Lake Forest Park Subaru Repair

According to the Federal Trade Commission, using a higher octane gasoline than your manufacturer recommends does not offer any benefit. If your Subaru has standard specifications and does not carry a warning to use only premium gas, regular gasoline should not affect performance. However, if your Subaru engine is turbocharged, follow manufacturer recommendations and use only premium gasoline. The Forester, Outback, Impreza and Legacy offer a turbo option, for increased power and performance. Turbo Engines and Octane Rating What is a turbo engine? According to Subaru Drive Magazine: The turbocharger, commonly called a "turbo," is operated by the energy contained in the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas spins a turbine inside the turbocharger at an extremely high speed (more than 100,000 rpm). That compresses the air/fuel mixture into the cylinders, which creates higher power output. Turbo engines offer an increase in engine power wi ... read more

The sun is out! It's one of those rare Seattle days when Mt. Rainier is in full view and it's time to go for a drive in your Subaru. You can forget about the car's rugged reliability for those days when conditions are rainy and terrible outside. Today is much too beautiful. You jump in the car, roll down the windows, and begin a beautiful drive. But then it happens... It begins to glow. The horrible "Check Engine" light comes on. Oh no. The Warning Light Take note, but you could be fine! Yes, it's important to not ignore when the light comes on. It's definitely there for a reason and will alert you of problems. But before you panic, take a few seconds for some important steps: First - take a look at your engine oil pressure and engine temperature gauges. Are they still in the normal range? If not, safely pull off the road and call for help. But if they still reading normal, go to step 2. Turn off your radio, listen to your engine for odd sounds, and check your vehicle for smok ... read more

The extraordinary reliability of Subaru cars, is the main reason they are so popular here in the Pacific Northwest, Subaru's have always been known as rugged as well as environmentally friendly cars. Subaru has been a pioneer in All Wheel Drive technology, a very attractive feature here in the Northwest. One of the most unique engineering features of your Subaru is the use a flat-four and flat-six boxer engine configuration, this boxer design was invented by Ferdinand Porsche in the mid 1930's. While the engine has been modified, upgraded and more modern technology applied, it is still Porsche design. Boxer Engine The horizontally opposed piston, or "boxer-engine", configuration has many advantages over the more common in-line piston engines. A boxer design means the pistons are opposed to each other on either side of the crank shaft. On the "down-stroke", the pistons move towards each other like boxe ... read more

The water pump is an important part of your Subaru's engine. However, even when not functioning at 100%, the water pump will rarely cause your engine to overheat. If your Subaru is overheating there are other more likely other culprits. Before you consider replacing your Subaru's water pump, check to be sure that your vehicle's coolant levels are good and that its electric fans are cycling on and off. If the fans are functioning properly, consider the possibility that an internally collapsed radiator hose, weak or damaged radiator cap, plugged radiator, or failed head gaskets may be causing your Subaru to overheat. Contacting us before replacing can save you time and money in the long run. How to Replace a Subaru Water Pump Although it rarely completely stops circulating coolant, over time your Subaru's water pump may leak an ... read more

Driving a Subaru is a bit like driving a tank. You have the best of all-wheel drive, incredible safety standards, high quality materials, and a comfortable amount of space. They are among the safest road vehicles in rain, ice, and snow. With proper maintenance, a Subaru will run for a lifetime. Subaru parts are durable, but like all mechanical things,they will eventually wear out. We are addressing the coolant system here. Because of the way Subaru engines are structured, performing maintenance on the coolant system can be a bit difficult but extremely necessary. Here's a run down of what it takes to service the Subaru coolant system. Understand this is a basic overview of issues and possible cures. Your car may or may not need this described work or may need more in depth diagnosis or inspection, each model of Subaru has its specialized procedures. Hoses To start, pres ... read more