
possible.
. Stow cargo and luggage in the
trunk whenever possible.
. To prevent cargo and luggage
from sliding forward during brak-
ing, do not stack anything in the
enlarged trunk. Keep cargo and
luggage low, as close to the floor
as possible.
. When you carry something inside
the vehicle, secure it whenever
you can to prevent it from being
thrown around inside the vehicle
during sudden stops, sharp turns
or in an accident.
. Do not pile heavy loads on the
roof. These loads raise the vehi-
cle ’ s center of gravity and make it
more prone to tip over.
. Secure lengthy items properly to
prevent them from shooting for-
ward and causing serious injury
during a sudden stop.
. Never exceed the maximum load
limit. If you do, some parts on
your vehicle can break, or it can
change the way your vehicle
handles. This could result in loss
of control and cause personal
injury. Also, overloading can
shorten the life of your vehicle. . Do not place cargo or luggage in
or on the following locations as
the item may get under the
clutch, brake, or accelerator ped-
al and prevent the pedals from
being depressed properly, block
the driver ’ s vision, or hit the
driver or passengers, causing
an accident:
– At the feet of the driver
– On the front passenger or rear
seats (when stacking items)
– On the rear shelf
– On the instrument panel
– On the dashboard
CAUTION
Do not carry spray cans, containers
with flammable or corrosive liquids
or any other dangerous items inside
the vehicle.
NOTE For better fuel economy, do not carry
unneeded cargo. & Vehicle capacity weight
Vehicle placard
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
vehicle placard attached to the driver ’ s
side door pillar. It includes the total weight
of the driver and all passengers and their
belongings, any optional equipment such
as a roof rack or bike carrier, etc. Driving tips/Loading your vehicle
– CONTINUED –8-11

Driving tips/Trailer towing
& GVWR and GAWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating and
Gross Axle Weight Rating)
Certification label
The certification label attached to the
driver ’ s side doorjamb 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, and
any optional equipment. Therefore, the
GVW changes depending on the situation.
The GVWR equals Curb Weight (actual
weight of your vehicle – including standard
equipment, fluids, emergency tools and
spare tire assembly) plus the vehicle capacity weight.
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 inside 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 confirm that GVW and front and
rear GAWs are within the GVWR and
GAWR by putting your vehicle on a
vehicle 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 limita-
tions. Replacement tires with a higher load
range than the originals do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations. Trailer towing Your vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to be used for trailer towing.
Therefore, never tow a trailer with your
vehicle.
SUBARU assumes no responsibility for
injuries or vehicle damage that may result
from trailer towing, from any trailer towing
equipment or from any errors or omissions
in the instructions accompanying such
equipment. SUBARU warranties do not
apply to vehicle damage or malfunction
caused by trailer towing.8-12

Engine oil CAUTION. If the level gauge is not pulled out
easily, twist the level gauge right
and left, then pull it out. Other-
wise, you may be injured acci-
dentally straining yourself.
. Use only engine oil with the
recommended grade and vis-
cosity.
. Be careful not to spill engine oil
when adding it. If oil touches the
exhaust pipe, it may cause a bad
smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If
engine oil gets on the exhaust
pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
& Engine oil consumption Some engine oil will be consumed while
driving. Under the following conditions, oil
consumption can be increased and thus
require refilling between maintenance
intervals:
. When the engine is new and within the
break-in period
. When the engine oil is of lower quality
. When the incorrect oil viscosity is used . When engine braking is employed
. When the engine is operated at high
engine speeds
. When the engine is operated under
heavy loads
. When the engine idles for long periods
of time
. When the vehicle is operated in stop
and go and/or heavy traffic situations
. When the vehicle is used under severe
thermal conditions
. When the vehicle accelerates and
decelerates frequently
Under these or similar conditions, you
should check your oil at least every 2nd
fuel fill-up and change your engine oil
more frequently. If your oil consumption
rate is greater than 1 quart every 1,200
miles or 1 liter every 2,000 kilometers,
contact your SUBARU dealer who may
perform a test under controlled conditions.
& Checking the oil level 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine. 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. STI
1) Oil level gauge
2) Oil filler capMaintenance and service/Engine oil
– CONTINUED –11-13

Maintenance and service/Engine oil
Except STI
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.
WARNING
Be careful not to burn yourself with
hot engine oil.
5. Wipe the seating surface of the drain
plug with a clean cloth and tighten it
securely with a new sealing washer after
the oil has completely drained out.
CAUTION
Thoroughly wipe off any engine oil that has spilled over the exhaust
pipe and/or under-cover. If spilled oil
is not promptly wiped up, the oil
could cause a fire.
6. Pour engine oil through the filler neck.
For the oil capacity (guideline), refer to
“ Engine oil ” F 12-4.
The oil quantity indicated above is only
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 level gauge to confirm that
the level is correct.
7. Start the engine and make sure that no
oil leaks appear around the drain plug.
8. Run the engine until it reaches the
normal operating 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.
CAUTION
Be careful not to spill engine oil
when adding it. If oil touches the exhaust pipe, it may cause a bad
smell, smoke, and/or a fire.
& Recommended grade and
viscosity CAUTIONUse only engine oil with the recom-
mended grade and viscosity.
Refer to “ Engine oil ” F 12-4.
NOTE Engine oil viscosity (thickness) affects
fuel economy. Oils of lower viscosity
provide better fuel economy. However,
in hot weather, oil of higher viscosity is
required to properly lubricate the en-
gine.
& Synthetic oil You must follow the oil and filter changing
intervals shown in the Warranty and
Maintenance booklet.
NOTE Synthetic oil of the grade and viscosity
noted in chapter 12 is the recom-
mended engine oil for optimum engine
performance. Conventional oil may be11-16

