check oil SUBARU TRIBECA 2008 User Guide

9-18
In case of emergency
&Towing with all wheels on the
ground
WARNING
. Never turn the ignition switch to
the “LOCK ”position while the
vehicle is being towed because
the steering wheel and the direc-
tion 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.
. Do not run the engine while being
towed using this method. Trans-
mission damage could result if
the vehicle is towed with the
engine running.
. 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. Check the transmission and differen-
tial oil levels and add oil to bring it to the
upper level if necessary.
2. Release the parking brake and put the
transmission in neutral.
3. The ignition switch should be in the
“Acc ”position while the vehicle is being
towed.
4. Take up slack in the towline slowly to
prevent damage to the vehicle.
Rear gate –if the rear gate
cannot be unlockedIn the event that you cannot unlock the
rear gate by operating the power door
locking switches or the remote keyless
entry system, you can unlock it from inside
the cargo area.1. Remove the access cover at the
bottom-center of the rear gate trim using
flat-head screwdriver.
2. Locate the rear gate lock release lever
behind the rear gate trim panel.
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Maintenance schedule................................... 11-3
Maintenance precautions............................... 11-3
Before checking or servicing in the engine compartment ................................................. 11-4
When you do checking or servicing in the engine compartment while the engine is running ....... 11-4
Engine hood................................................... 11-4
Engine compartment overview ...................... 11-6
Engine oil ........................................................ 11-7
Checking the oil level ...................................... 11-7
Changing the oil and oil filter ........................... 11-8
Recommended grade and viscosity ................. 11-9
Recommended grade and viscosity under severe driving conditions ....................................... 11-10
Cooling system............................................ 11-11
Hose and connections ................................... 11-11
Engine coolant .............................................. 11-11
Air cleaner element ...................................... 11-14
Replacing the air cleaner element .................. 11-14
Spark plugs.................................................. 11-15
Recommended spark plugs ........................... 11-15
Drive belts.................................................... 11-15
Automatic transmission fluid ...................... 11-15
Checking the fluid level................................. 11-15
Recommended fluid ...................................... 11-16
Front differential gear oil ............................. 11-17
Checking the oil level.................................... 11-17
Recommended grade and viscosity ............... 11-17
Rear differential gear oil.............................. 11-18
Checking the gear oil level ............................ 11-18 Recommended grade and viscosity
............... 11-18
Power steering fluid..................................... 11-19
Checking the fluid level ................................. 11-19
Recommended fluid ...................................... 11-20
Brake fluid..................................................... 11-20
Checking the fluid level ................................. 11-20
Recommended brake fluid ............................ 11-21
Brake booster............................................... 11-21
Brake pedal ................................................... 11-21
Checking the brake pedal free play ............... 11-21
Checking the brake pedal reserve distance ..................................................... 11-22
Replacement of brake pad and lining ......... 11-22
Breaking-in of new brake pads and
linings ........................................................ 11-22
Parking brake stroke .................................... 11-23
Tires and wheels ........................................... 11-23
Types of tires................................................ 11-23
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ....... 11-24
Tire inspection .............................................. 11-25
Tire pressures and wear ............................... 11-25
Wheel balance .............................................. 11-27
Wear indicators ............................................ 11-28
Tire rotation direction mark ........................... 11-28
Tire rotation .................................................. 11-28
Tire replacement ........................................... 11-29
Wheel replacement ....................................... 11-29
Aluminum wheels......................................... 11-30
Chrome plated wheels (if equipped) ........... 11-31
Windshield washer fluid ............................... 11-32
Maintenance and service
11
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11-4
Maintenance and service
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 seat-
belt pretensioner system, or at-
tempt to take its connectors
apart, as that may activate the
system or it can render it inop-
erative. The wiring and connec-
tors of these systems are yellow
for easy identification. NEVER
use a circuit tester for these
wiring.
If your SRS airbag or seatbelt
pretensioner needs service, con-
sult your nearest SUBARU deal-
er.
& Before checking or servicing
in the engine compartment
WARNING
. Always stop the engine and set
the parking brake firmly to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving.
. Always let the engine cool down.
Engine parts become very hot
when the engine is running and remain hot for some time after
the engine is stopped.
. Do not spill engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid or any other
fluid on hot engine components.
This may cause a fire.
. Always remove the key from the
ignition switch. When the ignition
switch is in the “ON ”position,
thecoolingfanmayoperate
suddenly even when the engine
is stopped.
