2015 BRZ, Maintenance Advice

[TylerLieberman]

I would just go along with what's scheduled in the owner's manual.

For me, I go to drift days and stuff fairly often so I just do an oil change every 3,000 miles or so (usually do 1 or 2 events in that time frame) and change the diff and transmission fluid every other time I change engine oil (around 5,000 miles).

Some might say that's too often; some might say it's not often enough. It's what I've done with all my vehicles I tracked though and I've yet to ever have an issue that would make me reconsider what I've been doing.

[Max FRS]

My 2015 warranty and maintenance guide page 37 state 7500 miles for oil changes. Where are you seeing 6000?

[Eski]

Originally Posted by JGalp

Hey guys, (FYI I live in Southern CALI, warm weather all the time)

I just bought a 2015 BRZ limited and i need some help. Ive been searching the forums for advice on break in, when to change what oil, with what kind of oil, etc..but the advice is all over the place.

I just went over 1000 miles and i followed break in procedure recommend by subaru with slight twists. i never drove her hard cold, never went over about 5500 RPM and i constantly varied speed while on freeway. So far she shifts like butter no problems at all, however i have developed the chirping at idle

Now for a few questions:

1. When should i change the oil and with what brand oil/filter? I've heard a lot of people say 500, 1000 3500, and 7500. the different ar guements about changing it out right away, other people saying that the break in oil has special additives that you wanna keep in until 3500 miles.. Any advice on this would be great.

2. What about the other fluids? MTF, Diff? when should i change them and with what brand? Ive heard a lot about MOTUL, but for the transmission i heard its super thick (mostly from guys that live in colder climates) however it heard its fine for guys living in warmer climates (like me) I've also heard about Pentosin MTF 2 or something which I'm also considering going with. What do you guys think? and when should i change it out?

3. Any other advice that a new owner should know about regarding maintenance would be greatly appreciate!! Anything at all please don't hesitate to chime in, things like should i get a fumoto oil drain valve.. is it beneficial? even if I'm not changing my own oil? (ill most likely be taking it to evasive motorsport or fusion teknique for all my services)

Thanks guys, Much appreciated!

John

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18384 heres your chirping issues. welcome to the club!

[AZP Installs]

Originally Posted by Max FRS

My 2015 warranty and maintenance guide page 37 state 7500 miles for oil changes. Where are you seeing 6000?

You may have an early production car. All the subies have dropped from 7500 to 6000 for MY2015.

Similar issue was in the owners manuals in the MY2011s when they went from 3000 to 5000.

-mike

[Decay107]

Originally Posted by GotMunchies?

1. Follow factory service guide for oil change interval. (7,500 miles was changed to 6,000 miles for MY2015. You decide.) Choose any big name 0W-20 full synthetic oil and the Subaru OEM Filter. I'm putting 0W-20 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy because it was on sale, meets my use-case and a Subaru filter because its reasonably priced and perfectly functional. I'm going with a 5,000 mile change interval because... its a nice a round number. I run my diesel Golf at 10,000 mile intervals because that's what's recommended and it sees lots of highway miles. Exciting stuff, I know.

2. Change at factory service interval (30,000 miles for transmission and diff). Use OEM or name-brand synthetics that meet Subaru's required standards (in manual). Consider changing to a better quality oil (e.g. Pentosin or Motul Gear 300) if your transmission starts to get excessively notchy or grinds on shifts.

3. Usual stuff: regularly check your oil, coolant, and brake fluid levels and tire pressure. Don't be late on oil or filter changes. Pop your hood at least once month and have a look around, get familiar with the car. I got a Fumoto valve (going on this weekend) because I do my own maintenance. Completely optional. People who have them, love them.


EXCEPTION: Regularly driving the car in a performance environment (e.g. many autocrosses or regular track days). Decrease change interval and invest in oils for this express purpose. Your occasional spirited run up and down a canyon road or the occasional auto cross does not meet this use-case.

Final advice: Enjoy the car, follow the maintenance schedule (PLAN AHEAD, BE ON TIME), and don't work yourself into a tizzy every time you read something on the internet.

Got a link to that? Neither my manual nor any twin manual I've read, lay out an interval for drive line oils.

[GotMunchies?]

Originally Posted by Decay107

Got a link to that? Neither my manual nor any twin manual I've read, lay out an interval for drive line oils.

Right you are, there is no stated change interval for the transmission fluid from Subaru or Toyota. However, if one is driving the car in a "spirited" fashion I would still recommend swapping the fluid every 30,000 miles or whenever shifting becomes more difficult than normal - this would be conservative preventative maintenance based on personal experience. But since Subaru believes this to be a "lifetime" fill, that decision is up to the owner.

Cheers!