engine coolant SUBARU FORESTER 2006 User Guide

11 - 1 2
Maintenance and service
„Cooling fan, hose and con-
nectionsYour vehicle employs an electric cooling
fan which is thermostatically controlled to
operate when the engine coolant reaches
a specific temperature.
If the radiator cooling fan does not operate
even when the engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge exceeds the normal operating
range, the cooling fan circuit may be de-
fective. Check the fuse and replace it if
necessary. 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 coolantT Checking the coolant level1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level markCheck 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.
FULL
LOW
1 2
600442
y Be careful not to spill engine cool-
ant 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.
y Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
B00018
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance and service
11 - 1 3
– CONTINUED –
TChanging the coolant
Always add genuine Subaru cooling sys-
tem conditioner whenever the coolant is
replaced.
Change the engine coolant and add gen-
uine Subaru cooling system conditioner
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.
4. Install the under cover.Non-turbo models
1) Filler neck
2) Fill up to this level Turbo models
1) Filler neck
2) 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 sys-
tem conditioner in the radiator. Add genu-
ine Subaru cooling system conditioner un-
til 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.
B00019
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has cooled down com-
pletely. Since the coolant is under
pressure, you may suffer serious
burns from a spray of boiling hot
coolant when the cap is removed.
1
2B00360
2 1
B00394
ProCarManuals.com

11 - 1 4
Maintenance and service
Guideline of coolant quantity (including cool-
ant in reservoir tank):Non-turbo models: MT. 7.3 US qt (6.9 liters, 6.1 Imp qt)
AT. 7.2 US qt (6.8 liters, 6.0 Imp qt)
Turbo models: MT. 7.8 US qt (7.4 liters, 6.5 Imp qt)
AT. 7.7 US qt (7.3 liters, 6.4 Imp qt)
1) “FULL” level mark
2) “LOW” level mark
6. Pour the coolant and fill to the reservoir
tank’s “FULL” level mark.
7. Put the radiator cap back on and tight-
en firmly. At this time, make sure that the
rubber gasket in the radiator cap is cor-
rectly in place.
8. Start and run the engine for more than five minutes at 2,000 to 3,000 rpm.
9. Stop the engine and wait until the cool-
ant cools down (122 to 140
°F [50 to
60° C]). 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.
FULL
LOW
1 2
600442
y Be careful not to spill engine cool-
ant 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.
y Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
B00018
ProCarManuals.com

11 - 3 4
Maintenance and service
Aluminum wheels (if equipped)Aluminum wheels can be scratched and
damaged easily. Handle them carefully to
maintain their appearance, performance,
and safety.
yWhen any of the wheels is removed and
replaced for tire rotation or to change a
flat, always check the tightness of the
wheel nuts after driving approximately 600
miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose, tight-
en 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
the chains may scratch the wheel.
y When wheel nuts, balance weights, or
the center cap is replaced, be sure to re-
place them with genuine SUBARU parts
designed for aluminum wheels.
Windshield washer fluidIf you spray washer fluid on the windshield
but the supply of washer fluid appears to
diminish, check the level of washer fluid in
the tank.
Use only those wheels that are
specified for your vehicle. Wheels
not meeting specifications could in-
terfere with brake caliper operation
and may cause the tires to rub
against the wheel well housing dur-
ing turns. The resulting loss of vehi-
cle control could lead to an acci-
dent.
Never use engine coolant as washer
fluid because it could cause paint
damage.
300523
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance and service
11 - 3 5
Washer fluid level gaugeRemove 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 flu-id 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 wa-
ter.
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 temper-
ature varies according to how much it is di-
luted, as indicated in the following table.
In order to prevent freezing of washer flu-
id, check the freezing temperatures in the
table above when adjusting the fluid con-
centration to the outside temperature.
If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with
a different concentration from the oneused 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 tem-
perature, it may freeze and block the noz-
zles.
Hi
Low
300172
FULL
300524
Washer Fluid
Concentration Freezing
Temperature
30% 10.4 °F (–12 °C)
50% –4 °F (–20 °C)
100% –49 °F (–45 °C)
Never use engine coolant as washer
fluid because it could cause paint
damage.
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.
ProCarManuals.com

12-4
Specifications
„CapacitiesAT: Automatic transmission
MT: Manual transmissionFuel tank
15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)
Engine oil
4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
Transmission oil
MT
3.7 US qt (3.5 liters, 3.1 Imp qt)
AT
9.8 US qt (9.3 liters, 8.2 Imp qt)
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles)
1.3 US qt (1.2 liter, 1.1 Imp qt)
Rear differential gear oil
0.8 US qt (0.8 liter, 0.7 Imp qt)
Power steering fluid
0.7 US qt (0.7 liter, 0.6 Imp qt)
Engine coolant
2.5-liter non-turbo models
MT
7.3 US qt (6.9 liters, 6.1 Imp qt)
AT
7.2 US qt (6.8 liters, 6.0 Imp qt)
2.5-liter turbo models
MT
7.8 US qt (7.4 liters, 6.5 Imp qt)
AT
7.7 US qt (7.3 liters, 6.4 Imp qt)
ProCarManuals.com

Index
14-3
ChimeKey ................................................................................ 3-5
Seatbelt ................................................................ 1-12, 3-9
Cigarette lighter socket ....................................................... 6-9
Clock ................................................................................ 3-17
Clutch (MT) Fluid ........................................................................... 11-25
Pedal ..................................................................\
....... 11-27
Coat hook ......................................................................... 6-12
Convenience net ................................................................ 6-6
Coolant ........................................................................... 11-12
Cooling system ............................................................... 11-11
Corrosion protection ................................................ 8-10, 10-3
Cruise control ................................................................... 7-26
Cruise control indicator light ............................................. 3-16
Cup holders ........................................................................ 6-7
D
Dashboard storage compartment ....................................... 6-6
Daytime running light system ........................................... 3-19
Differential gear oil
Front (AT vehicles) .................................................... 11-21
Rear ........................................................................... 11-22
Dimensions ....................................................................... 12-2
Disarming the system ....................................................... 2-14
Disc brake pad wear warning indicators ........................... 7-16
Dome light .......................................................................... 6-2
Door locks ........................................................................\
.. 2-4
Door open warning light ................................................... 3-15
Drive belt ........................................................................ 11-17
Driving Car phone/cell phone ....................................................... 7 Drinking ............................................................................. 6
Drugs ................................................................................ 6
Foreign countries ........................................................... 8-4
Pets ................................................................................... 7
Snowy and icy roads ...................................................... 8-9
Tired or sleepy .................................................................. 7
Driving tips ................................................................. 7-10, 8-5
E
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) system ........... 7-18
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) ................................ 1-11
Engine
Compartment overview ................................................ 11-6
Coolant ....................................................................... 11-12
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ................................... 8-2
Hood ...................................................................\
......... 11-4
Oil ................................................................................. 11-8
Overheating ................................................................. 9-10
Starting ........................................................................... 7-7
Stopping ...............................................................\
.......... 7-8
Exterior care ..................................................................... 10-2
F
Flat tires .............................................................................. 9-3
Floor mat ........................................................................... 6-11
Fluid level
Automatic transmission .............................................. 11-19
Brake .......................................................................... 11-24
Clutch (MT vehicles) .................................................. 11-25
Power steering ........................................................... 11-23
Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles) ........................... 11-21
ProCarManuals.com