Maintaining Your Subaru

Even with scheduled servicing, your Subaru may need extra maintenance from time to time. Changes in performance, vehicle sounds and appearance may indicate that service or repairs are needed. Look out for a reduction in engine performance, strange engine noises, a leak under the vehicle, a change in noise from the exhaust, spongy feeling brake or clutch pedals, high engine temperature, or if the vehicle steering pulls to one side.

If you experience any of these early warning signs, have your local Subaru Authorised Service Centre inspect your vehicle as soon as possible.

Find your nearest Subaru Authorised Service Centre

Servicing your Subaru

We recommend you service your Subaru in accordance with the Warranty and Service Handbook that came with your vehicle. Generally this requires your vehicle to be serviced at either 12,500 kilometres or 6-month intervals (whichever comes first). Subaru Legacy & Outback 6-cylinder models need an initial lubrication service at 5,000 kilometres or 3-months.  Check your handbook or your call your local Subaru Authorised Dealership to determine the specific service intervals that apply to your Subaru.

More frequent servicing may be required if your Subaru is subjected to the following.

• Extremely hot or cold weather
• Coastal area living
• Continuous trailer towing
• Repeated short trips
• Dusty or rough road driving
• Mountainous area living

Your Subaru Authorised Dealership is best qualified to advise how often this should happen. The intervals mentioned in your handbook are the minimum requirements for safe vehicle operation.

Maintaining your tyres

Checking the air pressure in your tyres (including your spare) at least once a month or before a long journey will help ensure safety, reduce fuel consumption and increase tyre life. It is best to check tyres when cold, as letting air out of warm tyres could result in low or incorrect tyre pressures. Correct air pressures are shown on the tyre placard located on the driver's door sill.

Driving at high speeds with excessively low tyre pressures can lead to severe tyre deformation, tread separation and even tyre destruction. Do not attempt to drive on a flat tyre more than is necessary to safely stop, as driving even short distances may cause irreparable damage.

Your tyres will wear over time, but with proper care can last for a considerable amount of time. The following conditions will affect your tyre wear.

• Incorrect tyre pressure
• Poorly aligned wheels
• How you use your car
• Your driving style

Your front and rear tyres wear out at different rates. Rotating your tyres at each service will extend the life of your tyres and promote even wear.

When it’s time to replace your tyres, ensure the following:

• Use only radial tyres
• Match same brand, model size, load and speed rating

Mixing different tyre makes, sizes or degrees of wear can result in damage to the vehicle’s powertrain, as well as affect control and braking performance. Subaru recommends that all four tyres are replaced at the same time.

Monitoring your engine oil

• Engine oil levels should be checked every month or every 500kms (whichever comes first)
• Warm your engine to operating temperature, then ensure engine is switched off for 5 minutes
• Always start by cleaning the dip-stick and insert fully (be careful as certain engine components around the dip-stick may be hot)
• Top-up oil in small increments and check periodically during top-up
• Use only specified, recommended grades of oil as outlined in your owner’s manual
• Oil that is too thin (low viscosity) will increase its rate of consumption, so stick to specified grades.

Monitoring your engine coolant

• Coolant levels should be checked at both the overflow bottle and the radiator cap.
• Check overflow bottle once a week or every 500kms, during a fuel stop.
• Only check coolant under the radiator cap when the engine is cold to avoid possible burns.
• When topping up, only use the same coolant that is currently in the system. If unavailable, use distilled water. Never mix coolants, as this may damage the system and possibly result in engine failure.
• Do not top up coolant level beyond the maximum mark.

Monitoring your washing fluid

Check and top up washer fluid weekly. For best results, add the correct amount of Subaru Windscreen Washer Additive.

Maintaining your air conditioning

When turned on, air conditioning uses power from the vehicle's engine, so you may notice a small decrease in power and a slight increase in fuel consumption when it is in use. To help ensure consistent operation, switch air-conditioning on for 5-10 minutes once every two weeks (even in winter) to lubricate the air-conditioner system seals.

Note: A slight hissing sound may be heard for a short time when air is turned off. This is normal.