& When you do checking or
servicing in the engine com-
partment while the engine is
running
WARNING
A running engine can be dangerous.
Keep your fingers, hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from the cooling
fan, belts and any other moving
engine parts. Removing rings,
watches and ties is advisable.
Engine hoodTo open the hood:
1. If the wiper blades are lifted off the
windshield, return them to their original
positions.
2. Pull the hood release knob under the
instrument panel.
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Engine oilNOTE.The engine oil consumption rate is
not stabilized, and therefore cannot be
determined until the vehicle has tra-
veled at least several thousand miles
(kilometers). Even after break-in, when
the vehicle is used under severe driv-
ing conditions such as those men-
tioned in the “Warranty and Mainte-
nance Booklet ”, engine oil is con-
sumed or deteriorated more quickly
than under normal driving conditions.
If you drive your vehicle under these
severe conditions, you should check
the oil level at least at every second
fuel fill-up time, and change the oil
more frequently. Please refer to the
“ Warranty and Maintenance Booklet ”
for more details.
. If the oil consumption rate seems
abnormally high after the break-in
period, for example more than 1 quart
per 1,200 miles or 1 liter per 2,000
kilometers, we recommend that you
contact your SUBARU dealer.
& Checking the oil levelCheck the engine oil level at each fuel
stop.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
insert it again.
3. Be sure the dipstick is correctly in-
serted until it stops with the graphic
symbol “
”on its top appearing as
shown in the illustration.
1) Upper level
2) Lower level4. Pull out the dipstick again and check
the oil level on it. If it is below the lower
level, add oil to bring the level up to the
upper level.
CAUTION
. Use only engine oil with the
recommended grade and vis-
cosity.
Maintenance and service
11-7
– CONTINUED –
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11-8
Maintenance and service
.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.
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.
To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not
add any additional oil above the upper
level when the engine is cold.& Changing the oil and oil filterChange the oil and oil filter according to
the maintenance schedule in the “War-
ranty and Maintenance Booklet ”.
The engine oil and oil filter must be
changed more frequently than listed in
the maintenance schedule when driving
on dusty roads, when short trips are
frequently made, or when driving in
extremely cold whether.
1. Warm up the engine by letting the
engine idle for approximately 10 minutes
to ease draining the engine oil.
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
3. Remove the oil filler cap.
4. Drain out the engine oil by removing
the drain plug while the engine is still
warm. The used oil should be drained into
an appropriate container and disposed of
properly.
WARNING
Be careful not to burn yourself with
hot engine oil.
5. Wipe the seating surface of the drain
plug with a clean cloth and tighten it
securely with a new sealing washer after
the oil has completely drained out.
6. Open the access cover by removing
the five clips and turning the access cover
counterclockwise. The oil filter will be
exposed.7. Remove the oil filter with an oil filter
wrench.
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8. Clean the rubber seal seating area of
the bottom of engine and install the oil
filter by hand turning. Be careful not to
twist or damage the seal.
9. Tighten the oil filter by the amount
indicated in the following table after the
seal makes contact with the bottom of
engine.Oil filter color Part numberAmount of ro-
tation
Black 15208AA031 3/4 rotation
CAUTION
.Never over tighten the oil filter
because that can result in an oil
leak.
. Thoroughly wipe off any engine
oil that has spilled over the
exhaust pipe and/or under-cover.
If left unremoved, the oil could
catch fire.
10. Reinstall the cover under the oil filter.
11. Pour engine oil through the filler neck.
Oil capacity (Guideline): 6.7 US qt (6.3 liters, 5.5 Imp qt)The oil quantity indicated above is only a
guideline. The necessary quantity of oil
depends on the quantity of oil that has
been drained. The quantity of drained oil
differs slightly depending on the tempera-
ture of the oil and the time the oil is left
flowing out. After refilling the engine with
oil, therefore, you must use the dipstick to
confirm that the level is correct.
12. Start the engine and make sure that no
oil leaks appear around the filter ’s rubber
seal and drain plug.
13. Run the engine until it reaches the
normal operating temperature. Then stop
the engine and wait a few minutes to allow
the oil drain back. Check the oil level
again and if necessary, add more engine
oil.& Recommended grade and
viscosity
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the recom-
mended grade and viscosity.
