service SUBARU OUTBACK 2006 Service Manual

11 - 2 4 Maintenance and service
„ Recommended grade and
viscosityEach oil manufacturer has its own base
oils and additives. Never use different
brands together. Oil grade:
API classification GL-5
SAE viscosity No. and applicable tem-
perature Rear differential gear oil „ Checking the gear oil level Your vehicle may be equipped with a rear
differential protector. The differential pro-
tector provides protection to the rear dif-
ferential assembly during off-road use.
Removal of the rear di fferential protector
is not required when checking the oil level.
2.5i (AT)
1) Filler plug
2) Drain plug 2.5i (AT)
1) Filler hole
2) Drain hole
3) Oil level-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
-20 0 60 20
80W
75W/90 80 10040
85W 90
B00032 1
2 B004101
2 3 B00411

Maintenance and service
11 - 2 5
– CONTINUED –2.5-liter turbo and 3.0-liter models (AT)
1) Filler plug
2) Drain plug 2.5-liter turbo and 3.0-liter models (AT)
1) Filler hole
2) Drain hole
3) Oil level Others
1) Filler plug
2) Drain plug1
2 B00433 1
2 3 B00320
2 1
B00373

11 - 2 6 Maintenance and service
Others
1) Filler hole
2) Drain hole
3) Oil level
Remove the plug from the filler hole and
check the oil level. The oil level should be
kept even with the bottom of the filler hole.
If the oil level is below the bottom edge of
the hole, add oil through the filler hole to
raise the level. „ Recommended grade and
viscosity Each oil manufacturer has its own base
oils and additives. Never use different
brands together.
Oil grade:
API classification GL-5 SAE viscosity No. and applicable tem-
perature3
1
2 B00434
y Be careful not to spill rear differ-
ential gear oil when adding it. If
rear differential gear oil touches
the exhaust pipe, it may cause a
bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If
rear differential gear oil gets on
the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe
it off.
y If the vehicle requires frequent re-
filling, there may be an oil leak. If
you suspect a problem, have the
vehicle checked at your SUBARU
dealer. -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
-20 0 60 20
80W
75W/90 80 10040
85W 90
B00032

Maintenance and service
11 - 2 7
Power steering fluid „ Checking the fluid level The power steering fluid expands greatly
as its temperature rises; the fluid level dif-
fers according to fluid temperature. There-
fore, the reservoir tank has two different
checking ranges for hot and cold fluids.
Check the power steering fluid level
monthly.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, and
stop the engine.
2. Check the fluid level of the reservoir
tank.
When the fluid is hot after the vehicle has
been run: Check that the oil level is be-
tween “HOT MIN” and “HOT MAX” on the
surface of the reservoir tank.
When the fluid is cool before the vehicle is
run: Check that the oil level is between
“COLD MIN” and “COLD MAX” on the sur-
face of the reservoir tank.
3. If the fluid level is lower than the appli-
cable “MIN” line, add the recommended
fluid as necessary to bring the level be-
tween the “MIN” and “MAX” line. If the fluid level is extreme low, it may indi-
cate possible leakage. Consult your
SUBARU dealer for inspection.
„ Recommended fluid “Dexron III” Type Automatic Transmis-
sion Fluid
Be careful not to burn yourself be-
cause the fluid may be hot.
y When power steering fluid is be-
ing added, use only clean fluid,
and be careful not to allow any dirt
into the tank. And never use dif-
ferent brands together.
y Avoid spilling fluid when adding it
in the tank. HOT MAX
COLD MAX
HOT MIN
COLD MIN B00124y Be careful not to spill power steer-
ing fluid when adding it. If power
steering fluid touches the exhaust
pipe, it may cause a bad smell,
smoke, and/or a fire. If power
steering fluid gets on the exhaust
pipe, be sure to wipe it off.

11 - 2 8 Maintenance and service
Brake fluid „ Checking the fluid level
Check the fluid level monthly.
Check the fluid level on the outside of the
reservoir. If the level is below “MIN”, add
the recommended brake fluid to “MAX”. Use only brake fluid from a sealed con-
tainer.
„ Recommended brake fluid FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake flu-
id
y Never let brake fluid contact your
eyes because brake fluid can be
harmful to your eyes. If brake fluid
gets in your eyes, immediately
flush them thoroughly with clean
water. For safety, when perform-
ing this work, wearing eye protec-
tion is advisable.
y Brake fluid absorbs moisture from
the air. Any absorbed moisture
can cause a dangerous loss of
braking performance.
y If the vehicle requires frequent re-
filling, there may be a leak. If you
suspect a problem, have the vehi-
cle checked at your SUBARU
dealer.
y Never use different brands of
brake fluid togeth er. Also, avoid
mixing DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake flu-
ids even if they are of the same
brand. y When adding brake fluid, be care-
ful not to allow any dirt into the
reservoir.
y Never splash the brake fluid over
painted surfaces or rubber parts.
Alcohol contained in the brake flu-
id may damage them.
y Be careful not to spill brake fluid
when adding it. If brake fluid
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If brake fluid gets on the ex-
haust pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
B00125

