Maximize Your Subaru's Reliability

Welcome current or future Subaru Owner! You probably own your vehicle or are considering purchasing a Subaru because you've heard of their amazing longevity. We've had many owners bring their Subarus to us with well over 300,000 miles! Check out these tips below to help maximize the life of your vehicle as well.

Avoid Bad Habits

Daily habits can jeopardize your vehicle's life and increase repair costs. Drive smarter today to maximize the miles from your Subaru.

	Getting Started Save wear on your engine by switching off power-robbing accessories such as headlights, windshield wipers, air conditioning, and heater/defroster before ignition. Don't rev up the engine to warm it up. After being turned off even a few hours, the engine's oil settles into the oil pan, leaving little on moving parts. Allowing time after start-up for the oil pump to lubricate the engine protects components from damaging metal-on-metal contact.
	On the Road Heed warning lights! They communicate crucial mechanical and electrical information. You can ruin or shorten the life of an engine by driving just a few blocks with overheating or lost oil pressure. Always completely stop before shifting into Drive/First Gear or Reverse. Not stopping stresses the transmission, potentially shortening its life and adding wear and tear to gears and the clutch. Make sure your vehicle has at least a quarter tank of fuel to avoid mixing gas with sediment from the bottom and clogging fuel-system components.
	Park Smart After parking, always set the parking brake. Don't use the transmission as a brake,especially if you're parked on an incline. That adds unnecessary strain, plus it's a safety issue. Cranking the steering wheel right or left to the point where it can move no further puts 50 times more force than normal on the power-steering pump. Making hard "parallel parking" turns on a regular basis takes a toll on fluids, hoses, and the pump itself.

Basic Vehicle Tips

Prepare to Drive

Familiarize yourself with all controls and set the mirrors
Minimize distractions
Check road maps before entering traffic
Read your Owner's Manual

Regular Maintenance Maximizes Safety and Your Trade-In Value

Regularly check basic items:

Oil and oil filter
Coolant and fluids for brakes, transmission, and power steering
Spark plugs, battery connections, and fuses
Filters, belts, and hoses
Tire pressure, tread wear, and tire rotation; don't forget the spare!
Headlights and taillights
Stop and turn signals
Windshield wipers and fluid

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Tips

Here are tips about Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) to help you and your Subaru maintain a long-term relationship.

Avoid AWD Overconfidence

AWD gives you exceptional traction in just about any driving situation. However, inclement
weather with slippery roads can be a problem even for AWD. Reduce speed and
maintain ample distance from other vehicles.

Towing Your Vehicle

Do not tow an AWD vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission having any of its wheels on the ground. Never tow with only two wheels on the ground or on a dolly.Instead, haul AWD vehicles with all four wheels off the ground on trailers or flatbed trucks. Put the transmission in Park (automatic)
or in gear (manual). Apply the parking brake. (You can tow a manual model with all four wheels on the ground and the transmission in Neutral.)

State Emission Testing

Never test an AWD vehicle on a two-wheel dynamometer. States using them will exempt full-time AWD vehicles like your Subaru or offer an alternative. Four-wheel dynamometer testing is approved. See your dealer for information regarding emission testing in your state.

Watch Those Boots!

Boots at the ends of axle shafts protect your AWD system from dirt, moisture, and road debris, which can get into broken, torn, or split boots and cause damage. Have your dealer check the boots every time your vehicle is serviced.

If you would like to learn more on how to maximize the life of your Subaru, check out our Caring for Your Subaru page.