2004 Forester XT here, into its 21st year now, has been serviced every 6 months for the entirety of its life, 4 timing belts in now, 2 water pumps, a set of valve cover gaskets, multiple coolant changes, all fluids for that matter and the vehicle is entirely original. Engine does not use a drop of oil in the 6 month interval. Plugs changed multiple times, 3 MAF sensors, couple of O2 replacements as well. So in many ways over serviced …. but it runs like it did day 1. Time and money has gone into over the years but it really is as good as new.
Good man. Likewise here in my V5 STi RA owned since 2006 and no real engine issues. I am impressed that you have only gone though 2 water pumps; I'm about to install my 5th and am beginning to have concerns over the quality of the OEM item... Gonna try a RCM after market. Cheaper and can't be any less reliable, can it?
@@miguelquijas7207 210,00 Km's. it's correct coolant and was mainrained at an STi tuner in Tokyo and now by a Subaru specialist in UK who knows his stuff. Timing belt, and pulley changes every 80'000 Km's (not miles). Auxiliary belts at same time or when required.
You should make a collaboration video with The Car Care Nut and talk about the GR86 and BRZ. I think it would be a great way to inform the public that those cars are really good!
The BRZ/GR86 truly is a great car and can be very reliable as long as the maintenance schedule in the owners manual is followed. My 2015 BRZ has 482k miles on its original engine and transmission, and I follow the service schedule pretty closely. I also keep a maintenance log each time I perform a service or replace any parts.
I change my oil every 2500 miles now that I have 196,000 miles on my 2008 Outback. I changed my transmission at 75,000, 125,000. Thing runs like a top. Best car Ive ever owned.
I've always done 3000 mile oil changes, but I needed a new short block at 160k miles due to excessive oil consumption.. I see you are doing 2500 miles changes. Do you think that 500 mile delta makes a difference long-term?
These are all great recommendations. I will say though, even if you don't own a Subaru, a lot of this translates to any brand. Regular changes of the fluids (oil, coolant, transmission, differential, etc) is important regardless of the brand. Take care of your car and it will take care of you.
Agreed, we bought a 2023 Mazda CX-5 and I informed the salesman at the time of purchase, I will be changing the oil at 3000 mile intervals instead of the recommended 5000. Mazda and Subaru are the only brands that we were interested in and we went with the Mazda because of $$$ deal we got but we still like the Subarus.
Making a service appointment in the morning to change CVT fluid as it is at 95K. I had asked a few dealers about change interval for the CVT fluid and all said it didn't need to be changed ( lifetime) which is such a crock !! It is not cheap but cheap insurance on a possible major repair so it's pay me now or pay me later. While I'm at it I will have the serpentine belt changed out. I have replaced plugs, drained radiator & flushed along with brake fluid flush. I have always believed, take care of your car and it will take care of you.
Frequent oil changes will keep your engine running better for longer, there is no debate. I just DIY'd head gaskets on my 192k mile SOHC (thanks for all the useful info on that btw!). I am the second owner of my Subaru and it has had perfect oil change service history since new (10k for the first owner and 5k under my ownership). It was abundantly clear the second I took the valve covers off...everything gold, nothing black, minimal wear on all cam journals/lobes, etc.
I understand head gasket replacement is quite a job, disconnect everything and lift the engine out, my local mechanic is not interested in this one job. very expensive compared with engines more accessible.
Funny, I asked my dealership if I should replace PCV at 55k miles, and they said it’s not needed. Then I called two other subaru mechanics in my area and they also said there is no need to replace unless something is wrong. My problem with that is that I don’t want anything to go bad to replace something so trivial and inexpensive. So I got the parts and will do it myself
@@notyou5703PREVENTATIVE maintenance is key. So many techs now just skip over the old basics. The PCV is cheap enough to change like an air filter if you wanted to. Usually it’s every 30-60k miles to generalize intervals
Bought a 2017 Outback 3.6. a few months ago and engine was going through a quart of oil every 1k miles. Changed oil with Valvoline restore and protect and after 3k it quit burning oil. Amazing.
@ the Odyssey lived a good long life and served us well. It’s time with us is almost over. We no longer have a need for a large 3 row vehicle. Lexus/Toyota is my first choice but to get the features we want the cost is too high. I’m not interested in buying used because A. I’ve dealt with older used cars all my life and B. I can finally afford new. I’m not interested in inheriting someone else’s problems. I’m interested in having a warranty. I’m also not worried about depreciation because we keep and maintain our cars for a long time.
I am not married, but I think it would be best to talk with your wife to find out what SHE may want to drive. Show her the Outback you're thinking of buying. If she likes it, well fine. If not, decide exactly how unhappy of a wife that you want to have. Maybe she just really likes the Odyssey and would just like a new(er) one. I went to church with a guy who went car shopping with his wife. She just was really comfortable in her old Camry, but it was shot. They agreed to get her a newer, nicer one. They're both very happy about that.
I think warming up the engine everytime is a good practice. Ive had piston slap on a 06 forester for 4 years now. Sounds awful but clean oil and always warmed and shes still going
I'd like to add rotate your tires and check your alignment. The AWD system can wear out faster if the tires are not evenly worn down. Most subarus are front wheel drive bias so the front will wear down faster. Out of alignment can cause a lot of suspension issues like worn out bushings, bearings and many more
And if you have a car with full size spare, remember to keep that in the rotation loop also. Otherwise the tread depth will differ too much from that of the other tires, putting strain on the drive system when you have to use it.
I had six Subarus (1990-2007) with the 5-speed manual. If THAT is "the lord's transmission", I'm becoming an atheist! I'm a Christian. In my personal experience, "the Lord's transmission" would be a Borg-Warner T5. Best overall drivetrain: Tesla Model 3 and Y AWD. A total of 7 bearings for each drive unit, and only three main moving parts in each drive unit. Simple, smooth, quiet, powerful, and durable. Unfortunately, some of the rest of the car is like a Chrysler...