Maintenance and service
11 - 2 9
Clutch fluid (MT vehicles) „ Checking the fluid level
Check the fluid level on the outside of the
reservoir. If the leve l is below “MIN” level
mark, add the recommended clutch fluid
to “MAX” level mark.
Use only clutch fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. „ Recommended clutch fluid FMVSS No. 116, fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake flu-
id
Never let clutch fluid contact your
eyes because clutch fluid can be
harmful to your eyes. If clutch fluid
gets in your eyes, immediately flush
them thoroughly with clean water.
For safety, when performing this
work, wearing eye protection is ad-
visable.
y Clutch fluid absorbs moisture
from the air. Any absorbed mois-
ture can cause improper clutch
operation.
y If the vehicle requires frequent re-
filling, there may be a leak. If you
suspect a problem, have the vehi-
cle checked at your SUBARU
dealer.
y Never use different brands of
clutch fluid together.
y When clutch fluid is added, be
careful not to a llow any dirt into
the tank. y Never splash the clutch fluid over
painted surfaces or rubber parts.
Alcohol contained in the clutch
fluid may damage them.
y Be careful not to spill clutch fluid
when adding it. If clutch fluid
touches the exhaus t pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If clutch fluid gets on the ex-
haust pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
B00126Avoid mixing DOT 3 and DOT 4
brake fluids even if they are of the
same brand.

11 - 3 0 Maintenance and service
Brake booster If the brake booster does not operate as
described in the following, have it checked
by your SUBARU dealer.
1. With the engine off, depress the brake
pedal several times, applying the same
pedal force each time. The distance the
pedal travels should not vary.
2. With the brake pedal depressed, start
the engine. The pedal should move slight-
ly down to the floor.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop
the engine and keep the pedal depressed
for 30 seconds. The pedal height should
not change.
4. Start the engine again and run for ap-
proximately one minute then turn it off.
Depress the brake pedal several times to
check the brake booster. The brake boost-
er operates properly if the pedal stroke de-
creases with each depression. Brake pedal Check the brake pedal free play and re-
serve distance according to the mainte-
nance schedule in the “Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet”.
„ Checking the brake pedal free
play
1) 0.02 – 0.08 in (0.5 – 2.0 mm)
Stop the engine and firmly depress the
brake pedal several times. Lightly pull the
brake pedal up with one finger to check
the free play with a force of less than 2 lbs
(10 N, 1 kg).
If the free play is not within proper specifi-
cation, contact your SUBARU dealer. „ Checking the brake pedal re-
serve distance
1) More than 2.56 in (65 mm)
Depress the pedal with a force of approxi-
mately 66 lbs (294 N, 30 kg) and measure
the distance between the upper surface of
the pedal pad and the floor.
When the measurement is smaller than
the specification, or when the pedal does
not operate smoothly, contact with your
SUBARU dealer.1 B003231 B00324

Maintenance and service
11 - 3 1
– CONTINUED –Clutch pedal (Manual trans-
mission vehicles) Check the clutch pedal free play and re-
serve distance according to the mainte-
nance schedule in the “Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet”.
„ Checking the clutch functionCheck the clutch engagement and disen-
gagement.
1. With the engine idling, check that there
are no abnormal noises when the clutch
pedal is depressed, and that shifting into
1st or reverse feels smooth.
2. Start the vehicle by releasing the pedal
slowly to check that the engine and trans-
mission smoothly couple without any sign
of slippage. „ Checking the clutch pedal
free play
1) 0.16 – 0.51 in (4.0 – 13.0 mm)
Lightly press the clutch pedal down with
your finger until you feel resistance, and
check the free play.
If the free play is not within proper specifi-
cation, contact your SUBARU dealer. Replacement of brake pad
and lining
The right front disc brake and the right rear
disc brake have audible wear indicators
on the brake pads. If the brake pads wear
close to their service limit, the wear indica-
tor makes a very audible scraping noise
when the brake pedal is applied.
If you hear this scraping noise each time1 B00323
If you continue to drive despite the
scraping noise from the audible
brake pad wear indicator, it will re-
sult in the need for costly brake ro-
tor repair or replacement.
700040

