lager68

Gee, I guess you work at Autozone.

What size or part number oil filter for my 97 outback/limited ? thanks all.

Just bought my '97 outback limited about a month ago (automatic) and last week I noticed a rattling/grinding sound upon startup in either cold or hot weather. The sound isn't to bad in park, but notice it gets louder when shifting between park/neutral/reverse/drive just standing still. The sound lasts for a couple of blocks of driving then seems to go away. Car seems to drive okay other than this noise. Had one of the mechanics at work do a cold start so he could listen to it and he seemed to think it was just the catalytic converters that are rattling till they heat up and expand and stop rattling! Just checked the tranny fluid after it got up to temp and it seems okay (did notice some bubbles on the dipstick but not what I would call foaming) Car had 75000 miles when I bought it and I've since added about 1500 miles! Anyone else hearing this rattling/grinding sound at startup, and does the catalytic converter that my mechanic buddy suggested sound like a reasonable culprit, or should I be more wary of some more serious problem? Thanks all

So I filled up on fuel last night and if my calculations are correct I'm getting 16.3 mpg. (City/stop and go driving) Sorry but AWD or not, I'm not thrilled by this mpg, especially from a 4 cylinder vehicle! Here's how I calculated so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong 'cause I suck at math! Trip odometer had 156.7 miles (set from last fill up) Took 9.6 gallons fuel Divide 156.7 by 9.6 = 16.322916 mpg :-\ Even with the snow we had in Philly this week I'm not thrilled by this figure! Also am wondering about the infamous Subaru fuel gauge, if My fuel tank capacity is 15.9 than 1/4 tank should be 3.975 But my gauge read 1/4 full and according to my calcs above I still had 6.3 gallons left (15.9 - 9.6 = 6.3 gallons) which should be noticeably over the 1/4 tank mark, no? Thoughts please, Thanks all.

So I've had my 97 outback limited for several weeks now, and it did perform flawlessly in the recent snow we've had, but I gotta tell you that this thing is not getting the mileage that I thought it would, it being a four cylinder and all! Can anyone tell me the gallon capacity of the gas tank on my new car? So far I'm getting just under two hundred miles per tankload, is this average for these vehicles, and if so why the poor mileage? is this because of AWD? Thanks all!

Any preferences on Haynes or Chiltons, just bought a '97 Outback wagon last week and was wondering if one book is preferable over the other?? Thanks all!

Thanks ShawnW. Would a leakdown test tell if there are headgasket issues, and what kind of numbers/readings should I be seeing with a leakdown test?

I'm due to pick up a '97 outback limited (automatic trans) with 75 thousand and change on the odometer. However, after reading this forum and becoming aware of the headgasket problem, I feel as though I should go back to the dealer tomorrow and ask for the service records and phone number of the previous owner. Any legal reason for the salesman/dealership to not give me these records, I would really like to find out from the previous owner if there were any issues with the car, and if the headgasket has been changed. Looks like I'll be purchasing the "Pre owned dealer protection plan" if for nothing else than for the powertrain coverage {engine block and cylinder heads and and all internally lubricated parts including pistons, piston rings etc.} Anybody out there purchased the "Pre owned dealer protection plan from SOA and can you ballpark a figure on how badly I can expect to be violated for it As stated above this is a '97 outback limited with 75,017 miles, did a carfax in the dealership and found that it has had two owners and was originally sold in Shrewsberry N.J. no accidents or other major catastrophies on carfax! Is this engine 2.2 or 2.5 ? Any other info from you folks here would be much appreciated! Now I'm off to do a search of this site to see what I might learn about this specific model and year! Thanks All!!!