Maintenance and service/Cooling system
Check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
Refer to “ Fuses ” F 11-42 and “ Fuses and
circuits ” F 12-10.
If the fuse is not blown, have the cooling
system checked by your SUBARU dealer.
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
coolant up to just below the filler neck as
shown in the following illustration.
STI
1) Fill up to this level Except STI
1) Fill up to this level
3. After refilling the reserve tank and the
radiator, reinstall the cap and check that
the rubber gaskets inside the radiator cap
are in the proper position.11-18

& Engine Model
STI Except STI
Engine model EJ257
(2.5 L, DOHC, turbo) FA20
(2.0 L, DOHC, turbo)
Engine type Horizontally opposed, liquid cooled 4 cylinder, 4-stroke petrol engine
Displacement cu-in (cc) 150 (2,457) 122 (1,998)
Bore 6 Stroke in (mm) 3.92 6 3.11 (99.5 6 79.0) 3.39 6 3.39 (86.0 6 86.0)
Compression ratio 8.2 : 1 10.6 : 1
Firing order 1 – 3 – 2 – 4
& Fuel
NOTE The engine is designed to operate using unleaded gasoline.
Model Fuel Fuel tank capacity
STI
93 AKI (98 RON) or higher * 1
15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)
Except STI
91 AKI (95 RON) or higher * 2
*1: If unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 93 AKI (98 RON) is not available, unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI (95 RON) may be
used with no detriment to engine durability or driveability.
*2: If unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91 AKI (95 RON) is not available, unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI (90 RON) or higher
may be used. Specifications/Specifications
– CONTINUED –12-3

! Alternative engine oil
If the SUBARU approved oil is unavailable, the following alternative oil can be used.
NOTE . Each quantity indicated here is only a guideline. The necessary quantity for replacement may differ slightly depending on
the temperature and other factors.
. In choosing an oil, you want the proper quality and viscosity, as well as one that will enhance fuel economy. Oils of lower
viscosity provide better fuel economy. However, in hot weather, oil of higher viscosity is required to properly lubricate the
engine. The following table lists the recommended viscosities and applicable temperatures.
. When adding oil, different brands may be used together as long as they are the same API classification and SAE viscosity
as those recommended by SUBARU.
Oil grade SAE viscosity No. and
applicable temperature Engine oil capacity
API (American Petroleum Insti-
tute) classification SN with the
words “ RESOURCE CONSER-
VING ” or
ILSAC (International Lubricant
Specification Advisory Commit-
tee) GF-5 , which can be identi-
fied with the ILSAC certification
mark (Starburst mark) 5W-30 synthetic oil is the required oil
for optimum engine performance and
protection. Conventional oil may be
used if synthetic oil is unavailable.
*: If 5W-30 synthetic oil is not available,
5W-40 conventional oil may be used if
replenishment is needed but should be
changed to 5W-30 synthetic oil at the
next oil change. STI:
· Adding the oil from L to F level:
1.1 US qt (1.0 liter, 0.9 Imp qt)
· Changing the oil and oil filter:
4.5 US qt (4.3 liters, 3.8 Imp qt)
· Changing the oil:
4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
Except STI:
· Adding the oil from L to F level:
1.1 US qt (1.0 liter, 0.9 Imp qt)
· Changing the oil and oil filter:
5.4 US qt (5.1 liters, 4.5 Imp qt)
· Changing the oil:
5.2 US qt (4.9 liters, 4.3 Imp qt)Specifications/Specifications
– CONTINUED –12-5

*4: You may use this type of manual transmission oil. However, using this type of oil will detract from driveability and fuel efficiency.
& Fluids Fluid
Fluid type* 1
Fluid capacity* 2
Remarks* 3
Continuously variable transmission
fluid (CVT models) Consult your SUBARU dealer. 13.1 US qt (12.4 liters, 10.9 Imp qt) “ Continuously variable trans-
mission fluid ” F 11-23
Brake fluid FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or DOT 4
brake fluid –“ Brake fluid ” F 11-25
Clutch fluid (MT models) FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or DOT 4
brake fluid – “ Clutch fluid (MT models) ” F 11 -
26
Power steering fluid (STI) · SUBARU ATF
· “ Dexron III ” Type Automatic Transmis-
sion Fluid
· IDEMITSU ATF HP 0.7 US qt (0.7 liter, 0.6 Imp qt) “ Power steering fluid (STI) ”
F 11-24
*1: Use one of the indicated types of fluid.
*2: The indicated fluid quantity is only a guideline. The necessary quantity for replacement may differ slightly depending on the temperature and other
factors.
*3: For more details about maintenance and service, refer to the indicated section.
& Engine coolant Vehicle model Coolant capacity Coolant type
STI 8.2 US qt (7.7 liters, 6.8 Imp qt)
SUBARU Super Coolant
Except STI MT models 8.7 US qt (8.2 liters, 7.2 Imp qt)
CVT models 8.9 US qt (8.4 liters, 7.4 Imp qt)
The indicated coolant quantity is only a guideline. The necessary quantity for replacement may differ slightly depending on the temperature and other
factors. For more details about maintenance and service, refer to “ Cooling system ” F 11-17. Specifications/Specifications
– CONTINUED –12-7