2021 Subaru Forester Owners Manual - Fuel

Fuel

The engine is designed to operate using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 AKI (90 RON) or higher.

Add a bottle of genuine SUBARU fuel additive to the fuel every 9,000 miles (15,000 km). Refer to an authorized SUBARU dealer for details.

Using a gasoline with a lower octane rating can cause persistent and heavy knocking, which can damage the engine. Do not be concerned if your vehicle sometimes

knocks lightly when you drive up a hill or when you accelerate. Contact your SUBARU dealer if you use a fuel with the specified octane rating and your vehicle knocks heavily or persistently.

! RON

This octane rating is the Research Octane Number.

! AKI

This octane rating is the average of the Research Octane and Motor Octane num- bers and is commonly referred to as the Anti Knock Index (AKI).

The neck of the fuel filler pipe is designed to accept only an unleaded gasoline filler nozzle. Under no circumstances should leaded gasoline be used because it will damage the emission control system and may impair driveability and fuel economy.

SUBARU supports the use of reformulated gasoline when available. Reformulated gasoline has been blended to burn more cleanly and reduce vehicle emissions.

! MMT

Some gasoline contains an octane-enhan- cing additive called MMT (Methylcyclo- pentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl). If

you use such fuels, your emission control system performance may deteriorate and the CHECK ENGINE warning light/Mal- function indicator light may turn on. If this happens, return to your authorized SUBARU dealer for service. If it is deter- mined that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.

Your use of gasoline with detergent ad- ditives will help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system. This helps keep your engine in tune and your emission control system working properly, and is a way of doing your part for cleaner air. If you continuously use a high-quality fuel with the proper detergent and other additives, you should never need to add any fuel system cleaning agents to your fuel tank.

Many gasolines are now blended with materials called oxygenates. Use of these fuels can also help keep the air cleaner. Oxygenated blend fuels, such as ethanol (ethyl or grain alcohol) may be used in your vehicle, but should contain no more than 10% ethanol for the proper operation of your SUBARU.

Do not use any gasoline that contains more than 10% ethanol, including from any

pump labeled, E15, E30, E50 or E85 (which are only some examples of fuel containing more than 10% ethanol).

In addition, some gasoline suppliers are now producing reformulated gasolines, which are designed to reduce vehicle emissions. SUBARU approves the use of reformulated gasoline.

If you are not sure what the fuel contains, you should ask your service station op- erators if their gasolines contain deter- gents and oxygenates and if they have been reformulated to reduce vehicle emis- sions.

As additional guidance, only use fuels suited for your vehicle as explained in the following description.

Fuel should be unleaded and have an 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.

If undesirable driveability problems are experienced and you suspect they may be fuel related, try a different brand of gaso- line before seeking service at your SUBARU dealer.

Fuel system damage or driveability problems which result from the use of improper fuel are not covered under the SUBARU Limited Warranty.

Fuel filler lid and cap

! Refueling

Only one person should be involved in refueling. Do not allow others to approach the area of the vehicle near the fuel filler pipe while refueling is in progress.

Be sure to observe any other precautions that are posted at the service station.

To unlock the fuel filler lid, perform one of the operations below.

Press the unlock/disarm button on the key fob.

Press the unlock side of the power door locking switch.

Turn the ignition switch to “ACC” or “LOCK”/“OFF”.

Push the rear side of the fuel filler lid.

The fuel filler lid opens automatically. Open it further by hand.

Open

Close

Remove the fuel filler cap by turning it slowly counterclockwise.

Set the fuel filler cap on the cap holder inside the fuel filler lid.

Stop filling the tank after the fuel filler pump automatically stops. Do not add any more fuel.

Put the cap back on and turn it clock- wise until you hear a clicking noise. Be certain not to catch the tether under the cap while tightening.

Close the fuel filler lid completely.

You will see the “ ” sign in the fuel gauge. This indicates that the fuel filler door (lid) is located on the right side of the vehicle.

If the fuel filler cap is not tightened until it clicks or if the tether is caught under the cap, the CHECK ENGINE warning light/malfunction indicator light may illuminate. Refer to “CHECK ENGINE warning light/Malfunction in- dicator light”  P173.

To lock the fuel filler lid, perform one of the operations below. However if these operations are performed when the fuel filler lid is open, the fuel filler lid will not lock when it is subsequently closed.

Press the lock/arm button on the key fob.

Press the lock side of the power door locking switch.

When the doors are locked or un- locked using the automatic door lock

State emission testing (U.S. only) 305

If the fuel filler lid cannot be opened due to malfunction or a dead battery, it can be opened from the cargo area.

Remove the access cover at the right- side of the cargo area trim using flat-head screwdriver.

1) Clip

Remove the orange knob from the clip.

Pull the orange knob to unlock the fuel filler lid.