towing SUBARU OUTBACK 2016 6.G Owner's Guide

the shift lever into the“1st”position.
2. Apply the parking brake firmly.
3. Secure the vehicle onto the carrier
properly with safety chains. Each safety
chain should be equally tightened and
care must be taken not to pull the chains
so tightly that the suspension bottoms out.
&Towing with all wheels on the
ground
WARNING
.Never turn the ignition switch to
the“LOCK”/“OFF”position while
the vehicle is being towed be-
cause the steering wheel and the
direction of the wheels will be
locked..Remember that the brake booster
and power steering do not func-
tion when the engine is not
running. Because the engine is
turned off, it will take greater
effort to operate the brake pedal
and steering wheel.
CAUTION
.If transmission failure occurs,
transport your vehicle on a flat-
bed truck.
.For CVT models, the traveling
speed must be limited to less
than 20 mph (30 km/h) and the
traveling distance to less than 31
miles (50 km). For greater speeds
and distances, transport your
vehicle on a flat-bed truck.
1. Release the parking brake and put the
transmission in neutral.
2. The ignition switch should be in the
“ON”position while the vehicle is being
towed.
3. Take up slack in the towline slowly to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Electronic parking brake–if
the electronic parking brake
cannot be released
Contact your SUBARU dealer and have
your SUBARU dealer release the electro-
nic parking brake.
In case of emergency/Electronic parking brake–if the electronic parking brake cannot be released9-17

Engine oil
CAUTION
.If the level gauge is not pulled out
easily, twist the level gauge right
and left, then pull it out. Other-
wise, you may be injured acci-
dentally straining yourself.
.Use only engine oil with the
recommended grade and vis-
cosity.
.Be careful not to spill engine oil
when adding it. If oil touches the
exhaust pipe, it may cause a bad
smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If
engine oil gets on the exhaust
pipe, be sure to wipe it off.
&Engine oil consumption
Some engine oil will be consumed while
driving. Under the following conditions, oil
consumption can be increased and thus
require refilling between maintenance
intervals:
.When the engine is new and within the
break-in period
.When the engine oil is of lower quality
.When the incorrect oil viscosity is used.When engine braking is employed
.When the engine is operated at high
engine speeds
.When the engine is operated under
heavy loads
.When towing a trailer
.When the engine idles for long periods
of time
.When the vehicle is operated in stop
and go and/or heavy traffic situations
.When the vehicle is used under severe
thermal conditions
.When the vehicle accelerates and
decelerates frequently
Under these or similar conditions, you
should check your oil at least every 2nd
fuel fill-up and change your engine oil
more frequently. If your oil consumption
rate is greater than 1 quart every 1,200
miles or 1 liter every 2,000 kilometers,
contact your SUBARU dealer who may
perform a test under controlled conditions.
&Checking the oil level
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine. If you check the oil level
just after stopping the engine, wait a few
minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan before checking the level.
2.5 L models
1) Oil level gauge
2) Oil filler cap
3) Oil filter Maintenance and service/Engine oil
–CONTINUED–
11-11

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects/Tire information
.To maximize the life of each tire
and ensure that the tires wear
uniformly, it is best to rotate the
tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
Rotating the tires involves switch-
ing the front and rear tires on the
right-hand side of the vehicle and
similarly switching the front and
rear tires on the left-hand side of
the vehicle. (Each tire must be kept
on its original side of the vehicle.)
Replace any damaged or unevenly
worn tire at the time of rotation.
After tire rotation, adjust the tire
pressures and make sure the wheel
nuts are correctly tightened. For
information about the tightening
torque and tightening sequence
for the wheel nuts, refer to“Flat
tires”F9-5
.
&Vehicle load limit–how to
determine
The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of
your vehicle is shown on the
vehicle placard attached to thedriver’s side B-pillar. Locate the
statement“The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs”
on your vehicle’s placard.
Thevehicleplacardalsoshows
seating capacity of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the
total weight of driver and all pas-
sengers and their belongings, any
cargo, any optional equipment such
as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike
carrier, etc., and the tongue load of
a trailer. Therefore cargo capacity
can be calculated by the following
method.
Cargo capacity = Load limit−(total
weight of occupants + total weight
of optional equipment + tongue
load of a trailer (if applicable))
For towing capacity information and
weight limits, refer to“Trailer towing
(Outback)”F8-21.
!Calculating total and load ca-
pacities varying seating con-
figurations
Calculate the available load capa-
city as shown in the following
examples:
Example 1A
Vehicle capacity weight of the
vehicle is 800 lbs (363 kg), which
is indicated on the vehicle placard
with the statement“The combined
weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed 363 kg or
800 lbs”.
For example, if the vehicle has one
13-10

