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426
6-1. Specifications
Fuel infor mation
■Fuel tank opening for unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your SUBARU has a fuel tank opening that
only accommodates the special nozzle on unleaded fuel pumps.
■If your engine knocks
●Consult your SUBARU dealer.
●You may occasionally notice light knocking for a short time while acceler-
ating or driving uphill. This is normal and there is no need for concern.
■Gasoline quality
In very few cases, driveability problems may be caused by the brand of gas-
oline you are using. If driveability problems persist, try changing the brand of
gasoline. If this does not correct the problem, consult your SUBARU dealer.
■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).
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 vehi-
cle sometimes knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when you acceler-
ate. Contact your SUBARU dealer if you use a fuel with the specified octane
rating and your vehicle knocks heavily or persistently. The engine is designed to operate at maximum performance using
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI (98 RON) or
higher. If 93 AKI (98 RON) fuel is not readily available in your area,
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI (95 RON) may be
used with no detriment to engine durability or driveability. However,
you may notice a slight decrease in maximum engine performance
and you may hear some knocking (pinking) of an engine while using
91 AKI (95 RON) fuel. Use of 91 AKI (95 RON) fuel will not affect your
warranty coverage.
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427 6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
■Gasoline for California-certified LEV
If your vehicle was certified to California’s low emission vehicle (LEV) stan-
dards as indicated on the underhood tune-up label, it is designed to optimize
engine and emission performance with gasoline that meets the clean burn-
ing low-sulfur California gasoline specifications. If you live in any other state
than California, your vehicle will operate on gasoline meeting Federal speci-
fications. Gasoline sold outside California is permitted 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. SUBARU recommends that
you try a different brand of unleaded gasoline having lower sulfur to deter-
mine if the problem is fuel related before returning your vehicle to an autho-
rized dealer for service.
■SUBARU recommends the use of gasoline containing detergent addi-
tives
●SUBARU recommends the use of gasoline that contains detergent addi-
tives to avoid build-up of engine deposits.
●All gasoline sold in the US contains detergent additives to clean and/or
keep clean intake systems.
■SUBARU recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline
Cleaner burning gasoline, including reformulated gasoline that contains oxy-
genates such as ethanol or MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) is available in
many areas.
SUBARU recommends the use of cleaner burning gasoline and appropri-
ately blended reformulated gasoline. These types of gasoline provide excel-
lent vehicle performance, reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.
Page 430 of 490
429 6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
CAUTION
■Notice on fuel quality
●Do not use improper fuels. If improper fuels are used the engine and/or
fuel system will be damaged.
●Do not use leaded gasoline.
Leaded gasoline can cause damage to your vehicle’s three-way catalytic
converters causing the emission control system to malfunction.
●Do not use gasohol other than that stated here.
Other gasohol may cause fuel system damage or vehicle performance
problems.
●Using unleaded gasoline with an octane number or rating lower than the
level previously stated will cause persistent heavy knocking.
At worst, this will lead to engine damage.
■Fuel-related poor driveability
If after using a different type of fuel, poor driveability is encountered (poor
hot starting, vaporization, engine knocking, etc.), discontinue the use of that
type of fuel.
■When refueling with gasohol
Take care not to spill gasohol. It can damage your vehicle's paint.
Page 437 of 490

436 6-1. Specifications
Warning: The temperature grades of a tire assume that it is properly
inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation
pressureTire pressure when the vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more, or has not
been driven more than 1 mile or 1.5 km under
that condition
Maximum inflation
pressureThe maximum cold inflated pressure to which a
tire may be inflated, shown on the sidewall of
the tire
Recommended
inflation pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a
manufacturer.
Accessory weightThe combined weight (in excess of those stan-
dard items which may be replaced) of auto-
matic transmission, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, radio
and heater, to the extent that these items are
available as factory-installed equipment
(whether installed or not)
Curb weightThe weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment, including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil and coolant, and if so equipped, air
conditioning and additional weight optional
engine
Maximum loaded
vehicle weightThe sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight
(d) Production options weight
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