Get Starting and operating -> Fuel Guide for Subaru XV SUV First Generation (2010-2016)

7-3

Starting and operating/Fuel

Fuel

nozzle. Under no circumstances should

system performance may deteriorate and

leaded gasoline be used because it will

the CHECK ENGINE warning light/Mal-

damage the emission control system and

function indicator light may turn on. If this

CAUTION

may impair driveability and fuel economy.

happens, return to your authorized

SUBARU Dealer for service. If it is

! Gasoline for California-certified

determined that the condition is caused

Use of a fuel which is low in quality

LEV

by the type of fuel used, repairs may not

or use of an inappropriate fuel

If your vehicle was certified to California’s

be covered by your warranty.

additive may cause engine damage.

low emission vehicle (LEV) standards as

! Gasoline for cleaner air

indicated on the underhood tune-up label,

it is designed to optimize engine and

Your use of gasoline with detergent

& Fuel requirements

emission performance with gasoline that

additives will help prevent deposits from

The engine is designed to operate using

meets the clean burning low-sulfur Cali-

forming in your engine and fuel system.

unleaded gasoline with an octane rating

fornia gasoline specifications. If you live in

This helps keep your engine in tune and

of 87 AKI (90 RON) or higher.

any other state than California, your

your emission control system working

vehicle will operate on gasoline meeting

properly, and is a way of doing your part

! Fuel octane rating

Federal specifications. Gasoline sold out-

for cleaner air. If you continuously use a

This octane rating is the average of the

side California is permitted to have higher

high quality fuel with the proper detergent

Research Octane and Motor Octane

sulfur levels, which may affect the perfor-

and other additives, you should never

numbers and is commonly referred to as

mance of your vehicle’s catalytic converter

need to add any fuel system cleaning

the Anti Knock Index (AKI).

and may produce a sulfur exhaust odor or

agents to your fuel tank.

Using a gasoline with a lower octane

smell. SUBARU recommends that you try

Many gasolines are now blended with

rating can cause persistent and heavy

a different brand of unleaded gasoline

materials called oxygenates. Use of these

knocking, which can damage the engine.

having lower sulfur to determine if the

fuels can also help keep the air cleaner.

Do not be concerned if your vehicle

problem is fuel related before returning

Oxygenated blend fuels, such as MTBE

sometimes knocks lightly when you drive

your vehicle to an authorized dealer for

(Methyl Tertiary Butyl ether) or ethanol

up a hill or when you accelerate. Contact

service.

(ethyl or grain alcohol) may be used in

your SUBARU dealer if you use a fuel with

! MMT

your vehicle, but should contain no more

the specified octane rating and your

than 15% MTBE or 10% ethanol for the

vehicle knocks heavily or persistently.

Some gasoline contains an octane-en-

proper operation of your SUBARU.

hancing additive called MMT (Methylcy-

! Unleaded gasoline

clopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). If

Do not use any gasoline that contains

The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designed

you use such fuels, your emission control

more than 10% ethanol, including from

to accept only an unleaded gasoline filler

– CONTINUED –

7-4 Starting and operating/Fuel

any pump labeled E15, E30, E50 or E85

. If undesirable driveability problems are

& Fuel filler lid and cap

(which are only some examples of fuel

experienced and you suspect they may be

! Locations of the fuel filler lid and

containing more than 10% ethanol).

fuel related, try a different brand of gaso-

the lid release lever

line before seeking service at your

In addition, some gasoline suppliers are

SUBARU dealer.

now producing reformulated gasolines,

. Fuel system damage or driveability

which are designed to reduce vehicle

problems which result from the use of

emissions. SUBARU approves the use of

improper fuel are not covered under the

reformulated gasoline.

SUBARU Limited Warranty.

If you are not sure what the fuel contains,

CAUTION

you should ask your service station

operators if their gasolines contain deter-

Do not let fuel spill on the exterior

gents and oxygenates and if they have

surfaces of the vehicle. Because

been reformulated to reduce vehicle emis-

fuel may damage the paint, be sure

sions.

to wipe off any spilled fuel quickly.

As additional guidance, only use fuels

Paint damage caused by spilled fuel

suited for your vehicle as explained in the

is not covered under the SUBARU

Fuel filler lid

following description.

Limited Warranty.

1) 4-door models

. Fuel should be unleaded and have an

2) 5-door models

octane rating no lower than that specified

in this manual.

. Methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) is

sometimes mixed with unleaded gasoline.

Methanol can be used in your vehicle

ONLY if it does not exceed 5% of the fuel

mixture AND if it is accompanied by

sufficient quantities of the proper cosol-

vents and corrosion inhibitors required to

prevent damage to the fuel system. Do not

use fuel containing methanol EXCEPT

under these conditions.

7-5

Starting and operating/Fuel

slowly counterclockwise.

WARNING

Before opening the fuel filler cap,

first touch the vehicle body or a

. Gasoline vapor is highly flam-

metal portion of the fuel pump or

mable. Before refueling, always

similar object to discharge any

turn the ignition switch to the

static electricity that may be present

“LOCK” (off) position first and

on your body. If your body is carry-

then close all vehicle doors and

ing an electrostatic charge, there is

windows. Make sure that there

a possibility that an electric spark

are no lighted cigarettes, open

could ignite the fuel, which could

flames or electrical sparks in the

burn you. To avoid acquiring a new

adjacent area. Only handle fuel

static electric charge, do not get

outdoors. Quickly wipe up any

Fuel filler lid release lever

back into the vehicle while refueling

spilled fuel.

