fuel SUBARU IMPREZA 2003 2.G Owner's Guide

Maintenance and service
11-4
Always be very careful to avoid injury when
working on the vehicle. Remember that some of the materials in the vehicle may be hazard-
ous if improperly used or handled, for exam-ple, battery acid. Your vehicle should only be serviced by per-
sons fully competent to do so. Serious per-sonal injury may result to persons not experi-enced in servicing vehicles. Always use the proper tools and make cer-
tain that they are well maintained. Never get under the vehicle supported only
by a jack. Always use a safety stands to sup-port the vehicle. Never keep the engine running in a poorly
ventilated area, such as a garage or other
closed areas. Do not smoke or allow open flames around
the fuel or battery. This will cause a fire. Because the fuel system is under pressure,
replacement of the fuel filter should be per-
formed only by your SUBARU dealer. Wear adequate eye protection to guard
against getting oil or fluids in your eyes. If something does get in your eyes, thoroughly
wash them out with clean water. Do not tamper with the wiring of the SRS airbag system or seatbelt pretensioner sys-tem, or attempt to take its connectors apart,as that may activate the system or it can ren-der it inoperative. The wiring and connectorsof these systems are yellow for easy identifi-cation. NEVER use a circuit tester for these wiring. If your SRS airbag or seatbelt pretensionerneeds service, consult your nearest SUBARU
dealer.
Before checking or servicing in the
engine compartment
Always stop the engine and set the parking
brake firmly to prevent the vehicle from mov- ing. Always let the engine cool down. Engine
parts become very hot when the engine is run-
ning and remain hot for some time after theengine is stopped. Do not spill engine oil, engine coolant, brake
fluid or any other fluid on hot engine compo-nents. This may cause a fire. Always remove the key from the ignition
switch. When the ignition switch is in the
“ON” position, the cooling fan may operate

Maintenance and service
11-10
Engine oil Checking the oil level
Check the engine oil level at each fuel stop.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and stop theengine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and insert it again.
3. Be sure the dipstick is correctly inserted until it
stops with the graphic symbol i on its top ap-
pearing as shown in the illustration.
1) Notch
2) Upper level 3) Lower level
4) Front of vehicle
4. Pull out the dipstick again and check the oil level on it. If it is below the lower level, add oil to bring thelevel up to the upper level.
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity. Be careful not to spill engine oil when ad-
ding it. If oil touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire.

Maintenance and service
11-13
– CONTINUED –
Recommended grade and viscosity
Oil grade: API classification SL or SJ with the words “ENERGY CONSERVING ” (if you cannot obtain
the oil with the SL or SJ grade, you may use SH or SG grade oil.) or the new API certification mark
(Starburst mark) displayed on the container.
API Service label
1) Indicates the oil quality by API designations
2) Indicates the SAE oil viscosity grade
3) Indicates that the oil has fuel saving capabilities

Maintenance and service
11-14
New API Certification Mark (Starburst Mark)
In choosing an oil, you want the proper quality and
viscosity, as well as one that will add to fuel econo-
my. The following table lists the recommended vis-
cosities and applicable temperatures.
When adding oil, different brands may be used to-
gether as long as they are the same API classifica-
tion and SAE viscosity as those recommended bySUBARU.SAE viscosity number and applicable temperature
*) 5W-30 is preferred.
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) affects fuel economy.
Oils of lower viscosity provide better fuel economy.
However, in hot weather, oil of higher viscosity is re-
quired to properly lubricate the engine.
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the recommended
grade and viscosity.

Maintenance and service
11-16
Do not splash the engine coolant over
painted parts. The alcohol contained in the en- gine coolant may damage the paint surface.
Cooling fan, hose and connections
Your 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 temperature gauge ex-
ceeds the normal operating range, the cooling fan
circuit may be defective. Check the fuse and re-
place it if necessary. If the fuse is not blown, havethe cooling system checked by your SUBARU deal-
er.
If frequent addition of coolant is necessary, there
may be a leak in the engine cooling system. It is rec-
ommended that the cooling system and connectionsbe 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 res-ervoir 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.

