SUBARU FORESTER 2001 SF / 1.G Owners Manual

11-20
Recommended spark plugs
RC10YC4 (Champ ion)
RC8YC4 (Champ ion)
BKR6E-11 (NGK)
K20PR-U11 (NIPPONDENSO)
Drive belts
The alternator, p ower steering p ump , and air c ond it ioner c omp ressor d e-
p end on d rive b elts. Satisfac tory p erformanc e req ui res that b elt tension
b e c orrec t.
HGA005BB
in. (mm)
Deflec tion
New b eltUsed b elt
10.28 — 0.35
(7.0 — 9.0)0.35 — 0.43
(9.0 — 11.0)
20.30 — 0.33
(7.5 — 8.5)0.35 — 0.40
(9.0 — 10.0)
To c hec k b elt tension, p lac e a straig hted g e (ruler) ac ross two ad jac ent
p ulleys and ap p ly a forc e of 98 N (22 lb , 10 kg ) mi d way b etween the

Maintenance and service11-21
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CONTINUED –
p ulleys b y using a sp ring sc ale. Belt d eflec tion sh
ould b e the amount
sp ec ified . If a b elt is loose, c rac ked , or worn, c o ntac t your SUBARU
d ealer.
Manual transmission oil
Checking the oil level
Chec k the oil level monthly.
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the eng ine.
OM-H0210
HSA002CB
Upper level Lower level
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil throug h the d ip stic k hole to b ring the level up
to the up p er level. Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5

11-22SAE viscosity No. and Applicable Temperature
OM-H0205
Automatic transmission fluid
Checking the fluid level
The automatic transmission fluid exp and s larg ely as its temp erature
rises; the fluid level d iffers ac c ord ing to fluid t emp erature. Therefore,
there are two d ifferent sc ales for c hec king the lev el of hot fluid and
c old fluid on the d ip stic k.
Thoug h the fluid level c an b e c hec ked without warmi ng up the fluid
on the “COLD ” rang e, we rec ommend c hec king the fluid level when
the fluid is at op erating temp erature. n Checking the fluid level when the fluid is hot
Chec k the fluid level monthly.
1. Drive the vehic le several miles to raise the temp erature of the
transmission fluid up to normal op erating temp eratu re; 140 to 176°F
(60 to 80 °C) is normal.
2. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and set the p arking b rake.
3. First shift the selec tor lever in eac h p osition. Then shift it in the “P ”
p osition, and run the eng ine at id ling sp eed .

Maintenance and service11-23
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CONTINUED –
HBA008BB
HSA002DB
4. Pull out the d ip stic k and c hec k the fluid level o n the g aug e. If it is
b elow the lower level on the “HOT ” rang e, ad d the rec ommend ed au-
tomatic transmission fluid up to the up p er level. n Checking the fluid level when the fluid is cold
When the fluid level has to b e c hec ked without time to warm up the
automatic transmission, c hec k to see that the fluid level is b etween
the lower level and up p er level on the “COLD ” rang e. If it is b elow that
rang e, ad d fluid up to the up p er level. Be c areful not to overfill.
Recommended fluid
“ Dexron II ” or “Dexron III ” Type Automatic Transmission Fluid

11-24Front differential gear oil (Automatic transmission vehicles)
Checking the oil level
Chec k the d ifferential oil level monthly.
HBA010BB
HSA002EB
1. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e and stop the eng ine.
2. Pull out the d ip stic k, wip e it c lean, and insert it ag ain.
3. Pull out the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the oil lev el on it. If it is b elow
the lower level, ad d oil to b ring the level up to t he up p er level.
Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5

Maintenance and service11-25
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CONTINUED –
SAE viscosity No. and Applicable Temperature
OM-H0212
Rear differential gear oil
Checking the oil level CAUTION
If the vehicle requires frequent refilling, there may be an oil leak. If you suspect a problem, have the vehicle checked at your
SUBARU dealer.
Your vehic le may b e eq uip p ed with a rear d ifferenti al p rotec tor. The
d ifferential p rotec tor p rovid es p rotec tion to the r ear d ifferential assem-
b ly d uring off-road use. Removal of the rear d iffer ential p rotec tor is not
req uired when c hec king the oil level.

11-26
HB0078
HB0077
Filler hole
Drain hole Filler hole
Drain hole
Oil level
Remove the p lug from the filler hole and c hec k the oil level. The oil
level should b e kep t even with the b ottom of the fi ller hole. If the oil
level is b elow the b ottom ed g e of the hole, ad d oil throug h the filler
hole to raise the level. Recommended grade and viscosity
Eac h oil manufac turer has its own b ase oils and ad d itives. Never use
d ifferent b rand s tog ether.
Oil grade: API classification GL-5
SAE viscosity No. and Applicable Temperature
OM-H0205

Maintenance and service11-27
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CONTINUED –
Power steering fluid
The p ower steering fluid exp and s g reatly as its tem
p erature rises; the
fluid level d iffers ac c ord ing to fluid temp erature. Therefore, the d ip stic k
has two d ifferent c hec king rang es for hot and c old fluid s.
Checking the fluid level when the fluid is hot
WARNING
Be careful not to burn yourself because the fluid may be hot.
CAUTION
When power steering fluid is being added, use only clean fluid,
and be careful not to allow any dirt into the tank. And never use
different brands together. Avoid spilling fluid when adding it in the tank.
Chec k the p ower steering fluid level monthly.
1. Drive the vehic le several miles to raise the temp erature of the p ow-
er steering fluid up to normal op erating temp eratur e, ab out 140°F
(60 °C).
2. Park the vehic le on a level surfac e, and stop the eng ine.
3. Turn the reservoir c ap c ounterc loc kwise to remove the fluid level
d ip stic k, wip e the d ip stic k c lean, and reinsert it.
HS0186
HS0185
Specified range Specifiedrange

11-284. Remove the d ip stic k ag ain and c hec k the fluid lev
el on it. If it is
b elow the lower level of the “HOT ” rang e, ad d the rec ommend ed
steering fluid up to the sp ec ified rang e of the d ip stic k.
If the fluid level is extreme low, it may ind ic ate p ossib le leakag e. Con-
sult your SUBARU d ealer for insp ec tion. Checking the fluid level when the fluid is cold
When the fluid level has to b e c hec ked without warm ing up the p ower
steering system (ap p roximately 70 °F [ 21 °C] ), read the fluid level on
the “COLD ” rang e.
Recommended fluid
“ Dexron II ”, “Dexron IIE ” or “Dexron III ” Type Automatic Trans-
mission Fluid
Brake fluid
Checking the fluid level
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, whenperforming this work, wearing eye protection is advisable. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air. Any absorbed mois-
ture 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.

Maintenance and service11-29
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CONTINUED –
CAUTION
Never use different brands of brake fluid together.
When adding brake fluid, be careful 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.
Chec k the fluid level monthly.
HSA004BB
Chec k the fluid level on the outsid e of the reservo ir. If the level is b e-
low “MIN ”, ad d the rec ommend ed b rake fluid to “MAX ”.
Use only b rake fluid from a sealed c ontainer. Recommended brake fluid
FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid