Get Driving tips -> On-road and off-road driving Guide for Subaru Forester SUV 2024

On-road and off-road driving

400

conditions than a two wheel drive

vehicle. There is little difference in

handling, however, during extremely

sharp turns or sudden braking. There-

fore, when driving down a slope or

turning corners, be sure to reduce your

speed and maintain an ample distance

from other vehicles.

Always check the cold tire pressure

before starting to drive. The recom-

mended tire pressure is provided on the

tire inflation pressure label, which is

located under the door latch on the

driver’s side.

Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle

under hard-driving conditions such as

steep hills or dusty roads will necessi-

tate more frequent replacement of the

following items than that specified in the

“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.

– Engine oil

– Brake fluid

– Rear differential gear oil

– Continuously variable transmission

fluid

– Front differential gear oil

There are some precautions that you

must observe when towing your vehi-

cle. For detailed information, refer to

“Towing” �P435.

with its higher profile and center

of gravity, is more likely to be

affected by crosswinds than or-

dinary passenger cars.

8-9. On-road and off-road

driving

WARNING

Always use the utmost care in

driving – overconfidence be-

cause you are driving an All-

Wheel Drive model could easily

lead to a serious accident.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted

person is significantly more

likely to die than a person wear-

ing a seatbelt. The driver and all

passengers should fasten their

seatbelts before starting to drive

in order to minimize the chance

of serious injury or death.

Never attempt to drive through

pools and puddles, or roads

flooded with water. Water enter-

ing the engine air intake or the

exhaust pipe or water splashing

onto electrical parts may damage

your vehicle and may cause it to

stall. In this case, contact your

SUBARU dealer immediately. Re-

gardless of its depth, it can wash

away the ground from under your

tires, resulting in possible loss of

traction and even vehicle roll-

over.

Do not make sharp turns or quick

maneuvers unless absolutely un-

avoidable. Such actions are dan-

gerous, as you may lose control,

possibly resulting in a rollover

which could cause death or ser-

ious injury.

Always maintain a safe driving

speed according to the road and

weather conditions in order to

avoid having an accident on a

sharp turn, during sudden brak-

ing or under other similar condi-

tions.

CAUTION

After driving on gravel roads or

rough roads, check the under-

carriage of the vehicle body for

any damage, deformation, or

paint removal. If you notice any

Whenever strong crosswinds are

present, slow down sufficiently

to maintain control of your vehi-

cle. Remember that your vehicle,

^{On-road and off-road driving}401

ently from many passenger vehicles both

on-road and off-road, so take time to

become familiar with your vehicle. Note,

however, that your vehicle is not a con-

ventional off-road vehicle or an all-terrain

vehicle, and it should not be operated like

one. A higher center of gravity in relation to

the tread width as compared with ordinary

passenger cars makes vehicles of this

type more likely to roll over. In reality, utility

vehicles have a significantly higher roll-

over rate than other types of vehicles. The

high ground clearance of this vehicle is a

real advantage, giving you a better view of

the road and allowing you to anticipate

problems earlier. However, remember that

your utility vehicle is not designed for high-

speed cornering comparable to ordinary

passenger cars and that your vehicle could

roll over if you make a sharp turn at high

speed. If you do take your SUBARU off-

road, certain common sense precautions

such as those in the following list should be

taken.

Secure all cargo carried inside the

vehicle and make certain that it is not

piled higher than the seatbacks. During

sudden stops or jolts, unsecured cargo

could be thrown around in the vehicle

and cause injury. Do not pile heavy

loads on the roof. Those loads raise the

vehicle’s center of gravity and make it

more prone to tip over.

irregularities, contact a SUBARU

dealer for an inspection as soon

as possible.

Frequent driving of an AWD mod-

el under hard-driving conditions

such as rough roads or off roads

will necessitate more frequent

replacement of the following

items than that specified in the

maintenance schedule described

in the “Warranty and Mainte-

nance Booklet”.

Never equip your vehicle with tires

larger than those specified in this

manual.

–

Engine oil

Brake fluid

& During driving

General precautions:

Remember that damage done to

your SUBARU while operating it

off-road and not using common

sense precautions such as those

listed above is not eligible for

warranty coverage.

Drive carefully. Do not take unneces-

sary risks by driving in dangerous areas

or over rough terrain.

Slow down and employ extra caution at

all times. When driving off-road, you will

not have the benefit of marked traffic

lanes, banked curves, traffic signs and

the like.

Do not drive across steep slopes.

Instead, drive either straight up or

straight down the slopes. A vehicle

can much more easily tip over sideways

than it can end over end. Avoid driving

straight up or down slopes that are too

steep.

Your vehicle is classified as a utility

vehicle. A utility vehicle features a high

ground clearance and may be equipped

with off-road tires (Subaru Forester

Wilderness models only), which enable

the vehicle to be used for a wider range of

applications. Because of the AWD feature

and higher ground clearance, you can

drive your SUBARU on ordinary roads or

off-road. It handles and maneuvers differ-

& Before driving

Make certain that you and all of your

passengers are wearing seatbelts.

Carry some emergency equipment,

such as a towing rope or chain, a

shovel, wheel blocks, first aid kit and

cell phone or citizens band radio.

Avoid sharp turning maneuvers, espe-

– CONTINUED –

On-road and off-road driving

402

cially at higher speeds.

and brake pedal at the same time

while the select lever is in a position

other than “P” or “N”.

while driving, contact a SUBARU deal-

er for an inspection as soon as possi-

ble.