Maintenance and service
11-42
proach the curbs as squarely as possible. Also,
make sure the tires are not pressed against thecurb when you park the vehicle.If you feel unusual vibration while driving or
find it difficult to steer the vehicle in a straight
line, one of the tires and/or wheels may be dam- aged. Drive slowly to the nearest authorized
SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle inspected. Tire pressures and wear
Maintaining the correct tire pressures helps to maxi-
mize the tires ’ service lives and is essential for good
running performance. Check and, if necessary, ad-
just the pressure of each tire (including the spare) at least once a month (for example, during a fuel stop)
and before any long journey.
Check the tire pressures when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to
the values shown on the tire placard. The tire plac-
ard is located on the door pillar on the driver ’s side.
Driving even a short distance warms up the tires
and increases the tire pressures. Also, the tire pres-
sures are affected by the ambient temperature. It is
best to check tire pressure outdoors before driving the vehicle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside it ex-
pands, causing the tire pressure to increase. Be
careful not to mistakenly release air from a warm tire
to reduce its pressure.

Maintenance and service
11-43
– CONTINUED –
NOTE The air pressure in a tire increases by approxi-
mately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kg/cm 2
) when the tire
becomes warm. The tires are considered cold when the vehicle
has been parked for at least three hours or hasbeen driven less than one mile (1.6 km).
WARNING
Do not let air out of warm tires to adjust
pressrue. Doing so will result in low tire pres- sure.
Incorrect tire pressures detract from controllability
and ride comfort, and they cause the tires to wear
abnormally.
Correct tire pressure (tread worn evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is responsive.
Rolling resistance is low, so fuel consumption is
also lower.

Maintenance and service
11-44
Abnormally low tire pressure (tread worn at
shoulders)
Rolling resistance is high, so fuel consumption is
also higher.
Abnormally high tire pressure (tread worn in
center)Ride comfort is poor. Also, the tire magnifies the
effects of road-surface bumps and dips, possibly
resulting in vehicle damage.
If the tire placard shows tire pressures for the ve-
hicle when fully loaded and for the vehicle when
towing a trailer, adjust the tire pressures to the val-
ues that match current loading conditions.

Maintenance and service
11-50
Aluminum wheels (If equipped)
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and damaged
easily. Handle them carefully to maintain their ap-
pearance, performance, and safety. When 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 approxi-mately 600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose,
tighten it to the specified torque. Never apply oil to the threaded parts, wheel nuts,
or tapered surface of the wheel. Never let the wheel rub against sharp protrusions
or curbs. Be sure to fit tire chains on uniformly and com-
pletely around the tire, otherwise the chains mayscratch the wheel. When wheel nuts, balance weights, or the center
cap is replaced, be sure to replace them with genu-
ine SUBARU parts designed for aluminum wheels. Windshield washer fluid
Check the level of the washer fluid at each fuel stop.
If the level is low, fill the fluid up to the neck of the
reservoir. 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 Wind-
shield 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 below.

Specifications
12-4
Capacities
Fuel tank
15.9 US gal (60 liters, 13.2 Imp gal)
Engine oil2.5-liter engine model4.2 US qt (4.0 liters, 3.5 Imp qt)
2.0-liter turbo engine model4.8 US qt (4.5 liters, 4.0 Imp qt)
Transmission oil (MT)3.7 US qt (3.5 liters, 3.1 Imp qt)
Transmission oil (AT)10.0 US qt (9.5 liters, 8.4 Imp qt)
Power steering gear fluid0.7 US qt (0.7 liter, 0.6 Imp qt)
Engine coolant2.5-liter engine modelMT7.4 US qt (7.0 liters, 6.2 Imp qt)
AT7.3 US qt (6.9 liters, 6.1 Imp qt)
2.0-liter turbo engine modelMT8.1 US qt (7.7 liters, 6.8 Imp qt)
AT8.0 US qt (7.6 liters, 6.7 Imp qt)
AT : Automatic transmission MT : Manual transmission