Oil grade:
ILSAC GF-4, which can be identified with
the ILSAC certification mark (Starburst
mark)
or API classification SM with the words
“ENERGY CONSERVING ”These recommended oil grades can be
identified by looking for either or both of
the following marks displayed on the oil
container.ILSAC Certification Mark (Starburst Mark)Maintenance and service
11-9
–
CONTINUED –
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Cooling system
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has cooled down
completely. Since the coolant is
under pressure, you may suffer
serious burns from a spray of boil-
ing hot coolant when the cap is
removed.
CAUTION
.The cooling system has been
filled at the factory with a high
quality, corrosion-inhibiting,
year-around coolant which pro-
vides protection against freezing
down to −33 8F( −36 8C).
Subaru engines use aluminum
components that require the
anti-corrosive and anti-freeze
properties of Subaru Genuine
Coolant, which is specifically
formulated for the Subaru cool-
ing system. Failure to use Subaru
Genuine Coolant along with
Subaru Cooling System Condi-
tioner at the recommended main- tenance intervals may result in
problems, including, but not lim-
ited to shortened life of engine
components and cooling system
clogging, coolant leaks and en-
gine damage from overheating.
Problems caused by the failure to
use Subaru Genuine Coolant and
Subaru Cooling System Condi-
tioner at recommended intervals
are not covered under the
Subaru Limited Warranty.
While there may be other generic
products that may provide the
required protection, they have
not been tested for compatibility
with Subaru engines and cooling
system components, and there-
fore not recommended.
. Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
& Hose and connectionsYour 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 tempera-
ture gauge exceeds the normal operating
range, the cooling fan circuit may be
defective. Check the fuse and replace it
if necessary. If the fuse is not blown, have
the cooling system checked by your
SUBARU dealer.
If frequent addition of coolant is neces-
sary, there may be a leak in the engine
cooling system. It is recommended that
the cooling system and connections be
checked for leaks, damage, or looseness.
&
Engine coolant! Checking the coolant levelCheck the coolant level at each fuel stop.
1. Check the coolant level on the outside
of the reservoir while the engine is cool.
Maintenance and service
11-11
–CONTINUED –
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11-12
Maintenance and service
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.3. After refilling the reserve tank and the
radiator, reinstall the caps and check that
the rubber gaskets inside the radiator cap
are in the proper position.
CAUTION
. Be careful not to spill engine
coolant when adding it. If coolant
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or
a fire. If engine coolant gets on
the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe
it off. .
Do not splash the engine coolant
over painted parts. The alcohol
contained in the engine coolant
may damage the paint surface.
! Changing the coolant
Always add genuine Subaru cooling sys-
tem conditioner whenever the coolant is
replaced.
Change the engine coolant and add
genuine Subaru cooling system condi-
tioner using the following procedures
according to the maintenance schedule
in the “Warranty and Maintenance Book-
let ”.
1. Remove the under cover.
2. Place a proper container under the
drain plug and loosen the drain plug. 3. Loosen the radiator cap to drain the
coolant from the radiator. Then drain the
coolant from the reserve tank. Tighten the
drain plug securely.
WARNING
Never attempt to remove the radia-
tor cap until the engine has been
shut off and has cooled down
completely. Since the coolant is
under pressure, you may suffer
serious burns from a spray of boil-
ing hot coolant when the cap is
removed.
4. Install the under cover.1) Fill up to here5. Slowly pour the coolant and fill up to
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Front differential gear oil&Checking the oil level1) Yellow handle1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
stop the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, and
insert it again.
1) Upper level
2) Lower level3. Pull out the dipstick again and check
the oil level on it. If it is below the lower
level, add oil to bring the level up to the
upper level.
CAUTION
Be careful not to spill front differ-
ential gear oil when adding it. If oil
touches the exhaust pipe, it may
cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a
fire. If oil gets on the exhaust pipe,
be sure to wipe it off.
&Recommended grade and
viscosityEach oil manufacturer has its own base
oils and additives. Never use different
brands together.Oil grade:
API classification GL-5SAE viscosity No. and applicable tempera-
ture Maintenance and service
11-17
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11-18
Maintenance and service
Rear differential gear oil&Checking the gear oil levelYour vehicle may be equipped with a rear
differential protector. The differential pro-
tector provides protection to the rear
differential assembly during off-road use.
Removal of the rear differential protector is
not required when checking the oil level.1) Filler plug
2) Drain plug
1) Filler hole
2) Drain hole
3) Oil levelRemove 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.
CAUTION
. 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.
. 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.
& Recommended grade and
viscosityEach oil manufacturer has its own base
oils and additives. Never use different
brands together.Oil grade:
API classification GL-5
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