I have a 2015 BRZ with 482k miles on its original engine and transmission; with a complete logbook and receipts of all the servicing and maintenance I’ve done on it since the day I bought the car new. These cars are very reliable as long as they are being properly maintained and cared for by following the service schedule found in the owners manual and using the correct fluids/viscosities and the correct parts. With the proper care and maintenance, ANY vehicle will last for many, many years with very little problems.
I bought a 2019 Forester in 2021 at 45,000 miles. I had the CVT serviced right away, and got it on track with the factory service intervals. At 75,000 miles I switched it over to 5W20 from 0W20 and did an induction and CVT service. When it crossed over 100,000 miles, I started doing 3000 mile oil services. It’s at 104,000 now and it’s running well. In the spring I am going to replace ALL fluids in the car, as well as another induction service.
When I was a younger man, I put these five things off way too often on my first-series WRX, and I learned a valuable lesson. Nowadays, I keep a keen eye on these exact 5 things NOT to do on our 4th Subaru.
Owner of a 2000 Subaru Outback here, bought it at 82000 miles. Change motor oil at 3000 miles with Walmart brand Super Tech 5w-30 and change transmission fluid and differential fluid, front and rear every 30000 miles with Amasoil signature products. change fuel filter and transmission filter every 60000 miles. My question is what is the recommended intreval on transmission filter replacement I have found no Subaru recomendations, every think from 60000 to 100000 to lifetime of the car. I apreciate your videos and try to watch every one of them. thanks a bunch.
I don't own a Subaru but I do believe in overkill when it comes to maintenance. I threw out the factory recommended mileage interval chart, and since I'm a low mileage driver, I strictly go by time vs mileage. At the 5 year mark of ownership with 28K miles on the odometer (car was purchased new in 2019), I change the oil and filter every 6 months, it's on its third Haldex AWD service and brake fluid change, coolant and transmission fluid has been changed plus new spark plugs.
Excellent. Checking tire pressures is also super important for safety, fuel economy and prolonging the life of the transmission (low tire pressure increases load on it).
have parts ready, but it's been so damn cold. Costco synthetic oil, WIX XP oil filter, WIX air filter, WIX fuel filter, and Denso cabin air filter. 2001 Legacy GT Limited 5MT. Owned the car since 2006. Last year, my oxygen sensor finally died. Instead of buying some cheap-o piece of crap on Amazon, I bought a Denso for $118. Worth the extra money.
The only thing I would add is changing the brake fluid. This would make a great video. My local dealer, yesterday quoted me $380 for this basic service.
I paid just under $100 but had to argue with the dealer to do it. They wanted to change based upon mileage, but I insisted on doing it based upon time because brake fluid absorbs moisture.
Awesome video!! I’d like to add check the tire pressure and make sure it’s at the factory recommended cold PSI (or add 4 PSI if the tires are warm). Driving under/over inflated tires even if it’s 5-7 PSI with no Tire light puts more wear and tear to the entire car. Also, watch Robert’s 30,60,90k service interval to learn excellent maintenance tips to keep the Subaru in top condition. Thanks again for all your videos!! The editing, recording, posting it’s a one man show as you said in your previous video. I appreciate you inviting all of us to your home/property to share your expertise and helping all of the DYI owners learn how to work on the Subie’s.
I'd just add PCV valves. Thanks for your sharing your expertise. I've learned quite a lot from you and do my own maintenance. Lots of Subarus here in Homer AK and the nearest dealer is a 550 mile round-trip away.
Keep in mind that the current Subaru Warranty & Maintenance booklets call out a CVT Fluid Change every 24,855 miles (40,000 Km) if operated in "Severe Driving Conditions"... most owners don't realize they are operating their vehicle in ways that fit into this category. (The "Severe" category affects other maintenance items too, of course, like engine oil & front/rear differential fluid and air filter change intervals.)
That is true for probably 90+% of drivers in North America. Short trips, extreme high/low temperatures, high humidity, rough roads, salt on roads in winter, hilly terrain, dusty conditions. Some combination of these is almost everybody.
You hit the most important areas. Protection of the engine and trans are vital. Every thing else can’t be controlled such as alternator, starter, shocks, computers etc.
Never heard of subaru fluids in South Africa. In the last 16 years that I've been taking my car to the dealer or buying fluids from the subaru dealer parts store, it has always been Liqui moly. I drive a 2007 2.5x forester. Engine oil purchased from the dealer is 5w40, Liqui moly. Coolant (pink), transmission fluid, brake fluid, diff fluid, also Liqui moly.
I have a 2019 Crosstrek which I love… I recently had an oil analysis and at 9,000 I had over half the additives present and minimal wear. Highly recommend doing an analysis to help with maintenance.
As usual great advice for care of your Subaru or any vehicle. Now if only my service intervals would help my body parts last longer at 75 years of age!
Agree with all with possible exception of some after market parts. I once bought brake rotors from the dealer. They went on the car normally but after a few hundred miles I was headed down a steep canyon and experienced a severe shimmy while braking. The rotors were wrong. Smaller in diameter allowing the pads to ride over the top edge and wear down only the top section of pad. Bad experience and potentially deadly. I bought rotors and pads from Rock Auto and they were perfect. I know. One off thing and any shop/dealer can make human error but I’ve had good luck with Rock Auto.
Oil also cools the timing chains and lubes up the timing chain tensioners which has to be clean. The timing chains get hot and stretch setting off cam sensor codes when the oil changes are not done.My local Parts Plus auto parts store does sell the Aisin timing belt kits
The guru of Subaru. I listen to you and apply your knowledge oh wise one .😂 Seriously your advise has saved me Big $$$$.and my subie runs like a dream.☝️👍
I’ve always thought it a great idea to drain the PS fluid out the return while adding new fluid as someone is turning the wheel lock to lock on the 60 k service interval to preserve rack and pump ware. My Subaru service only shop thought that was such a great idea they added it to their 60 k service routine.
Just check your oil every time you get gas. You're locked down for four minutes as the gas pumps anyways, might as well pop the hood, inspect all the things, and check your oil.
I've dodging anything besides OEM lately, except very well known aftermarket brands. Just order my stuff from partsouq, almost 3x cheaper than the stealership in most cases.
