Maintenance: Subaru Periodic Vehicle Maintenance Services:

Engine Oil and Filter:

The basic oil and filter change is the reason most of your Subaru customers will be bringing their vehicles in for service. After the initial 3000 mile service, the maximum recommended span between oil and filter changes is 7.5 months or 7500 miles. Extreme service pushes the recommendation back to three months or 3000 miles. If you’ve ever looked at a definition of ‘extreme service,’ you would probably find that most Subaru enthusiasts  are driving under at least one of the conditions to fit this category.

Subaru, Subaru Oil Filters & Washers – 6 Pack

The oil level and filler cap on all late model Subaru vehicles are colored yellow for easy identification by you (and by any vehicle owner who is conscientious enough to check his own oil). Oil grade and quantity recommendations are listed in the vehicle owner’s manual as well as the service manual. To avoid the possibility of an oil leak after an oil change, the oil drain plug gaskets should be replaced with every oil change.

Genuine Subaru SOA427V1315 Motor Oil

Shell Rotella (550019921) T6 5W-40 Full Synthetic, Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil (CJ-4) – 1 Gallon

To inspect the engine oil level:

• Park the vehicle on a level surface.

• After turning off the engine, wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil pan before checking the level.

• Remove the oil level gauge and wipe it clean.

• Reinsert the level gauge all the way. Make sure the level gauge is correctly inserted and in the proper orientation.

• Remove it again and note the reading. If the engine oil level is below the “L” line, add oil to bring the level up to the “F” line.

• 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 the engine oil.

• To prevent overfilling the engine oil, do not add oil above the “F” line when the engine is cold.