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects/Uniform tire quality grading standards
4.The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For exam-
ple, if the“XXX”amount equals
1,400 lbs (635 kg) and there will be
five 150 lbs (68 kg) passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capa-
city is 650 lbs (1,400−750 (56
150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your ve-
hicle.
Uniform tire quality grading
standards
This information indicates the rela-
tive performance of passenger car
tires in the area of treadwear,
traction, and temperature resis-
tance. This is to aid the consumer
in making an informed choice in the
purchase of tires.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall be-
tween tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tem-
perature A
The quality grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on passen-
ger cars. However, they do not
apply to deep tread, winter type
snow tires, space-saver or tempor-
ary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 12 inches
or less, or to some limited produc-
tion tires.
All passenger car tires must con-form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.
&Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under con-
trolled conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1-
1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
&Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on spe-
13-14

14-6Index
H
Hands-free phone system........................................... 5-71
Hazard warning flasher........................................... 3-7, 9-2
Head restraint adjustment
Front seat............................................................... 1-8
Rear seat.............................................................. 1-14
Headlight.................................................................. 3-44
Beam leveler......................................................... 3-47
Bulb wattage....................................................... 12-14
Control switch........................................................ 3-43
Flasher................................................................. 3-46
Indicator light......................................................... 3-31
Welcome lighting function....................................... 3-44
High beam indicator light............................................ 3-30
High/low beam change (dimmer).................................. 3-46
Hill descent control..................................................... 7-39
Indicator................................................................ 3-31
Hill Holder................................................................. 7-45
Indicator light......................................................... 3-21
Switch.................................................................. 7-45
Hill start assist........................................................... 7-48
To activate/deactivate............................................. 7-49
HomeLink
®................................................................ 3-56
Hook
Coat..................................................................... 6-13
Convenient............................................................ 6-14
Convenient tie-down............................................... 6-19
Shopping bag........................................................ 6-14
Towing and tie-down............................................... 9-14
Horn......................................................................... 3-63
Hose and connections............................................... 11-14I
Ignition switch............................................................. 3-3
Light...................................................................... 3-4
Illumination brightness control...................................... 3-48
Immobilizer................................................................. 2-4
Indicator light (security indicator light)........................ 3-29
Indicator light
BSD/RCTA OFF.................................... 3-31, 3-38, 7-59
BSD/RCTA warning............................... 3-31, 3-38, 7-58
Cruise control........................................................ 3-30
Cruise control set................................................... 3-30
Door open............................................................. 3-22
Electronic parking brake.......................................... 3-20
Front fog light......................................................... 3-31
Headlight............................................................... 3-31
High beam............................................................. 3-30
Hill descent control................................................. 3-31
Hill Holder............................................................. 3-21
Immobilizer............................................................ 3-29
Security................................................................. 3-29
Select lever/Gear position........................................ 3-30
Steering responsive fog lights OFF ........................... 3-31
Turn signal............................................................ 3-30
Vehicle Dynamics Control OFF................................. 3-24
Vehicle Dynamics Control operation .......................... 3-23
X-mode................................................................. 3-31
Information display...................................................... 3-32
Inside mirror.............................................................. 3-56
Interior lights............................................................... 6-2
Internal trunk lid release handle.................................... 2-39