Me too on my past Subarus and current Altima. Unless you're selling it soon, always use name-brand parts from the "Daily Driver" section of RockAuto. I actually got a bad brake caliper from them for the Altima. The seal was not seated properly for the caliper piston. I saw that as soon as I took it out of the box. They took it back and refunded my money.
Bought my '17 Forester new. 1st oil change @ 1000 mi. 5000 mi OCI with full synthetic. 30,000 mi. change interval on CVT and diffs. 196000 mi, now. Passes smog, easy, burns a pint of oil over 5000 mi. Have replaced brake pads and discs,l( Duralast GOLD) one wheel bearing, two front CV axles, a PCV valve., TStat, And radiator- CSF DUAL-ROW, all Aluminum ❤
My 2010 Outback helped me to renew the coolant in it - the barb end of the upper radiator hose connection blew off and dumped the old coolant all by itself! New radiator and new fresh coolant! I'm good for another 7 and a half years now!
I know I'm crazy but our '18 Impreza gets 3k mile oil changes with a Subaru oil filter and full synthetic 0-20 oil. I want to add that the PCV valve MUST be changed. A clogged PCV valve can cause oil leaks and no one wants to change the front engine cover. I changed our PCV valve at 40k miles and it was plugged. More often changes are clearly called for and I'll change it again at 70k miles. Our Impreza has 51k miles on it and I will make an appointment at my local Subaru dealer to change the brake fluid and CVT oil.
In my 2018 Crosstrek at 8000 miles I developed a puff of smoke at startup. I switched to Amsoil signature series 0w30 and never had the problem again. Sold it at 96k with no problems. My Outback Wilderness has run Amsoil 0w30 from 2k. The lightweight oil is only for Fuel consumption and that's it. The manufacturers don't care about you after the warranty and certainly not the next owners of the car. If it's a fluid, change them regularly!!!!
Mr Subaru 1387 you forgot to mention spark plugs which are very important , i do a spark plug change on my STI every 3 oil changes and it keeps the engine with power at all times : love your videos keep up the good work
The problem I have with servicing the CVT is that the closest dealership to me doesn't want to do it and the closest one that will is a good 8 hour drive away. It isn't something I'm able to do myself and shops in my area won't touch it.
I own and still drive my 2013 Forester X with 159K miles. I changed the engine oil every 5K instead of the recommended 7500k, along with diff oil every 20K. Regarding the transmission fluid change, I take it to my nearest Subaru dealer at the recommended 60K interval.
“There is no such thing as a sealed transmission.” My 2012 Land Rover Evoque had a sealed transmission. One reason I switched to a Subaru at 120,000 miles on t\h\e Evoque.
I had trouble with noise and squealing on brand new aftermarket pads on a Subaru years ago. Apparently, the friction material wasn't entirely compatible with the Subaru rotors.
Subarus are great reliable cars but many people I know love to bash on them since they had issues with them in the past. I can guarantee all the issues they had was from lack of maintenance, cheap parts, and cheap modifications. I mostly use OEM parts for major components and parts that are just as good as OEM such as AISIN timing belt kits, the only timing belt that should be used.
Aftermarket parts have been horrible. Got a set of cv axles and they made a wobble with the wheels. Had to go get some oem Subaru parts. Nothing last and fit as well as original Subaru parts
My 2005 GT limited wagon uses no oil between 3-5k intervals. Most of the Subaru community doesn't believe it. Valve cover gaskets though, I'm on my 3rd set at 135k lol
5:47 Robert this is funny was talking about this just the other day with my trusted mechanic because I got a pop in some knock sensors on the EZ36 he was telling me that the newer model Subaru do not respond well to aftermarket parts even Denso aftermarket you have to really go back to OE. He had several late model Subarus come back in. They just didn’t run right with Denso first time fit parts…..
Over 120,000 km on my turbocharged 2013 Toyota 86. I change the oil and filter every 3000 km or 3 months, whichever comes first. If I do more than 2 track days in those months, I change it again.
I am glad you talked about replacing the various fluids based upon time vs. mileage. I drive only about 4000 miles per year and had to argue with our local shop about replacing the brake fluid. They wanted to wait until 60,000 miles, but I insisted on changing it based upon time since it absorbs moisture. I replace the engine oil twice per year even though it is only about two thousand miles between changes. About the coolant: Shops always want to flush the system. Is that a good idea or should it just be drained and replaced? And what about the differentials?
I find it an odd flex to say Subaru's recommendation on CVT fluid service (or lack of) is a bad idea, but then in the next topic, refer people to the manual's recommended OCI for engine oil. So we should trust the manual, but then not trust it? It took some learning on my part, and convincing on other's parts, but I finally believe you, and others, when you say ignore the manual and service the CVT regularly. I serviced first at 70K but will service again at 100K and around every 30k or so after that. The engine oil recommendations really crank up my anxiety. I feel like 0w-20 is way to thin for positive longevity and switched to 5w-30 many changes ago. From the start I was convinced the thin oil was only to meet fuel efficiency numbers, engine life be damned. I change at 5k OCI because it's easy to remember and the turbo is harder on oil than the NA engines. Analysis has shown 0w-20 drops out of viscosity much sooner, around 3k, than the non turbo engine's oil does. I plan to keep my OBXT beyond 200k and I try my best to keep on top of service items. Coming soon, the first coolant flush at just over 80k.
Can you do a video talking about the EJ series engines valve guides causing intermittent misfires. Just diagnosed a family member’s 2012 Outback after a local shop threw coils and plugs at it and the misfire kept coming back. Thanks for all the awesome content.
Thoughts on Subaru Blue coolant. My Six-Star replacement head gaskets came with a sticker to put on my ‘97 OBW radiator stating it did not need any special coolant or additive. Unfortunately bebegirl crashed the car 😢 before I could find out if regular coolant was harmful.
I had the OEM prop shaft on my 2013 Crosstrek fail me twice, each time after only 5 years of use. In this case, I went with an Indian sourced part as the OEM part sure didn't last.
