SUBARU OUTBACK 2001 3.G Owners Manual

11-187. Stop the eng ine and wait until the c oolant c ools
d own (122 to
140 F [ 50 to 60 C] ). If there is any loss of c oolant, ad d c oolant t o the
rad iator ’s filler nec k and to the reserve tank ’s “FULL ” level.
8. Put the rad iator c ap and reservoir c ap b ac k on an d tig hten firmly.
Air cleaner element
WARNING
Do not operate the engine with the air cleaner element removed. The air cleaner element not only filters intake air but also stops
flames if the engine backfires. If the air cleaner element is not
installed when the engine backfires, you could be burned.
The air c leaner element func tions as a filter sc ree n. When the element is
p erforated or removed , eng ine wear will b e exc essiv e and eng ine life
shortened .
The air c leaner element is a visc ous typ e. It is un nec essary to c lean or
wash the element.
Replacing the air cleaner element
Rep lac e the air c leaner element ac c ord ing to the ma intenanc e sc hed -
ule in the “Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”. Und er extremely
d usty c ond itions, rep lac e it more freq uently. It is rec ommend ed that
you always use g enuine SUBARU p arts.

Maintenance and service11-19
–
CONTINUED –
n
2.5 liter models
HBA003BB
HBA002BB
BoltAir cleaner element
1. Remove the b olt sec uring the rear air c leaner ele ment c ase.
2. Unsnap the three c lamp s hold ing the rear air c lea ner element
c ase.
3. Sep arate the rear air c leaner element c ase from t he front air c lean-
er element c ase and remove the air c leaner element.
4. Clean the insid e of the front and rear air c leane r element c ases
with a d amp c loth and install a new air c leaner ele ment.
5. Insert the four p rojec tions on the rear air c lean er element c ase into
the slits on the front air c leaner element c ase and snap the three
c lamp s on the rear air c leaner element c ase and the n tig hten the b olt.
n 3.0 liter models
HBB056BA
1. Unsnap the two c lamp s hold ing the air c leaner c as e c over.

11-202. Op en the air c leaner c ase c over and remove the ai
r c leaner ele-
ment.
3. Clean the insid e of the air c leaner c over and c as e with a d amp
c loth and install a new air c leaner element.
HBB057BA
To install the air c leaner c ase c over, insert two p rojec tions on the air
c leaner c ase into the slits on the air c leaner c ase c over and then
snap the two c lamp s on the air c leaner c ase c over.
Spark plugs
CAUTION
When disconnecting the spark plug cables, always grasp the
spark plug cap, not the cables. Make sure the cables are replaced in the correct order.

Maintenance and service11-21
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CONTINUED –
HBA004BA
It may b e d iffic ult to rep lac e the sp ark p lug s. It is rec ommend ed that you
have the sp ark p lug s rep lac ed b y your SUBARU d ealer .
The sp ark p lug s should b e rep lac ed ac c ord ing to the maintenanc e
sc hed ule in the “Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”.
Recommended spark plugs
2.5 liter mod els: RC10YC4 (Champ ion)
RC8YC4 (Champ ion)
BKR6E-11 (NGK)
K20PR-U11 (NIPPON DENSO)
3.0 liter mod els: PLFR6A-11 (NGK)

11-22Drive 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.
2.5 liter models
HGA005BB
in (mm)
Deflection
New beltUsed belt
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 ja-
c ent p ulleys and ap p ly a forc e of 22 lb (98 N, 10 k g ) mid way b etween
the p ulleys b y using a sp ring sc ale. Belt d eflec tio n should b e the
amount sp ec ified . 3.0 liter models
It is unnec essary to c hec k b elt tension p eriod ic all y b ec ause your
eng ine is eq uip p ed with an automatic b elt tension a d juster. However,
rep lac ement of the b elt should b e d one ac c ord ing to the maintenanc e

Maintenance and service11-23
–
CONTINUED –
sc hed ule in the
“Warranty and Maintenanc e Booklet ”. Consult your
SUBARU d ealer for rep lac ement.
If a b elt is loose, c rac ked , or worn, c ontac 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
Upper level Lower level
HBB004DB
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

11-24SAE 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 176F
(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 service11-25
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CONTINUED –
HBA008BB
Upper level
Lower level Upper level
Lower level
HOT range
COLD range
HBB004CB
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

11-26Front differential gear oil (AT vehicles)
Checking the oil level
Chec k the d ifferential oil level monthly.
HBA010BB
Lower level Upper levelHBB004EB
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 service11-27
–
CONTINUED –
SAE viscosity No. and Applicable Temperature
OM-H0212
Rear differential gear oil
Checking the gear 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.