1998 Subaru Forester Owner's Manual - Page 190
1998 Subaru Forester Manual
Page 190 highlights
When the road surface is extremely slippery, you can obtain better traction by starting the vehicle with the transmission in 2nd than 1st (both for MT and AT). D Never equip your vehicle with tires larger than those specified in this manual. D Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle under hard-driving conditions such as rough roads or off roads will necessitate more frequent replacement of engine oil, brake fluid and transmission oil than that specified in the maintenance schedule described in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet. Remember that damage done to your Subaru while operating if off-road and not using common sense precautions such as those listed above is not eligible for warranty coverage. Winter driving HS0141 J Operation during cold weather Carry some emergency equipment, such as tire chains, a window scraper, a bag of sand, flares, a small shovel, and jumper cables. Check the battery and cables. Cold temperatures reduce battery capacity. The battery must be in good condition to provide enough power for cold winter starts. Use an engine oil of proper grade and viscosity for cold weather. Heavy summer oil will cause harder starting. 7-36