My rule of thumb is, if the owners manual says change the oil 10000 miles, i change it at 5000. Also the CVT transmission, manual says 50000, i change it at 25000 and so on. Remember, any car manufacturer wants you're car to blow up on the highway so you hav2 buy a new one......
@@MrSubaru1387 I have a 2022 Forester and I don't drive much. I might put 2500 a year on my car. What time interval to take care of the cvt and coolant. I do change the oil every 6 months.
@@cattaraugustonawanda4426. Drain and fill is sufficient. No need to flush. Especially if you service it regularly at 30k. Mr. Subaru had a past vide about the process.
Thanks for the video. I never go over 3/4 of my 2012 4cyl Outback's towing capacity but still wonder if a transmission oil cooler is advisable. What is your opinion?
I always tell people that these crazy long oil change intervals "may" be ok for the oil, but how long does the filter last before going by pass. Then all that dirty sump oil ends up in the crank journals and timing trickery. Causing major wear and degradation. My friend changes his conventional oil every 2500 miles on his 1999 Lexus RX300 with 354000 miles on it. As my pilot friend used to say. Oil is cheaper than Engine. (and remember a 4 cylinder boxer engine for GA starts at 25K)
Just bought a brand new Ascent. The dealer "gave" us a 12 mo/12K mile maintenance package good for two oil changes. My opinion is that the oil needs to be changed more frequently. To make matters worse (again, in my opinion) the oil changes are for semi-synthetic oil rather than full synthetic as the manual states. Should I accept these oil changes or ignore them and use full synthetic oil and change more frequently than 6000 miles?
I have a 14 wrx. Thankfully it’s only got 63k miles on it so I should be good for another 10 years or so. I would think about replacing it with an outback one day but can’t do it since they don’t make one with a normal transmission. I have zero interest in a CVT.
What are your thoughts on suspension/lift kits and larger wheel and tire combo's? I plan on doing some off road driving in a few state BLM roads. Thank you
@MrSubaru1387 I could not find any complete videos of coolant flush for Forester 2014-2020. Your videos are much more thorough, so if you will get a chance in upcoming videos to record one that will be very helpful. Followed your CVT fluid change video and it was very easy to do on mine. Thank you for great tutorials and suggestions.
2018 outback 3.6r just got to 116k miles, would not be a good time to get the CVT fluid replaced on it, only work ever done to CVT was valve body replacement under warranty at 62k miles.
Let me tell you guys something on my 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6 R I was starting to burn oil at 120,000 miles. I’ve been running mobile one full synthetic 5-30 from day 1 at least from break-in I think I changed the 2500 anyway about 10 or 15,000 miles ago I switched over to Pennzoil ultra platinum 5-30 burning has greatly reduced…. I’m 150,000 right now.
Mr Subaru, I've been considering a new Outback, can't make up my mind Turbo Or Naturally aspirated. Is there muck difference in fuel mil. between the two. I'm 73 yrs old, and drive carefully, but I do like to get out of peoples way. What would you suggest?
2004 Forester XT here, into its 21st year now, has been serviced every 6 months for the entirety of its life, 4 timing belts in now, 2 water pumps, a set of valve cover gaskets, multiple coolant changes, all fluids for that matter and the vehicle is entirely original. Engine does not use a drop of oil in the 6 month interval. Plugs changed multiple times, 3 MAF sensors, couple of O2 replacements as well. So in many ways over serviced …. but it runs like it did day 1. Time and money has gone into over the years but it really is as good as new.
Good man. Likewise here in my V5 STi RA owned since 2006 and no real engine issues. I am impressed that you have only gone though 2 water pumps; I'm about to install my 5th and am beginning to have concerns over the quality of the OEM item...
Gonna try a RCM after market. Cheaper and can't be any less reliable, can it?
@@machidaman thermostat blue coolant, and don't forget to burp the system. How many miles on your sti?
@@miguelquijas7207 210,00 Km's. it's correct coolant and was mainrained at an STi tuner in Tokyo and now by a Subaru specialist in UK who knows his stuff. Timing belt, and pulley changes every 80'000 Km's (not miles). Auxiliary belts at same time or when required.
@@machidaman nice!!!
I had the same car, same year. Incredible car and engine. Reluctantly traded it in at 150k miles.
I totally agree! I think you should add brake fluid flush to the list.
2010 elantra still going, only ever changed oil/filter and belt
You should make a collaboration video with The Car Care Nut and talk about the GR86 and BRZ. I think it would be a great way to inform the public that those cars are really good!
I support this idea
Support this
We NEED some MrSubaru BRZ content.
The BRZ/GR86 truly is a great car and can be very reliable as long as the maintenance schedule in the owners manual is followed. My 2015 BRZ has 482k miles on its original engine and transmission, and I follow the service schedule pretty closely. I also keep a maintenance log each time I perform a service or replace any parts.
@adamlaskey7265 does he even have it still?
I change my oil every 2500 miles now that I have 196,000 miles on my 2008 Outback. I changed my transmission at 75,000, 125,000. Thing runs like a top. Best car Ive ever owned.
I've always done 3000 mile oil changes, but I needed a new short block at 160k miles due to excessive oil consumption.. I see you are doing 2500 miles changes. Do you think that 500 mile delta makes a difference long-term?
Around 2011 to 2017, some of the 4 cyl Subaru 2.5 engines experienced oil consumption issues due to faulty rings.
Totally unnecessary, look on youtube for change interval recommendations.
These are all great recommendations. I will say though, even if you don't own a Subaru, a lot of this translates to any brand. Regular changes of the fluids (oil, coolant, transmission, differential, etc) is important regardless of the brand. Take care of your car and it will take care of you.
You’re absolutely right, preventative maintenance is key for any car.
Agreed, we bought a 2023 Mazda CX-5 and I informed the salesman at the time of purchase, I will be changing the oil at 3000 mile intervals instead of the recommended 5000. Mazda and Subaru are the only brands that we were interested in and we went with the Mazda because of $$$ deal we got but we still like the Subarus.
Thank you for this... No matter how "seasoned" a Subaru owner I claim to be, I will never undervalue information like this!
