Where do you do oil change?
12-20-2004, 05:13 PM
#1
Guest
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Where do you do oil change?
Hi,
I just bought my new 05 Subaru WRX wagon (a month ago) from Livermore Subaru.
My wife and I are very happy with the purchase as we wanted this car for a few years now.
I have only 1 comment: There is hidden cost of ... speeding tickets:
- The car is very stable and when I drive with 90 mph it feels more like 70.
- it accelerates too easy
- the speedometer has numbers for every 20 mph and is conveniently hidden in the right from the passanger at the right side
As a result of all of the above I found myself driving with 90-95 mph a lot more often then with my older car... so in the long run it may cost me more
My wife told me once when she was coming back from late work (on 580) and there was almost no traffic she drove as usual and suddenly she noticed she was at 100 mph... :O
----------------------------------------
Anyway,
I am due for my first oil change after engine break-in (1000 miles).
After reading a thread (https://www.i-club.com/forums/bay-area-15/livermore-subaru-bad-mojo-42634/)
I think I will avoid Livermore Subaru.
My question is:
Where do you bring your subaru for oil change?
Is it safe to do oil change in a normal service center where they may not have worked on subaru?
Or should I go to Carlson Subaru?
I have had problems with Goodyear Auto-Serivce with my old car so I wouldn't let them touch the new one...
What oil should I use?
I am not interested in sysntetic oil.
But should I avoid some oil brands?
Thanks in advance for any replys.
P.S. I am a noobie in cars and it took me a lot of reading before I decided that subaru was my best choice of quality and performance for the price.
However I am an expert programmer and have good knowledge in overclocking/water cooling of PCs so I could help out in this unrelated field...
I just bought my new 05 Subaru WRX wagon (a month ago) from Livermore Subaru.
My wife and I are very happy with the purchase as we wanted this car for a few years now.
I have only 1 comment: There is hidden cost of ... speeding tickets:
- The car is very stable and when I drive with 90 mph it feels more like 70.
- it accelerates too easy
- the speedometer has numbers for every 20 mph and is conveniently hidden in the right from the passanger at the right side
As a result of all of the above I found myself driving with 90-95 mph a lot more often then with my older car... so in the long run it may cost me more
My wife told me once when she was coming back from late work (on 580) and there was almost no traffic she drove as usual and suddenly she noticed she was at 100 mph... :O
----------------------------------------
Anyway,
I am due for my first oil change after engine break-in (1000 miles).
After reading a thread (https://www.i-club.com/forums/bay-area-15/livermore-subaru-bad-mojo-42634/)
I think I will avoid Livermore Subaru.
My question is:
Where do you bring your subaru for oil change?
Is it safe to do oil change in a normal service center where they may not have worked on subaru?
Or should I go to Carlson Subaru?
I have had problems with Goodyear Auto-Serivce with my old car so I wouldn't let them touch the new one...
What oil should I use?
I am not interested in sysntetic oil.
But should I avoid some oil brands?
Thanks in advance for any replys.
P.S. I am a noobie in cars and it took me a lot of reading before I decided that subaru was my best choice of quality and performance for the price.
However I am an expert programmer and have good knowledge in overclocking/water cooling of PCs so I could help out in this unrelated field...
12-20-2004, 06:17 PM
#2
I do mine at home...
I've heard of bad things from others that took their cars to jiffy lube or some other shops like that. the mechanics are very careless there. The most 'popular' story i hear is that they forget to put oil back in after they drained it.
I've heard of bad things from others that took their cars to jiffy lube or some other shops like that. the mechanics are very careless there. The most 'popular' story i hear is that they forget to put oil back in after they drained it.
12-20-2004, 06:21 PM
#3
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yeah I do mine in the driveway so I dont have many good recommedations, though I would avoid dealerships for minor services. Where are you located?
12-20-2004, 06:32 PM
#4
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Location: Northern Bay Area: Larkspur
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Car Info: 02 Silver WRX sedan. Eibach springs, Blitz NUR cat back, Rota 17" Attacks, Cobb AccessPort/DP
Mostly at home
I usually don't have the time to bring my car to the dealership so I just stock up on SUBARU oil and airfilters and do the job at home. It's extremely easy with these cars. Just remember to put a new crush washer on the oil pan bolt. I use Cheverons 5-30 conventional oil. My 2002 WRX is at a cobb stage 2 with OVER 100K miles. Still running like a champ (wish I didn't get the extended warranty). I change the oil every 3K miles....religiously. Takes me about 20 minutes without lifting the car off the ground or using ramps (Eibach springs). Just shows you how easy it is to reach the oil pan bolt and oil filter. I'm not sure if it's needed but as a measure of safety I pre-fill the oil filter before putting it on. Do yourself a favor, stop off at Vishnu (local to you) or order Cobb's stage 2 and have some real fun with that car. Trust me,...it won't break.