14-10Index
Security
Alarm system........................................................ 2-28
Immobilizer.............................................................. 2-4
Indicator light......................................................... 3-29
Shock sensors....................................................... 2-32
Select lever
Position indicator................................................... 3-30
Shift lock function................................................... 7-27
Shock sensors........................................................... 2-32
Shopping bag hook.................................................... 6-14
Snow tires........................................................ 8-11, 11-25
Snowy and icy roads.................................................. 8-10
Spark plugs...................................................... 11-18, 12-9
Specifications............................................................ 12-2
Speedometer............................................................... 3-8
SRS airbag (Supplemental Restraint System airbag) ... 4, 1-41
SRS airbag system
Monitors................................................................ 1-68
Servicing............................................................... 1-69
Warning light......................................................... 3-14
Starting & stopping engine.................................... 7-9, 7-12
State emission testing (U.S. only).................................. 7-7
Steering responsive fog lights system........................... 3-49
OFF indicator........................................................ 3-31
Steering switches for audio......................................... 5-63
Steering wheel
Lock............................................................. 7-11, 7-15
Power................................................................... 7-31
Tilt/telescopic......................................................... 3-63
Stop light................................................................ 12-15
Storage compartment................................................... 6-6Sun shade................................................................. 2-50
Sun visors.................................................................. 6-4
Supplemental Restraint System airbag (SRS)................ 1-41
Synthetic leather upholstery......................................... 10-5
T
Tachometer................................................................. 3-9
Temperature gauge..................................................... 3-11
Temperature warning light
AT OIL TEMP......................................................... 3-16
Temporary spare tire.................................................... 9-2
Tether (child restraint system).............................. 1-35, 1-38
Tie-down hooks.......................................................... 9-14
Tire................................................................. 11-24, 12-9
Chains.................................................................. 8-12
Inspection............................................................ 11-26
Pressures and wear.............................................. 11-27
Replacement........................................................ 11-30
Rotation.............................................................. 11-29
Size and pressure.................................................. 12-9
Types.................................................................. 11-24
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)..... 7-40, 9-10, 11-25
Warning light.......................................................... 3-16
Tires and wheels...................................................... 11-24
Tools
.......................................................................... 9-3
Top tether anchorages........................................ 1-35, 1-38
Towing...................................................................... 9-13
All wheels on the ground......................................... 9-17
Flat-bed truck......................................................... 9-16
Hooks................................................................... 9-14
Weight .................................................................. 8-21

Trailer
Connecting............................................................ 8-19
Hitch (Outback).............................................. 8-18, 8-25
Towing.................................................................. 8-21
Towing tips............................................................ 8-26
Trip meter................................................................... 3-9
Trunk lid........................................................... 2-38, 9-19
Release handle..................................................... 2-39
Trunk light................................................................ 11-49
Turn signal
Indicator lights....................................................... 3-30
Lever.................................................................... 3-47
U
Under-floor storage compartment................................. 6-20
V
Valet mode................................................................ 2-32
Vanity mirror................................................................ 6-5
Vehicle
Capacity weight..................................................... 8-13
Identification........................................................ 12-18
Symbols.................................................................... 3
Vehicle Dynamics Control
OFF indicator light.................................................. 3-24
OFF switch........................................................... 7-37
Operation indicator light.......................................... 3-23
System................................................................. 7-35
Warning light......................................................... 3-23
Ventilator.................................................................... 4-2
Voice command operation........................................... 5-81W
Warning and indicator lights......................................... 3-12
Warning chimes
Keyless access with push-button start system ............ 3-24
Seatbelt................................................................. 3-12
Warning light
ABS...................................................................... 3-18
Access key............................................................ 3-24
All-Wheel Drive...................................................... 3-22
AT OIL TEMP......................................................... 3-16
Automatic headlight beam leveler............................. 3-30
Brake system......................................................... 3-18
Charge.................................................................. 3-15
CHECK ENGINE.................................................... 3-15
Engine low oil level................................................. 3-16
Keyless access with push-button start system ............ 3-24
Low fuel................................................................ 3-21
Low tire pressure.................................................... 3-16
Oil pressure........................................................... 3-15
Power steering....................................................... 3-22
Seatbelt................................................................. 3-12
SRS airbag system................................................. 3-14
Vehicle Dynamics Control........................................ 3-23
Windshield washer fluid........................................... 3-22
Warning volume
BSD/RCTA............................................................ 3-42
EyeSight system.................................................... 3-41
Warranties
..................................................................... 1
Warranties and maintenance........................................ 8-21
Washing.................................................................... 10-2
Waxing and polishing.................................................. 10-3
Index14-11