H6.3.0 Fuel requirements

[To NY]

I just purchased a 2003 Legacy Outback with the H6.3.0 engine and VDC. It has 74,500 milkes. This is my first Subaru and I really like it. To my chagrin, I learned that it requires premium fuel and NO ethanol.

What has been other owner's experiences? Why is the ethanol bad if the octane rating is acceptable?

I would appreciate any comments. Thanks.

[idosubaru]

i think it's "recommended", not required...or that varies by year, so check.  i don't think ethanol makes any difference at all - where did you hear that?

 

in any event my 02 and 03 H6's...and many others...have 210,000 and 170,000 miles and run perfectly on the *cough* killer 87 octane and ethanol blends i feed it.  i've given it high octane non-ethanol blends when towing and noticed no difference.

[CNY_Dave]

I have never seen a warning against 'normal' amounts of ethanol for the H6, up to 10% should be fine.

 

It does not 'need' premium, it runs fine but with less power on 87, with the caveat that there have been reports of excessive carbon build-up with lower octane fuel.

[3Pin]

I give mine mid-grade and sometimes 87.  Seems to run a bit faster with the higher octane stuff.  118K on mine and loving it.

[To NY]

Thanks for all the comments. Both my mechanic and the dealer said the same thing. The manual also recommends non-ethanol premium. Non-ethanol is getting increasingly hard to find particularly in the northeast.

I also have a McIntosh sound system and it has great sound but the CDs tend to skip. Any comments?