Check and confirm all maintenance and mechanical details with your local authorized dealer

All photos, text, formatting, ©  J. Spitz who is responsible for all content. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
thanks for visiting. you are here http://www.cars101.com/subaru/maintenance-2018.html  10.10.18
Information subject to change, correction, updating.
-

Draining dark, dirty oil.  Clean oil is a light amber color. 2009-2013 Forester shown

Replace the HVAC cabin air filter behind the glovebox every year or so.  Here's a  dirty 12 month old filter (left) next to a new clean one (right)

-

UPDATED OCTOBER 10, 2018
10 year or 100,000 mile CVT warranty
"As part of Subaru’s dedication to customer satisfaction, SoA is announcing a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Warranty Extension program, which extends the New Car Limited Powertrain Warranty coverage of the CVT for 2018 Legacy/Outback, WRX, Crosstrek, Impreza, and Forester vehicles that were sold or leased in the United States.
A warranty extension for the CVT of five (5) years, 40,000 miles will be added to these vehicles’ original five (5) year, 60,000-mile New Car Limited Powertrain Warranty.

The total coverage period for the CVT Warranty Extension is ten (10) years from the warranty start date or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Inspections* or repairs under this coverage period must be completed prior to the expiration of that ten-year or one-hundred-thousand-mile period (whichever occurs first)...."

1000 miles: Drive calmly for the first 1,000 miles and vary your driving with a normal mix of city and highway.

Always note the blue 'cold engine'  light on the dashboard- its a visual reminder that the engine is cold.
Avoid hard starts and stops.
Avoid over-revving the engine, try to keep RPMs under 4000.
Vary your speeds over the full range of city and highway driving
Don't use cruise control much, if at all.
City and freeway driving is fine because that will vary the speeds

1st oil change
all models- 6 months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Its ok to change early, especially with hard driving, cold/hot weather, or manual transmissions that are revved up or downshifted. Its up to the individual owner

(from the 2015 owner's manual)
Some engine oil will be consumed while driving. Under the following conditions, oil consumption can be increased and thus require refilling between maintenance intervals:
> When the engine is new and within the break-in period
> When the engine oil is of lower quality
> When the incorrect oil viscosity is used
> When engine braking is employed
> When the engine is operated at high engine speeds
> When the engine is operated under heavy loads
> When towing a trailer
> When the engine idles for long periods of time
> When the vehicle is operated in stop and go and/or heavy traffic situations
> When the vehicle is used under severe thermal conditions
> When the vehicle accelerates and decelerates frequently
Under these or similar conditions, you should check your oil at least every 2nd fuel fill-up and change your engine oil more frequently. If your oil consumption rate is greater than 1 quart every 1,200 miles or 1 liter every 2,000 kilometers, contact your Subaru dealer who may perform a test under controlled conditions.

what oil to use			Subaru synthetic oil was introduced in July 2010. 0w-20 and 5w-30 is available in quart and gallon size
2018 model	engine	oil type
Outback	2.5L	0w-20 synthetic
	3.6L	5w-30 conventional (that's what it comes with) Or you can switch to 5w-30 synthetic
Legacy	2.5L	0w-20 synthetic
	3.6L	5w-30 conventional (that's what it comes with) Or you can switch to 5w-30 synthetic
Forester	2.5L	0w-20 synthetic
	2.0L turbo	5w-30 synthetic
Crosstrek	2.0L	0w-20 synthetic
Impreza	2.0L	0w-20 synthetic
BRZ	2.0L	0w-20 synthetic
WRX	2.0L turbo	5w-30 synthetic
STI	2.5L turbo	5w-30 synthetic

Severe driving is
> Constant repeated short trips, stop-and-go, extensive idling
> Rough, muddy, dusty, wet, humid, cold, mountainous, salty conditions (basically any coast, country, or winter driving)
> Frequently towing a trailer.
> Racing

*NOTES
#1 under severe driving replace oil and filter every 3,000 miles or 3 months whichever comes first
#2 under extremely cold or hot weather replace the filter more often
#3 under severe driving replace every 15,000 miles or 15 months whichever comes first
#4 under severe driving or if towing replace the CVT oil should be replaced under severe driving at 24,855 miles
#5 when used in high humidity or mountainous areas replace the brake fluid and clutch fluid every 15,000 miles or 15 months whichever comes first
#6 under severe driving, brake and steering system inspection should be performed every 6000 miles or 6 months whichever comes first
#7 not required to maintain emissions warranty
#8 when used in dusty conditions, the air filter should be replaced more often
#9 a tire should be replaced when the tread wear indicator appears as a solid band across the tread or at .063" tread depth (1.6mm) or less
#10 Subaru Super Coolant. 1st replacement interval is 11years/137,500 miles (220,000 km). 2nd replacement interval is 6 years/ 75,000 miles (120,000 km) after the 1st. If towing replace more often. Use Subaru coolant only, do not mix with other types or it will reduce protection. Always add Subaru cooling system conditioner whenever coolant is replaced.

 contact