Hey guys, I'm getting close to the 15K mark on my 04. I was just wondering if I should do it myself or take it to Santa Cruz to have it serviced.

If I do this job myself, what do I need to buy aside from the oil filter, drain plug gasket, and air filter?

Secondly, is it even necessary?

-GDO

 

.......wtf is the 15k again?

 

15K should be like oil, filter, rotate tires, clutch cable adjust, air filter, listen for strange noises, overal check out. will cost about $350 at Santa Cruz Subaru. I took mine to a friends shop, Alan Rice Automotive on Soquel Drive in Capitola behind Winchester auto, cost me $120. Alan helped SCSubaru get ther feet on the ground, he specializes in Subarus and several others. He will order factory parts for anything that needs replacing on your car, and he is a really nice guy. Tell him Matt Snow sent you. =)

 

another quick note, if you do it yourself, you could potentially have warranty problems if like a major problem happens to one of the components that is checked/replaced at a major service.

 

ive got 20k and i didnt do any service. but they will deny a warrenty claim if you havnt done the services reccomended?

 

Actually they wont. They might try, but in the fine print of your warranty booklet - which fully explains the warranty - there is a clause saying that warranty work will be done if something goes wrong with a car that has a basically stock setup and doesnt void the warranty in some other way (racing). It says that doing regularly scheduled maintanence is recomended, but that even if you dont, they will still perform warranty work.

 

I would recommend that you just get a fumoto valve this time, so if you decide to do your own oil change, it takes a fraction of the time, and if you bring it somewhere to be done, there will be a smaller chance of them screwing up (over torquing the drain bolt, forgetting to use a plug gasket, etc.)

 

Do you know who carries this product? Kragen? Napa? I found it online, but I'd rather pick one up at a store.

 

Yup, I'm going to get my torque wrench, 2 ton quick jack w/ stands, and a fumoto valve soon

Thanks guys, just curious about what I should do with my car. I may have to go to your buddy McDrama .

-GDO

 

I second mcdrama's solution. get the valve, so you don't have to keep buying those stupid oil filter washers, and you will also get proof of service for warranty purposes. win-win solution.

 

I don't think anyone carries it in a store, i and many i-clubbers just ordered it online.