Subaru Legacy 2023 Exterior Care Touring XT

Regular maintenance is required for the exterior of the 2023 Subaru Legacy to maintain both its operation and attractiveness. Frequently washing in lukewarm or cold water with mild, neutral detergents is one of the key habits, particularly after being exposed to harsh substances like mud or road salts. To avoid corrosion, the underbody needs special attention, and while cleaning, parts like the brakes, engine compartment, and rearview camera need to be handled carefully. Regular waxing and polishing is advised, taking care not to block crucial components like the windshield washer nozzles. Seasonal inspections and maintenance are essential to maintaining the vehicle’s structural integrity and appearance. It’s also critical to quickly repair any paint damage and shield the car from elements that could cause corrosion.

2024 Subaru Legacy Specs, Price, Features, Mileage (Brochure)

Exterior care

CAUTION

• When washing the vehicle, the brakes may get wet. As a result, the brake stopping distance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly depressing the brake pedal to heat up the brakes.
• Do not wash the engine compartment and area adjacent to it. If water enters the engine air intake or electrical parts, it will cause engine trouble or a malfunction of electrical equipment.
• When washing inner fenders, underbody, bumpers, and protruding objects such as exhaust pipes and exhaust finishers, be careful to prevent injuries from contacting sharp ends.
• Do not use any organic solvents when washing the surface of the bulb assembly cover. However, if a detergent with organic solvents is used to wash the cover surface, completely rinse off the detergent with water. Otherwise, the cover surface may be damaged.
• Outback/Subaru Outbacker. Wilderness: Since your vehicle is equipped with a rear wiper, automatic car-wash brushes could become tangled around it, damaging the wiper arm and other components. Ask the automatic car wash operator not to let the brushes touch the wiper arm or to fix the wiper arm on the rear window glass with adhesive tape before operating the machine.
• If the climate control system is operating when you wash the vehicle, do not set the air inlet selection of the climate control to outside air circulation mode. There is a risk that water may enter the vehicle through the air inlets.

NOTE

• When having your vehicle washed in an automatic car wash, make sure beforehand that the car wash is of a suitable type
• The rearview camera lens has a hard coating to help prevent scratches. However, when washing the vehicle or cleaning the camera lens, be careful not to scratch the camera lens. Do not use a washing brush directly on the camera lens. The image quality of the rearview camera may deteriorate.

The best way to preserve your vehicle’s beauty is frequent washing. Wash the vehicle at least once a month to avoid contamination by road grime. Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of lukewarm or cold water. Do not wash the vehicle with hot water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree sap, and bird droppings should be washed off using a light detergent, as required. If you use a light detergent, make certain that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use strong soap or chemical detergents. All cleaning agents should be promptly flushed from the surface and not allowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water off with a chamois or soft cloth. Wear rubber gloves and use a hand brush when washing down the underbody, inner fenders, and suspension to effectively remove mud and dirt.

Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts, and gravel used for deicing road surfaces are extremely corrosive, accelerating the corrosion of underbody components, such as the exhaust system, fuel, brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and fenders, and suspension. Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent intervals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents. Mud and sand adhering to the underbody components may accelerate their corrosion. After driving off-road or on muddy or sandy roads, wash the mud and sand off the underbody. Carefully flush the suspension and axle parts, as they are particularly prone to mud and sand buildup. Do not use a sharp-edged tool to remove caked mud.

CAUTION

• Be careful not to damage brake hoses, sensor harnesses, and other parts when washing suspension components.
• Be careful not to flush the engine bottom for a long time. It may cause damage of some electrical parts.

Using a warm water washer

• Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm)or more between the washer nozzle and the vehicle.
• Do not wash the same area continuously.
• If a stain will not come out easily, wash by hand. Some warm water washers are of the high temperature, high-pressure type, and they can damage or deform the resin parts such as moldings, or cause water to leak into the vehicle.

Waxing and polishing
Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing and polishing. Use a good quality polish and wax and apply them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wax or polish when the painted surface is cool. Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim, as well as the painted surfaces. Loss of wax on a painted surface leads to loss of the original luster and also quickens the deterioration of the surface. It is recommended that a coat of wax be applied at least once a month, or whenever the surface no longer repels water. If the appearance of the paint has diminished to the point where the luster or tone cannot be restored, lightly polish the surface with a fine-grained compound. Never polish just the affected area, but include the surrounding area as well. Always polish in only one direction. A No. 2000 grain compound is recommended. Never use a coarse-grained compound. Coarse-grained compounds have a smaller grain-size number and could damage the paint. After polishing with a compound, coat with wax to restore the original luster. Frequent polishing with a compound or an incorrect polishing technique will result in removing the paint layer and exposing the undercoat. When in doubt, it is always best to contact your SUBARU dealer or an auto paint specialist.

