2006 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 295

11-22 Maintenance and service Rear differential gear oil Checking the gear oil level Your vehicle may be equipped with a rear differential protector. The differential protector provides protection to the rear differential assembly during off-road use. Removal of the rear differential protector is not required when checking the oil level. 1 1) Filler hole 2) Drain hole 3) Oil level 3 1 Be careful not to spill rear differential gear oil when adding it. If rear differential gear oil touches the exhaust pipe, it may cause a bad smell, smoke, and/or a fire. If rear differential gear oil gets on the exhaust pipe, be sure to wipe it off. If the vehicle requires frequent refilling, there may be an oil leak. If you suspect a problem, have the vehicle checked at your SUBARU dealer. 2 B00374 2 1) Filler plug 2) Drain plug B00373 Remove the plug from the filler hole and check the oil level. The oil level should be kept even with the bottom of the filler hole. If the oil level is below the bottom edge of the hole, add oil through the filler hole to raise the level. Recommended grade and viscosity Each oil manufacturer has its own base oils and additives. Never use different brands together. Oil grade: API classification GL-5