Could use some help...

[BrrrRrrZ]

As I'm completely new to the world of boxers and Subaru in general I was hoping for some insights:

1. How long before the first oil/filter change? Same for diff? I've read on here of someone having the wrong filter put on by the dealership what should I be looking for?

2. Thoughts on manufacturer oil/fluids?

3. Should I be getting a magnetic drain plug? Is there any way this causes warranty bs?

4. Living in Canada (winter driven but garage stored) what are thoughts on 0w20? I've read of cars having starting issues.


Any other misc. thoughts on general/preventative maintenance would be appreciated.

[SirBrass]

For how long until oil and filter change, check your owner's manual.

[BrrrRrrZ]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

For how long until oil and filter change, check your owner's manual.

I've seen others changing the initial time before spec and was curious if it was truly beneficial.

[SirBrass]

Unless you're immediately going turbo or heavily tracking, not really.

[gramicci101]

1. Fluid change intervals should be in your owner's manual. I just did oil, transmission fluid, and diff fluid at 7500 miles, even though officially all I needed was an oil change. I'm just as glad I did, the diff drain plug was gross. From here on out ill do those two every 30k, I just wanted to get the initial fluid out.

2. That's a hornet's nest. I used Mobil 1 5W-20 and Motul 300 in the trans and diff. You're in Canada, you might want to stick with 0W-20 (manufacturer recommended spec) oil.

3. The drain plugs are already magnetic. Easy kill. Except the oil drain plug, replace that with a Fumoto 108 valve.

4. See answer 2 above.

[gramicci101]

Also, for the harder to find fluids, check the forum vendors. @AZP Installs got me 4 quarts of Motul 300 shipped for a very reasonable price.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Marchy

x2! i'll be going with the fumoto valve with my next oil change and i already swapped out my tranny and rear diff oil with Motul 300 at 3500 miles and boy were those plugs covered in metal shavings. I'll swap it again at 30k miles.

When I swapped my trans oil at 9k miles, the drain plug wasn't all that dirty. It LOOKED like it, b/c the drain plug fell off the 10mm hex wrench into the dirty drain pan of the telescoping oil catch (was doing this on a lift while getting ready to put in headers and an fp/op), but the oil that came out seemed fairly normal and not gritty.

I haven't swapped the rear diff. fluid yet. Probably will soon. I'll need another liter of Gear 300 and the crush washers before I do that one. No rush, really.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Marchy

yeah mine was not that case, lots of metal shavings in both the diff and trans. Diff was way worse however. I will say i did not notice much of a difference when changing the diff oil, but the transmission oil made a night and day difference.

I think it was that I left the oil in for longer, probably. Somehow I bet most of that gunk was for break-in, and as the transmission and diff get broken in, that stuff dissipates, or something.

I'll still be changing my diff fluid before my first track day at the end of this month. Might as well just to be on the safe side.

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

I haven't swapped the rear diff. fluid yet. Probably will soon. I'll need another liter of Gear 300 and the crush washers before I do that one. No rush, really.

Be prepared for an awful stench. The stock diff fluid was just nasty smelling. The transmission wasn't nearly as bad.

I swapped mine both of mine out at about 14K km for Motul Gear 300.

@BrrrRrrZ I never had an issue starting my car last winter and it was cold as fuck as you know. I park in a garage at home during the week but at work and on weekends it is outside.

[SirBrass]

I'll make sure I rub vic's vapor rub underneath my nostrils before draining

[gramicci101]

Maybe not that bad. Just have a fan running and don't drain the oil in an enclosed space.

Also, OP: the transmission fluid shoots out sideways. Be prepared for that. I cut a half-moon slide out of the side of a water bottle and used that to catch the fluid and redirect it into my drain pan.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Maybe not that bad. Just have a fan running and don't drain the oil in an enclosed space.

Also, OP: the transmission fluid shoots out sideways. Be prepared for that. I cut a half-moon slide out of the side of a water bottle and used that to catch the fluid and redirect it into my drain pan.

I drained my trans fluid on a lift, and thought I had the pan sufficiently to the side. Nope. Got a small puddle of the stuff on the ground before I got the drain pan over. Then had to monitor it as the stream tapered off. No big deal, really.

But MAN it took forever for that transmission block to cool off. Even hours later when finishing up on the headers, the transmission block was still quite warm (while the engine block was at about room temp), even with the new, fresh, cool oil in it.