Making a service appointment in the morning to change CVT fluid as it is at 95K. I had asked a few dealers about change interval for the CVT fluid and all said it didn't need to be changed ( lifetime) which is such a crock !! It is not cheap but cheap insurance on a possible major repair so it's pay me now or pay me later. While I'm at it I will have the serpentine belt changed out. I have replaced plugs, drained radiator & flushed along with brake fluid flush. I have always believed, take care of your car and it will take care of you.
Frequent oil changes will keep your engine running better for longer, there is no debate. I just DIY'd head gaskets on my 192k mile SOHC (thanks for all the useful info on that btw!). I am the second owner of my Subaru and it has had perfect oil change service history since new (10k for the first owner and 5k under my ownership). It was abundantly clear the second I took the valve covers off...everything gold, nothing black, minimal wear on all cam journals/lobes, etc.
I understand head gasket replacement is quite a job, disconnect everything and lift the engine out, my local mechanic is not interested in this one job. very expensive compared with engines more accessible.
Another important maintenance item to stay on top of is the PCV valve.
Yeah my dealer recommended interval is 30k.
Funny, I asked my dealership if I should replace PCV at 55k miles, and they said it’s not needed. Then I called two other subaru mechanics in my area and they also said there is no need to replace unless something is wrong. My problem with that is that I don’t want anything to go bad to replace something so trivial and inexpensive. So I got the parts and will do it myself
@@notyou5703 Just replace it and have peace of mind, no matter what a dealer says.
@@notyou5703PREVENTATIVE maintenance is key. So many techs now just skip over the old basics. The PCV is cheap enough to change like an air filter if you wanted to. Usually it’s every 30-60k miles to generalize intervals
Bought a 2017 Outback 3.6. a few months ago and engine was going through a quart of oil every 1k miles. Changed oil with Valvoline restore and protect and after 3k it quit burning oil. Amazing.
Sounds like a stuck PCV valve, or piston ring or something that was not supposed to be stuck. Nice.
@@RexinOridle Rings would be my choice. PCV seems fine
Glad I found this channel. My wife doesn't know it, but I plan on buying her a brand new Outback to replace her old Honda Odyssey.
Don't do it. lol
@ the Odyssey lived a good long life and served us well. It’s time with us is almost over. We no longer have a need for a large 3 row vehicle.
Lexus/Toyota is my first choice but to get the features we want the cost is too high. I’m not interested in buying used because A. I’ve dealt with older used cars all my life and B. I can finally afford new. I’m not interested in inheriting someone else’s problems. I’m interested in having a warranty. I’m also not worried about depreciation because we keep and maintain our cars for a long time.
@@ras0neto say, “don’t do it” without giving any context or reason, is classic fear mongering. Typical message board behavior.
I am not married, but I think it would be best to talk with your wife to find out what SHE may want to drive. Show her the Outback you're thinking of buying. If she likes it, well fine. If not, decide exactly how unhappy of a wife that you want to have. Maybe she just really likes the Odyssey and would just like a new(er) one.
I went to church with a guy who went car shopping with his wife. She just was really comfortable in her old Camry, but it was shot. They agreed to get her a newer, nicer one. They're both very happy about that.
Don’t do it without consent!
I think warming up the engine everytime is a good practice. Ive had piston slap on a 06 forester for 4 years now. Sounds awful but clean oil and always warmed and shes still going
Thank you been watching your videos for years now all the way from New Zealand
I'd like to add rotate your tires and check your alignment. The AWD system can wear out faster if the tires are not evenly worn down. Most subarus are front wheel drive bias so the front will wear down faster. Out of alignment can cause a lot of suspension issues like worn out bushings, bearings and many more
And if you have a car with full size spare, remember to keep that in the rotation loop also. Otherwise the tread depth will differ too much from that of the other tires, putting strain on the drive system when you have to use it.
My tire folks will rotate my tires at $0 cost, every 8,000 km. So, excellent!
My 1998 Forester has 334,000 miles on it.
Your kidding?
💪🏻 💪🏻 💪🏻
Not surprised. Here’s to another 334,000 miles to go……🏆❤️
@ my 2002 Outback has 304k miles.
I'm just hoping my '24 Crosstrek goes at least 200k.
All the electronics and CVT have me wondering.
You don't have to worry about servicing a CVT if you have the lords transmission. A manual.
So you never change your MTF? 😂 dumb comment
You still have to change the oil in the Lord's transmission. Lol
I had six Subarus (1990-2007) with the 5-speed manual. If THAT is "the lord's transmission", I'm becoming an atheist! I'm a Christian. In my personal experience, "the Lord's transmission" would be a Borg-Warner T5.
Best overall drivetrain: Tesla Model 3 and Y AWD. A total of 7 bearings for each drive unit, and only three main moving parts in each drive unit. Simple, smooth, quiet, powerful, and durable. Unfortunately, some of the rest of the car is like a Chrysler...
I have a 2015 BRZ with 482k miles on its original engine and transmission; with a complete logbook and receipts of all the servicing and maintenance I’ve done on it since the day I bought the car new. These cars are very reliable as long as they are being properly maintained and cared for by following the service schedule found in the owners manual and using the correct fluids/viscosities and the correct parts.
With the proper care and maintenance, ANY vehicle will last for many, many years with very little problems.
Hang on... 482,000 MILES??? Four hundred and eighty two thousand? With 3 zero's?
My 2017 legacy going strong at 340k miles, I do all of my own services 😎
WT actual F? That’s an average of almost 150 miles per day EVERY day for the last 9 years. Why on earth do you drive so much? That’s wild.
I'm sorry that you have to drive that much.
Happy 10th anniversary for your BRZ!
I bought a 2019 Forester in 2021 at 45,000 miles. I had the CVT serviced right away, and got it on track with the factory service intervals.
At 75,000 miles I switched it over to 5W20 from 0W20 and did an induction and CVT service.
When it crossed over 100,000 miles, I started doing 3000 mile oil services. It’s at 104,000 now and it’s running well.
In the spring I am going to replace ALL fluids in the car, as well as another induction service.