CAUTION
Do not use any agents with organic solvents on the surface of the bulb assembly cover. However, if a polish or wax with organic solvents is applied to the cover surface, completely wipe off the polish or wax. Otherwise, the cover surface may be damaged.

NOTE

• Be careful not to block the windshield washer nozzles with wax when waxing the vehicle.
• Do not wipe the rearview camera with alcohol, benzene or paint thinner. Otherwise, discoloration may occur. To remove contamination, wipe the camera with a cloth moistened with diluted neutral detergent and then wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.
• When waxing the vehicle, be careful not to apply the wax to the rearview camera. If it comes in contact with the camera, moisten a clean cloth with diluted neutral detergent to remove the wax.
• For Subaru Forester Wilderness models, if the wax gets onto the hood decal when you are waxing your vehicle, this could enhance the reflective appearance of the hood decal and impair the anti-reflective function.

Cleaning alloy wheels

Vehicles without matte-painted wheels

• Promptly wipe the alloy wheels clean of any kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left on too long, it may be difficult to clean off.
• Do not use soap-containing grit to clean any kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left on too long, it may be difficult to clean off.
• Do not use soap-containing grit to clean the wheels. Be sure to use a neutral cleaning agent, and later rinse thoroughly with water. Do not clean the wheels with a stiff brush or expose them to a high-speed washing device.
• the wheels. Be sure to use a neutral cleaning agent, and later rinse thoroughly with water. Do not clean the wheels with a stiff brush or expose them to a high-speed washing device. wheels) with water as soon as possible when it has been splashed with seawater, exposed to sea breezes, or driven on roads treated with salt or other agents.

Vehicles with matte-painted wheels
Be sure to observe the following precautions as matte-painted wheels can be damaged.

• Do not scrub or polish the wheels using a brush or dry cloth.
• Do not use any wheel coatings or abrasive detergents.

As matte-painted wheels require different cleaning methods than conventional alloy wheels, be sure to observe the following. For details, consult your SUBARU dealer.

• Remove dirt using water. If the wheels are excessively dirty, use a sponge or soft cloth dampened with a diluted neutral detergent to remove the dirt.

White Letter Tires
It is recommended to clean the white letter part on the side of the tire frequently because it easily gets dirty. When cleaning, use a neutral detergent and wash with a sponge.

Corrosion protection
Your SUBARU has been designed and built to resist corrosion. Special materials and protective finishes have been used on most parts of the vehicle to help maintain a fine appearance, strength, and reliable operation.

The most common causes of corrosion

• The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt and debris in body panel sections, cavities, and other areas.
• Damage to paint and other protective coatings caused by gravel and stone chips or minor accidents.

Corrosion is accelerated on the vehicle when:

• It is exposed to road salt or dust control chemicals or used in coastal areas where there is more salt in the air, or in areas where there is considerable industrial pollution.
• It is driven in areas of high humidity, especially when temperatures range just above freezing.
• Dampness in certain parts of the vehicle remains for a long time, even though other parts of the vehicle may be dry.
• High temperatures will cause corrosion to parts of the vehicle that cannot dry quickly due to a lack of proper ventilation.

To help prevent corrosion
Wash the vehicle regularly to prevent corrosion of the body and suspension components. Also, wash the vehicle promptly after driving on any of the following surfaces.

• Roads that have been salted to prevent them from freezing in winter
• Mud, sand, or gravel
• Coastal roads

After the winter has ended, it is recommended that the underbody be given a very thorough washing. Before the beginning of winter, check the condition of underbody components, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, suspension, steering system, floor pan, and fenders. If any of them are found to be rusted, they should be given an appropriate rust prevention treatment or should be replaced. Contact your SUBARU dealer to perform this kind of maintenance and treatment if you need assistance. Repair chips and scratches in the paint as soon as you find them. Check the interior of the vehicle for water and dirt accumulation under the floor mats because that could cause corrosion. Occasionally check under the mats to make sure the area is dry. Keep your garage dry. Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage. In such a garage, corrosion can be caused by dampness. If you wash the vehicle in the garage or put the vehicle into the garage when wet or covered with snow, that can cause dampness.
If your vehicle is operated in cold weather and/or in areas where road salts and other corrosive materials are used, the door hinges and locks, trunk lid lock and hood latch should be inspected and lubricated periodically.

FAQ

 

Useful Link

View Full User Guide: Subaru Legacy 2023 Touring XT User Guide

Download Manuals: https://www.subaru.com/owners/vehicle-resources/manuals.html

2024 Subaru Legacy Specs, Price, Features, Mileage (Brochure)