicator light .................................................. 3-23
OFF switch ............................................................ 7-27
Operation indicator light ........................................... 3-23
System .................................................................. 7-25
Warning light .......................................................... 3-22
Ventilator .................................................................... 4-2
W
Warning and indicator lights ......................................... 3-12
Warning chimes Seatbelt. ................................................................ 3-13
Warning light ABS...................................................................... 3-19
All-Wheel Drive ...................................................... 3-21
AT OIL TEMP ......................................................... 3-18
Automatic headlight beam leveler ............................. 3-22
Brake system ......................................................... 3-20
Charge .................................................................. 3-17
CHECK ENGINE .................................................... 3-16
Coolant temperature high ........................................ 3-16
Door open ............................................................. 3-21
Hill start assist ....................................................... 3-21
Low fuel ........................................................ 3-11, 3-21
Low tire pressure .................................................... 3-18
Oil pressure ........................................................... 3-17