When I was a younger man, I put these five things off way too often on my first-series WRX, and I learned a valuable lesson. Nowadays, I keep a keen eye on these exact 5 things NOT to do on our 4th Subaru.
Owner of a 2000 Subaru Outback here, bought it at 82000 miles. Change motor oil at 3000 miles with Walmart brand Super Tech 5w-30 and change transmission fluid and differential fluid, front and rear every 30000 miles with Amasoil signature products. change fuel filter and transmission filter every 60000 miles. My question is what is the recommended intreval on transmission filter replacement I have found no Subaru recomendations, every think from 60000 to 100000 to lifetime of the car. I apreciate your videos and try to watch every one of them. thanks a bunch.
I don't own a Subaru but I do believe in overkill when it comes to maintenance. I threw out the factory recommended mileage interval chart, and since I'm a low mileage driver, I strictly go by time vs mileage. At the 5 year mark of ownership with 28K miles on the odometer (car was purchased new in 2019), I change the oil and filter every 6 months, it's on its third Haldex AWD service and brake fluid change, coolant and transmission fluid has been changed plus new spark plugs.
By the far the easiest and cleanest car the do an oil change on.
Yes!
I love these videos cuz i work for a subaru dealer and I’ve seen some of these things happen to a few that came in cuz they didnt maintain it right
Excellent. Checking tire pressures is also super important for safety, fuel economy and prolonging the life of the transmission (low tire pressure increases load on it).
Yes, dealer technician here, 2024 and up Crosstrek and Impreza models are using 0W16 engine oil.
Why are they using water grade oil? 🤣
have parts ready, but it's been so damn cold. Costco synthetic oil, WIX XP oil filter, WIX air filter, WIX fuel filter, and Denso cabin air filter. 2001 Legacy GT Limited 5MT. Owned the car since 2006.
Last year, my oxygen sensor finally died. Instead of buying some cheap-o piece of crap on Amazon, I bought a Denso for $118. Worth the extra money.
The only thing I would add is changing the brake fluid. This would make a great video. My local dealer, yesterday quoted me $380 for this basic service.
I paid just under $100 but had to argue with the dealer to do it. They wanted to change based upon mileage, but I insisted on doing it based upon time because brake fluid absorbs moisture.
@@jstephens2758
Did you proofread their work?
See if anyone scratched the rust?
For 100 bucks, I bet they parked it in a bay and didn’t do anything.
Awesome video!! I’d like to add check the tire pressure and make sure it’s at the factory recommended cold PSI (or add 4 PSI if the tires are warm). Driving under/over inflated tires even if it’s 5-7 PSI with no Tire light puts more wear and tear to the entire car. Also, watch Robert’s 30,60,90k service interval to learn excellent maintenance tips to keep the Subaru in top condition. Thanks again for all your videos!! The editing, recording, posting it’s a one man show as you said in your previous video. I appreciate you inviting all of us to your home/property to share your expertise and helping all of the DYI owners learn how to work on the Subie’s.
I'd just add PCV valves.
Thanks for your sharing your expertise. I've learned quite a lot from you and do my own maintenance. Lots of Subarus here in Homer AK and the nearest dealer is a 550 mile round-trip away.
Keep in mind that the current Subaru Warranty & Maintenance booklets call out a CVT Fluid Change every 24,855 miles (40,000 Km) if operated in "Severe Driving Conditions"... most owners don't realize they are operating their vehicle in ways that fit into this category. (The "Severe" category affects other maintenance items too, of course, like engine oil & front/rear differential fluid and air filter change intervals.)
That is true for probably 90+% of drivers in North America. Short trips, extreme high/low temperatures, high humidity, rough roads, salt on roads in winter, hilly terrain, dusty conditions. Some combination of these is almost everybody.
You hit the most important areas. Protection of the engine and trans are vital. Every thing else can’t be controlled such as alternator, starter, shocks, computers etc.
Never heard of subaru fluids in South Africa. In the last 16 years that I've been taking my car to the dealer or buying fluids from the subaru dealer parts store, it has always been Liqui moly. I drive a 2007 2.5x forester. Engine oil purchased from the dealer is 5w40, Liqui moly. Coolant (pink), transmission fluid, brake fluid, diff fluid, also Liqui moly.
I have a 2019 Crosstrek which I love… I recently had an oil analysis and at 9,000 I had over half the additives present and minimal wear. Highly recommend doing an analysis to help with maintenance.
As usual great advice for care of your Subaru or any vehicle. Now if only my service intervals would help my body parts last longer at 75 years of age!
Agree with all with possible exception of some after market parts. I once bought brake rotors from the dealer. They went on the car normally but after a few hundred miles I was headed down a steep canyon and experienced a severe shimmy while braking. The rotors were wrong. Smaller in diameter allowing the pads to ride over the top edge and wear down only the top section of pad. Bad experience and potentially deadly. I bought rotors and pads from Rock Auto and they were perfect. I know. One off thing and any shop/dealer can make human error but I’ve had good luck with Rock Auto.
Oil also cools the timing chains and lubes up the timing chain tensioners which has to be clean. The timing chains get hot and stretch setting off cam sensor codes when the oil changes are not done.My local Parts Plus auto parts store does sell the Aisin timing belt kits
The guru of Subaru. I listen to you and apply your knowledge oh wise one .😂 Seriously your advise has saved me Big $$$$.and my subie runs like a dream.☝️👍
I was actually amazed that the online parts at my Subaru dealer are usually about the same price as the parts from the aftermarket parts stores.
I’ve always thought it a great idea to drain the PS fluid out the return while adding new fluid as someone is turning the wheel lock to lock on the 60 k service interval to preserve rack and pump ware. My Subaru service only shop thought that was such a great idea they added it to their 60 k service routine.
Just check your oil every time you get gas. You're locked down for four minutes as the gas pumps anyways, might as well pop the hood, inspect all the things, and check your oil.
My dad ground that into me when I started driving.
@MrSubaru1387 Good way to make sure your lights are working too, especially during the cold dark (already unsafe as it is) snowy winters.
I'm old enough to remember when you pulled in for gas you got oil checked, windows washed, and tire pressure checked. AHH...The good old days.
