Engine Oil: Inspection

Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Remove the oil level gauge and wipe it clean.
Reinsert the level gauge all the way. Be sure that the level gauge is correctly inserted and in the proper orientation.
Remove the level gauge again and check the oil level. If the engine oil level is below "L" line, make sure that there is no oil leakage from the engine section, then add oil to rise the level up to the "F" line.
- 2.5 L model
  
  Fig 1: Identifying Oil Level Gauge - 2.5 L Model
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
- 3.0 L model
  
  Fig 2: Identifying Oil Level Gauge - 3.0 L Model
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Start the engine and warm it up for a time.
After turning off the engine, wait a few minutes for the oil to return to the oil pan before checking the level.
CAUTION: If the engine oil is split over exhaust pipe or the under cover, wipe it off with cloth to avoid emitting smoke or causing a fire.
NOTE:
- Just after driving or while the engine is warm, engine oil level may show in the range between the "F" line and the notch mark. This is caused by thermal expansion of engine oil. (2.5 L model)
- To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not add oil above the "F" line when the engine is cold.
- As the oil level gauge is used for daily inspection, standard of F line and L line of the oil level gauge is set for the condition that engine is cold.