Walker S14 Subaru Tips, Important Tips For Care Of The Subaru Engine, Fuel System, Cooling System

Maintenance Instructions

SUBARU TIPS

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR CARE OF THE SUBARU ENGINE

Fuel System

•Fuel must be clean - free from water, dirt, and or­ ganic material.

•Clean the fuel filter on a regular basis and when contamination is suspected or found in the fuel.

Starting/Stopping

•Start engine with the throttle advanced off idle (1/4 to 1/2 throttle). This will aid starting, especially in cold weather.

•Keep the battery fully charged.

•Match crankcase oil viscosity to the ambient tem­ perature, allowing the engine to crank faster and start easier.

•Allow engine to run at idle for a few seconds be­ fore stopping engine to avoid run-on or backfiring.

Cooling System

CAUTION

DO NOT use a pressure washer to clean the cooling system on an air-cooled engine, mud may form under the cooling shroud on the cylinder head and cooling fan.

•Keep engine air intake screen and cylinder head fins free of grass clippings, chaff, and dirt. Inspect intake screen and cooling fins for cleanliness and no damage.

•Check performance of the cooling system by starting the engine, holding a hand adjacent to the cylinder head, and feeling the cooling airflow.

DANGER

Make sure to keep hands clear of exhaust pipe, muffler, and moving parts when checking airflow.

•Operate the engine at full speed when mowing. This allows the engine to produce full horsepower and move more cooling air through the engine cool­ ing fins.

Air Cleaner System

•Use only Donaldson air cleaner elements. After­ market elements may not seal in the air cleaner housing, allowing dirt to enter the engine. Also, af­ termarket filters often skimp on the filtration media and require more frequent replace­ment (see follow- ing instructions).

•DO NOT overservice or frequently “disturb” the air filter. A dirty air filter actually cleans better than a new one. Changing the air filter too often can actually reduce filter efficiency and increase the op- portunity for traces of dust to enter the engine.

•When the air filter element is removed or replaced,­ make sure all dust is cleaned out of the air cleaner housing and hose. Use a damp cloth and wipe the interior of the canister and hose clean (a lit­tle dirt left here will be sucked into the engine and reduce engine life). When the filter is reinstalled, make sure the element is held tight and straight in the canister for proper seating and sealing.

•Periodically check the air intake hose for cuts, nicks, etc., and the hose clamps for tightness.

Oil

•DO NOT screw filler cap into crankcase when checking oil level.

•Single viscosity or multi-viscosity oils may be used with the viscosity matching ambient tempera- tures for the engine operating conditions. This will aid starting in cold weather and assure proper lu- brication in hot weather.

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