I think the owners manual even says to check the oil but every other fill-up. Good advice that almost no one follows. Lol
Isn't it better to check oil when the engine is cold... So better to do a pre-drive check...
thats great advice Mr.Subaru, I will be sure to stick to it as I have been doing since owning my 2 Foresters 💯
I've been using RockAuto parts for my Subaru. 13 years and running strong.
I've dodging anything besides OEM lately, except very well known aftermarket brands. Just order my stuff from partsouq, almost 3x cheaper than the stealership in most cases.
Always depends on the part as with anything
Me too on my past Subarus and current Altima. Unless you're selling it soon, always use name-brand parts from the "Daily Driver" section of RockAuto.
I actually got a bad brake caliper from them for the Altima. The seal was not seated properly for the caliper piston. I saw that as soon as I took it out of the box. They took it back and refunded my money.
Bought my '17 Forester new.
1st oil change @ 1000 mi.
5000 mi OCI with full synthetic.
30,000 mi. change interval on CVT and diffs.
196000 mi, now.
Passes smog, easy, burns a pint of oil over 5000 mi.
Have replaced brake pads and discs,l( Duralast GOLD) one wheel bearing, two front CV axles, a PCV valve., TStat, And radiator- CSF DUAL-ROW, all Aluminum ❤
My 2010 Outback helped me to renew the coolant in it - the barb end of the upper radiator hose connection blew off and dumped the old coolant all by itself! New radiator and new fresh coolant! I'm good for another 7 and a half years now!
I know I'm crazy but our '18 Impreza gets 3k mile oil changes with a Subaru oil filter and full synthetic 0-20 oil. I want to add that the PCV valve MUST be changed. A clogged PCV valve can cause oil leaks and no one wants to change the front engine cover. I changed our PCV valve at 40k miles and it was plugged. More often changes are clearly called for and I'll change it again at 70k miles. Our Impreza has 51k miles on it and I will make an appointment at my local Subaru dealer to change the brake fluid and CVT oil.
In my 2018 Crosstrek at 8000 miles I developed a puff of smoke at startup. I switched to Amsoil signature series 0w30 and never had the problem again. Sold it at 96k with no problems. My Outback Wilderness has run Amsoil 0w30 from 2k. The lightweight oil is only for Fuel consumption and that's it. The manufacturers don't care about you after the warranty and certainly not the next owners of the car. If it's a fluid, change them regularly!!!!
I just change the oil every 3500 miles. Thanks for your advice on cvt service
Mr Subaru 1387 you forgot to mention spark plugs which are very important , i do a spark plug change on my STI every 3 oil changes and it keeps the engine with power at all times : love your videos keep up the good work
Just found your channel. Proud owner of a new Outback. Love your content!
The GM Dex cool was an entirely different beast. The GM blocks were cast iron.
Always use synthetic oil,it holds up better
The problem I have with servicing the CVT is that the closest dealership to me doesn't want to do it and the closest one that will is a good 8 hour drive away. It isn't something I'm able to do myself and shops in my area won't touch it.
I own and still drive my 2013 Forester X with 159K miles. I changed the engine oil every 5K instead of the recommended 7500k, along with diff oil every 20K. Regarding the transmission fluid change, I take it to my nearest Subaru dealer at the recommended 60K interval.
“There is no such thing as a sealed transmission.” My 2012 Land Rover Evoque had a sealed transmission. One reason I switched to a Subaru at 120,000 miles on t\h\e Evoque.
I've certainly given up on using aftermarket brake parts.
I had trouble with noise and squealing on brand new aftermarket pads on a Subaru years ago. Apparently, the friction material wasn't entirely compatible with the Subaru rotors.
Can vouch for the coolant firsthand, I was hovering around 207-210F at 75K on the OE coolant, I did a replacement and now it hovers at 193F.
I have serviced my 1994 Impreza regularly for the last 10 years and the only thing I've had to replace was a TPS sensor.
Subarus are great reliable cars but many people I know love to bash on them since they had issues with them in the past. I can guarantee all the issues they had was from lack of maintenance, cheap parts, and cheap modifications. I mostly use OEM parts for major components and parts that are just as good as OEM such as AISIN timing belt kits, the only timing belt that should be used.
I miss having a Subaru even though i barely got to drive my old Forester. I didnt choose a good example unfortunately.
Very good. You didn’t mention the brake fluid. I understand that to especially sensitive to breakdown
Brake fluid is changed every 30k.
Aftermarket parts have been horrible. Got a set of cv axles and they made a wobble with the wheels. Had to go get some oem Subaru parts. Nothing last and fit as well as original Subaru parts
My 2005 GT limited wagon uses no oil between 3-5k intervals. Most of the Subaru community doesn't believe it.
Valve cover gaskets though, I'm on my 3rd set at 135k lol
the real subaru man :)
5:47 Robert this is funny was talking about this just the other day with my trusted mechanic because I got a pop in some knock sensors on the EZ36 he was telling me that the newer model Subaru do not respond well to aftermarket parts even Denso aftermarket you have to really go back to OE. He had several late model Subarus come back in. They just didn’t run right with Denso first time fit parts…..
Over 120,000 km on my turbocharged 2013 Toyota 86. I change the oil and filter every 3000 km or 3 months, whichever comes first. If I do more than 2 track days in those months, I change it again.
Thank you Mr. Subaru, all you have said is correct and wise advise 👍 Au
I take my 16 Outback to the dealer always for the recommended service interval
I am glad you talked about replacing the various fluids based upon time vs. mileage. I drive only about 4000 miles per year and had to argue with our local shop about replacing the brake fluid. They wanted to wait until 60,000 miles, but I insisted on changing it based upon time since it absorbs moisture. I replace the engine oil twice per year even though it is only about two thousand miles between changes. About the coolant: Shops always want to flush the system. Is that a good idea or should it just be drained and replaced? And what about the differentials?
I find it an odd flex to say Subaru's recommendation on CVT fluid service (or lack of) is a bad idea, but then in the next topic, refer people to the manual's recommended OCI for engine oil. So we should trust the manual, but then not trust it?