11 - 3 2 Maintenance and service
you apply the brake pedal, have the brake
pads serviced by your SUBARU dealer as
soon as possible.
„ Breaking-in of new brake
pads and liningsWhen replacing the brake pad or lining,
use only genuine SUBARU parts. After re-
placement, the new parts must be broken
in as follows:
T Brake pad and lining
While maintaining a speed of 30 to 40 mph
(50 to 65 km/h), step on the brake pedal
lightly. Repeat this five or more times.
T Parking brake lining
1. Drive the vehicle at a speed of approx- imately 22 mph (35 km/h).
2. With the parking brake release button
pushed in, pull the parking brake lever
SLOWLY and GENTLY. (Pulling with a
force of approximately 33 lbs [147 N, 15
kg].)
3. Drive the vehicle for approximately 220
yards (200 meters) in this condition.
4. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the parking
brake to cool down. Repeat this proce-
dure.
5. Check the parking brake stroke. If the
parking brake stroke is out of the specified
range, adjust it by turning the adjusting nut
located on the parking brake lever. Parking brake stroke:
5 – 6 notches / 44 lbs (196 N, 20 kg) Parking brake stroke
Check the parking brake stroke according
to the maintenance schedule in the “War-
ranty and Maintenance Booklet”. When
the parking brake is properly adjusted,
braking power is fully applied by pulling
the lever up five to six notches gently but
firmly (approximately 44 lbs, 196 N, 20
kg). If the parking brake lever stroke is not
within the specified range, have the brake
system checked and adjusted at your
SUBARU dealer.A safe location and situation should
be selected for break-in driving.
Pulling the parking brake lever too
forcefully may cause the rear
wheels to lock. To avoid this, be cer-
tain to pull the lever up slowly and
gently. B00127

Maintenance and service
11 - 3 3
– CONTINUED –Tires and wheels „ Types of tiresYou should be familiar with type of tires
present on your vehicle.
T All season tires
The factory-installed ti res on your new ve-
hicle are all season tires.
All season tires are designed to provide
an adequate measure of traction, handling
and braking performance in year-round
driving including snowy and icy road con-
ditions. However all season tires do not of-
fer as much traction performance as win-
ter (snow) tires in heavy or loose snow or
on icy roads.
All season tires are identified by “ALL
SEASON” and/or “M+S” (Mud & Snow) on
the tire sidewall.
T Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed capability
tires best suited for highway driving under
dry conditions.
Summer tires are inadequate for driving
on slippery roads such as on snow-cov-
ered or icy roads.
If you drive your vehicle on snow-covered
or icy roads, we strongly recommend the
use of winter (snow) tires.
When installing winter ti res, be sure to re- place all four tires.
T Winter (snow) tires
Winter tires are best suited for driving on
snow-covered and icy roads. However
winter tires do not perform as well as sum-
mer tires and all season tires on roads oth-
er than snow-covered and icy roads.
„ Tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem (TPMS) (if equipped) The tire pressure mo nitoring system pro-
vides the driver with a warning message
by sending a signal from a sensor that is
installed in each wheel when tire pressure
is severely low. The tire pressure monitor-
ing system will activate only when the ve-
hicle is driven. Also, this system may not
react immediately to a sudden drop in tire
pressure (for example, a blow-out caused
by running over a sharp object).
If you adjust the tire pressures in a warm
garage and will then drive the vehicle in
cold outside air, the resulting drop in tire
pressures may cause the low tire pressure
warning light to come on. To avoid this
problem when adjusting the tire pressures
in a warm garage, inflate the tires to pres-
sures higher than those shown on the tire
placard. Specifically, inflate them by an
extra 1 psi (6.9 kPa, 0.07 kgf/cm 2
) for ev- ery difference of 10 ° F (5.6 ° C) between the
temperature in the garage and the tem-
perature outside. By way of example, the
following table shows the required tire
pressures that correspond to various out-
side temperatures when the temperature
in the garage is 60 ° F (15.6 ° C).
Standard tire pressures:
Front: 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
)
Rear: 30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm 2
)
Garage temperature: 60 ° F (15.6 ° C)
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on when you drive the vehicle in
cold outside air after adjusting the tire
pressures in a warm garage, re-adjust the
tire pressures using the method described
above. Then, increase the vehicle speed
to at least 20 mph (32 km/h) and check to
see that the low tire pressure warning light Outside
temperature Adjusted pressure
[psi (kPa, kgf/cm 2
)]
front rear
30 ° F (–1 ° C) 35 (240, 2.4) 33 (230, 2.3)
10 ° F (–12 ° C) 37
(255, 2.55) 35
(245, 2.45)
–10 ° F
(–23 ° C) 39 (270, 2.7) 37 (260, 2.6)