Do not grip the inside or spokes of the

steering wheel. A bad bump could jerk

the wheel and injure your hands.

Instead, drive with your fingers and

thumbs on the outside of the rim.

Do not drive or park over or near

flammable materials such as dry grass

or fallen leaves, as they may burn

easily. The exhaust system is very hot

while the engine is running and right

after the engine stops. This could

create a fire hazard.

– Depressing the accelerator to hold

the vehicle in a stationary position

while on a slope and while the select

lever is in a position other than “P” or

“N”.

– Trying repeatedly to drive over a

bump that the vehicle cannot climb

over.

When the road surface is extremely

slippery, you can obtain better traction

by starting the vehicle with the trans-

mission in 2nd than 1st. Refer to

“Selection of manual mode” �P326.

Do not rotate the tires at a high speed if

the vehicle is stuck due to muddy,

snowy, icy, or similar low-traction con-

ditions, or if any tire is not touching the

ground. Doing so may cause the tires to

burst or lead to an accident due to

abnormal overheating or damage to

drivetrain components.

Do not allow the vehicle tires to be

submerged in deep sand, a river, or

seawater. If you have to drive under

these conditions, thoroughly wash the

vehicle after driving. If you hear any

abnormal noise while driving, contact a

SUBARU dealer for an inspection as

soon as possible.

If the wheels are stuck, cutting the

steering wheel at a sharp angle may

cause the steering components to be

deformed. If you hear any abnormal

noise while driving or if you notice any

abnormalities due to rough running,

contact a SUBARU dealer for an

inspection as soon as possible.

Avoid driving over curbs. Tires, wheels,

suspensions, and the mechanical com-

ponents under the vehicle body may be

unnoticeably damaged by the impact of

striking a curb or driving on a rough

road. If driving over a curb is unavoid-

able, ride over it slowly and at a right

angle to the curb. When parking your

vehicle, make sure that the tires are not

pressed against the curb.

Precautions when driving under espe-

cially dangerous situations:

When driving over bumps in the road,

drive as slowly as possible to avoid

damaging the wheels, underside of the

vehicle, etc.

If you must rock the vehicle to free it

from sand or mud, depress the accel-

erator pedal slightly and move the

select lever back and forth between

“D” and “R” repeatedly. Do not race the

engine. For the best possible traction,

avoid spinning the wheels when trying

to free the vehicle.

On rough roads and roads with large

undulations, have a leader guide you,

or check the road surface in advance to

select a road where the ground will not

come in contact with the undercarriage

of the vehicle body.

Do not perform the following opera-

tions. Doing so may cause the trans-

mission to overheat or malfunction.

– Depressing the accelerator pedal

Do not drive for a long time while the

vehicle is tilted to the left or right.

Drive the vehicle at 6 mph (10 km/h) or

less. If you hear any abnormal noise

^{Winter driving}403

the vehicle.

& After driving

8-10. Winter driving

Always check your brakes for effective-

ness immediately after driving in sand,

mud or water. Do this by driving slowly

and stepping on the brake pedal.

Repeat that process several times to

dry out the brake discs and brake pads.

If you fill the reservoir tank with a fluid with

a different concentration from the one

used previously, purge the old fluid from

the piping between the reservoir tank and

washer nozzles by operating the washer

for a certain period of time. Otherwise, if

the concentration of the fluid remaining in

the piping is too low for the outside

temperature, it may freeze and block the

nozzles.

& Operation during cold weath-

! Maintenance

Carry some emergency equipment, such

as a window scraper, a bag of sand, flares,

a small shovel and jumper cables.

After driving through tall grass, mud,

rocks, sand, rivers, etc., check that

there is no grass, bush, paper, rags,

stones, sand, etc. adhering to or

trapped on the underbody. Clear off

any such matter from the underbody. If

the vehicle is used with these materials

trapped or adhering to the underbody, a

mechanical breakdown or fire could

occur.

Check the battery and cables. Cold tem-

peratures reduce battery capacity. The

battery must be in good condition to

provide enough power for cold winter

starts.

CAUTION

Adjust the washer fluid concen-

tration appropriately for the out-

side temperature. If the concen-

tration is inappropriate, sprayed

washer fluid may freeze on the

windshield and obstruct your

view, and the fluid may freeze in

the reservoir tank.

It normally takes longer to start the engine

in very cold weather conditions. Use an

engine oil of a proper grade and viscosity

for cold weather. Using heavy summer oil

will make it harder to start the engine.

Keep the door locks from freezing by

squirting them with deicer or glycerin.

Wash the vehicle’s underbody after off-

road driving. Suspension components

are particularly prone to dirt buildup, so

they need to be washed thoroughly.

State or local regulations on

volatile organic compounds may

restrict the use of methanol, a

common windshield washer anti-

freeze additive. Washer fluids

containing non-methanol anti-

freeze agents should be used

only if they provide cold weather

protection without damaging

your vehicle’s paint, wiper blades

Forcing a frozen door open may damage

or separate the rubber weather strips

around the door. If the door is frozen, use

hot water to melt the ice, and afterwards

thoroughly wipe the water away.

Use a windshield washer fluid that con-

tains an antifreeze solution. Do not use

engine antifreeze or other substitutes

because they may damage the paint of

– CONTINUED –

Driving tips -> On-road and off-road driving for Your Subaru Forester SUV 2024

Popular Manuals