It took some learning on my part, and convincing on other's parts, but I finally believe you, and others, when you say ignore the manual and service the CVT regularly. I serviced first at 70K but will service again at 100K and around every 30k or so after that. The engine oil recommendations really crank up my anxiety. I feel like 0w-20 is way to thin for positive longevity and switched to 5w-30 many changes ago. From the start I was convinced the thin oil was only to meet fuel efficiency numbers, engine life be damned. I change at 5k OCI because it's easy to remember and the turbo is harder on oil than the NA engines. Analysis has shown 0w-20 drops out of viscosity much sooner, around 3k, than the non turbo engine's oil does. I plan to keep my OBXT beyond 200k and I try my best to keep on top of service items. Coming soon, the first coolant flush at just over 80k.
I don't trust 0w-20 either. 0w-16 sounds like deliberate sabotage to me.
EJ’s are the best!!!!!
Can you do a video talking about the EJ series engines valve guides causing intermittent misfires. Just diagnosed a family member’s 2012 Outback after a local shop threw coils and plugs at it and the misfire kept coming back. Thanks for all the awesome content.
Wisdom for all internal combustion vehicles.
Thoughts on Subaru Blue coolant. My Six-Star replacement head gaskets came with a sticker to put on my ‘97 OBW radiator stating it did not need any special coolant or additive. Unfortunately bebegirl crashed the car 😢 before I could find out if regular coolant was harmful.
Number 6: Don't advertise a Subaru Sports car WITHOUT a MANUAL TRANSMISSION!
Any advice on how to accurately read the dipstick?
I had the OEM prop shaft on my 2013 Crosstrek fail me twice, each time after only 5 years of use. In this case, I went with an Indian sourced part as the OEM part sure didn't last.
My rule of thumb is, if the owners manual says change the oil 10000 miles, i change it at 5000. Also the CVT transmission, manual says 50000, i change it at 25000 and so on. Remember, any car manufacturer wants you're car to blow up on the highway so you hav2 buy a new one......
Any tips on reading the oil mark on the 2019 Outback Dipstick? Never had such a difficult time trying to read the oil mark than with this vehicle. 😳
Well said.
Best service interval for oil change, transmission fluid change/flush, drive train oil change? coolant flush?
Oil change, 5k mile interval. CVT 30k. Coolant 80k.
@@MrSubaru1387 Thanks! cvt change or flush?
@@MrSubaru1387 80k for coolant? Good to know.
@@MrSubaru1387 I have a 2022 Forester and I don't drive much. I might put 2500 a year on my car. What time interval to take care of the cvt and coolant. I do change the oil every 6 months.
@@cattaraugustonawanda4426. Drain and fill is sufficient. No need to flush. Especially if you service it regularly at 30k. Mr. Subaru had a past vide about the process.
I would add, dont use those Lucas additives if you're burning oil. I'm not entirely convinced about those products.
Thanks for the video. I never go over 3/4 of my 2012 4cyl Outback's towing capacity but still wonder if a transmission oil cooler is advisable. What is your opinion?
How about differential fluid? Does that fall under the same service interval as CVT? I am not off-roading or towing. Thanks Mr Subaru!
I always tell people that these crazy long oil change intervals "may" be ok for the oil, but how long does the filter last before going by pass. Then all that dirty sump oil ends up in the crank journals and timing trickery. Causing major wear and degradation. My friend changes his conventional oil every 2500 miles on his 1999 Lexus RX300 with 354000 miles on it. As my pilot friend used to say. Oil is cheaper than Engine. (and remember a 4 cylinder boxer engine for GA starts at 25K)
Just bought a brand new Ascent. The dealer "gave" us a 12 mo/12K mile maintenance package good for two oil changes. My opinion is that the oil needs to be changed more frequently. To make matters worse (again, in my opinion) the oil changes are for semi-synthetic oil rather than full synthetic as the manual states. Should I accept these oil changes or ignore them and use full synthetic oil and change more frequently than 6000 miles?
can you do a video on a tcm code with a MB-B fuse blowing and how to diagnose
Thanks, but you did not say whether you think the CVT should have just a Drain/refill or Flush. And who can you trust to do this? The Dealer?
I have a 14 wrx. Thankfully it’s only got 63k miles on it so I should be good for another 10 years or so. I would think about replacing it with an outback one day but can’t do it since they don’t make one with a normal transmission. I have zero interest in a CVT.
How about using diesel 10/30 oil for the engine? I can buy it at work for a decent price.
What are your thoughts on suspension/lift kits and larger wheel and tire combo's? I plan on doing some off road driving in a few state BLM roads.
Thank you
@MrSubaru1387 I could not find any complete videos of coolant flush for Forester 2014-2020. Your videos are much more thorough, so if you will get a chance in upcoming videos to record one that will be very helpful. Followed your CVT fluid change video and it was very easy to do on mine. Thank you for great tutorials and suggestions.
Give your idea on using ethanol free gas!
I only drive about 7K miles a year on my 2023 Crosstrek. Should I still change CVT fluid at the 3 year mark?
2018 outback 3.6r just got to 116k miles, would not be a good time to get the CVT fluid replaced on it, only work ever done to CVT was valve body replacement under warranty at 62k miles.
I would have added differentials. All the cars I’ve ever bought it seems to be an over looked thing
Are there any methods you would recommend for cleaning out oil sludge from high mileage engines?
Let me tell you guys something on my 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6 R I was starting to burn oil at 120,000 miles. I’ve been running mobile one full synthetic 5-30 from day 1 at least from break-in I think I changed the 2500 anyway about 10 or 15,000 miles ago I switched over to Pennzoil ultra platinum 5-30 burning has greatly reduced…. I’m 150,000 right now.
Mr Subaru, I've been considering a new Outback, can't make up my mind Turbo Or Naturally aspirated. Is there muck difference in fuel mil.
between the two. I'm 73 yrs old, and drive carefully, but I do like to get out of peoples way. What would you suggest?
You left out neglecting/not changing your PCV valve!
What's recommended for newer Subarus with electronic power steering?