1) 4-door models

is in progress.

2) 5-door models

. When opening the cap, grasp it

firmly and turn it slowly to the

! Refueling

left. Do not remove the cap

Only one person should be involved in

quickly. Fuel may be under pres-

refueling. Do not allow others to approach

sure and spray out of the fuel

the area of the vehicle near the fuel filler

filler neck, especially in hot

pipe while refueling is in progress.

weather. If you hear a hissing

sound while you are removing

Be sure to observe any other precautions

the cap, wait for the sound to

that are posted at the service station.

stop and then slowly open the

1. Stop the vehicle and turn the ignition

cap to prevent fuel from spraying

switch to the “LOCK” (off) position and

out and creating a fire hazard.

turn off all the other electrical components.

2. To open the fuel filler lid, pull the lid

release lever up. The lever is on the floor

Open

at the left of the driver’s seat.

3. Remove the fuel filler cap by turning it

– CONTINUED –

7-6 Starting and operating/Fuel

dicator light” F3-12.

. Stop refueling when the auto-

matic stop mechanism on the

fuel nozzle activates. If you con-

CAUTION

tinue to add fuel, temperature

. Never add any cleaning agents to

changes or other conditions

the fuel tank. The addition of a

may cause fuel to overflow from

cleaning agent may cause da-

the tank and create a fire hazard.

mage to the fuel system.

5. Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler

. After refueling, turn the cap to the

pump automatically stops. Do not add any

right until it clicks to ensure that

more fuel.

it is fully tightened. If the cap is

6. Put the cap back on, turn it clockwise

not securely tightened, fuel may

until you hear a clicking noise. Be certain

leak out while the vehicle is being

4. Set the fuel filler cap on the cap holder

not to catch the tether under the cap while

driven or fuel spillage could

inside the fuel filler lid.

tightening.

occur in the event of an accident,

creating a fire hazard.

7. Close the fuel filler lid completely.

WARNING

If you spill any fuel on the painted surface,

. Do not let fuel spill on the exterior

rinse it off immediately. Otherwise, the

surfaces of the vehicle. Because

. When refueling, insert the fuel

painted surface could be damaged.

fuel may damage the paint, be

nozzle securely into the fuel filler

sure to wipe off any spilled fuel

pipe. If the nozzle is lifted or not

quickly. Paint damage caused by

NOTE

fully inserted, its automatic stop-

spilled fuel is not covered under

ping mechanism may not func-

. You will see the “

” sign in the fuel

the SUBARU Limited Warranty.

tion, causing fuel to overflow the

gauge. This indicates that the fuel filler

. Always use a genuine SUBARU

tank and creating a fire hazard.

door (lid) is located on the right side of

fuel filler cap. If you use the

the vehicle.

wrong cap, it may not fit or have

. If the fuel filler cap is not tightened

proper venting and your fuel tank

until it clicks or if the tether is caught

and emission control system

under the cap, the CHECK ENGINE

may be damaged. It could also

warning light/malfunction indicator

lead to fuel spillage and a fire.

light may illuminate. Refer to “CHECK

ENGINE warning light/Malfunction in-

. Immediately put fuel in the tank

7-7

Starting and operating/State emission testing (U.S. only)

State emission testing (U.S.

have Inspection/Maintenance programs to

whenever the low fuel warning

inspect your vehicle’s emission control

light illuminates. Engine misfires

only)

system. If your vehicle does not pass this

as a result of an empty tank

test, some states may deny renewal of

could cause damage to the en-

your vehicle’s registration.

gine.

WARNING

Your vehicle is equipped with a computer

Testing of an All-Wheel Drive model

that monitors the performance of the

must NEVER be performed on a

engine’s emission control system. Certi-

single two-wheel dynamometer. At-

fied emission inspectors will inspect the

tempting to do so will result in

On-Board Diagnostic (OBDII) system as

uncontrolled vehicle movement and

part of the state emission inspection

may cause an accident or injuries to

process. The OBDII system is designed

persons nearby.

to detect engine and transmission pro-

blems that might cause the vehicle emis-

sions to exceed allowable limits. OBDII

CAUTION

inspections apply to all 1996 model year

and newer passenger cars and trucks.

. At state inspection time, remem-

Over 30 states plus the District of Colum-

ber to tell your inspection or

bia have implemented emission inspec-

service station in advance not to

tion of the OBDII system.

place your SUBARU AWD vehicle

. The inspection of the OBDII system

on a two-wheel dynamometer.

consists of a visual operational check of

Otherwise, serious transmission

the “CHECK ENGINE” warning light/mal-

damage will result.

function indicator light (MIL) and an

. Resultant vehicle damage due to

examination of the OBDII system with an

improper testing is not covered

electronic scan tool.

under the SUBARU Limited War-

. A vehicle passes the OBDII system

ranty and is the responsibility of

inspection if proper operation of the

the state inspection program or

“CHECK ENGINE” warning light is ob-

its contractors or licensees.

served, there are no stored diagnostic

trouble codes, and the OBDII readiness

California and a number of federal states

monitors are all complete.

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Starting and operating -> Fuel for Your Subaru XV SUV First Generation (2010-2016)

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