12-20-2004, 06:34 PM
#5
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I just changed the oil on my 05 WRX wagon. What a pain. If you decide to do it yourself, be warned. Oil filter part number has changed. It's much smaller now. Also, oil pan is 4.2 quarts, not 4.7 quarts. Also, there is this crappy plastic skid plate you have to remove to get to everything. I'm not sure how long that thing is going to stay on. I doubt it will fit as soon as I start changing the plumbing 
12-20-2004, 06:43 PM
#6
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It's pretty simple to do an oil change. If you're willing to drive out to San Jose, I can teach you how to change your own oil. Super simple stuff 
I got all the tools too .
-GDO
I got all the tools too .-GDO
12-20-2004, 07:12 PM
#9
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Thank you all for your comments.
I live in Hayward - bay area of San Francisco, CA.
Also I work in Coppertino...
In the near future I think I'll start changing the oil myself. I'll buy the valve to make things easier.
However, I want to change the oil before Christams holidays as we are headed to Bear valley to spend the holiday together with friends in a cabin...
Because there are just a few days left I prefer to use a service center the first time.
As I understand, I should buy Subaru oil, oil-filter, air-filter and interior air filter from a dealer and change the oil myself...
But what should I do the first time?
I guess now at 1k only I don't need to change any of the air filters - only oil and oil filter?
Also, should I put "a new crush washer on the oil pan bolt" every time I change oil?
Thank you for your help but I am really a noob with good luck to get a Subaru.
(I know how u feel - same as I when somebody who doesn't understand a thing of computers gets really good and powerfull machine to ... just browse the net)
I live in Hayward - bay area of San Francisco, CA.
Also I work in Coppertino...
In the near future I think I'll start changing the oil myself. I'll buy the valve to make things easier.
However, I want to change the oil before Christams holidays as we are headed to Bear valley to spend the holiday together with friends in a cabin...
Because there are just a few days left I prefer to use a service center the first time.
As I understand, I should buy Subaru oil, oil-filter, air-filter and interior air filter from a dealer and change the oil myself...
But what should I do the first time?
I guess now at 1k only I don't need to change any of the air filters - only oil and oil filter?
Also, should I put "a new crush washer on the oil pan bolt" every time I change oil?
Thank you for your help but I am really a noob with good luck to get a Subaru.
(I know how u feel - same as I when somebody who doesn't understand a thing of computers gets really good and powerfull machine to ... just browse the net)
12-20-2004, 07:47 PM
#10
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Subaru Oil? Just get the oil filter.
Buy it from Carlsen Subaru (if you need one in a hurry, it's cheaper there). Do not buy it from Steven's Creek, unless that is your last resort and you are desperate... they overcharge.
You will need a crush washer for your drain plug and you'll need an oil filter (don't use Fram. It's crap. Get Purolator, Wixx, or OEM Subaru Oil Filter).
Hope this helped.
-GDO
Buy it from Carlsen Subaru (if you need one in a hurry, it's cheaper there). Do not buy it from Steven's Creek, unless that is your last resort and you are desperate... they overcharge.
You will need a crush washer for your drain plug and you'll need an oil filter (don't use Fram. It's crap. Get Purolator, Wixx, or OEM Subaru Oil Filter).
Hope this helped.
-GDO
12-20-2004, 08:02 PM
#11
Dahveed aka Robin Hood
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I change my own oil, unless I'm working 120hrs/week
It helps because I have tools, but fortunately you don't need many tools to do an oil change.
I would buy the aluminum racing jack from Costo (made by Allied, not avail. at all Costcos), because it works well and is indefinately returnable.
Buy a couple decent jack stands, because it's unsafe to leave a car up on a jack.
If you can't afford a $120 jack, you might just want to buy some plastic Rhino ramps to roll the front end up on.
Buy a good oil filter wrench, bring an oil filter in to make sure it fits right.
Use Subaru OEM oil filters, try www.subaruparts.com for purchase. Always buy one crush washer for the drain plug every time you change your oil, so buy them with your filters.
Until you reach 7-10k miles, use regular oil. Kendall and Castrol are brands that I use for conventional oil for proper break-in.
After that I recommend Redline 10W40 oil for your car. I've had great success with this oil both my old '02 WRX and my '04 STi. Its the only oil I trust with my cars.
Let the old oil drain out completely for 30+ minutes.
I think its a good idea to fill the oil filter up all the way with new oil (fill it slowly, and make sure to wet the rubber o-ring on the filter with new oil)
Don't overtighten the drain plug, or you could strip your oilpan.
Don't undertighten the drain plug, or it could start to leak oil.
Search for the proper torque settings for tightening the drain plug, I tighten it by feel, but that's because I've done it a million times.
The tools you need to change your oil:
Good med-sized plastic funnel (no spills is good)
17mm box-end wrench and/or 17mm socket & socket wrench (for drain plug)
12mm socket (for plastic under-tray)
rags (to clean up dirty oil from the oil filter boss)
The WRX and STi have a listed capacity of 4.8 quarts, so I just rapidly empty the oil containers into the filler neck, not letting all of it empty out.
I change regular oil every 3500 miles, and synthetic every 4500 miles.
Drive your car after you change the oil, and check for leaks afterwards, then re-attach your plastic undertray.
Good Luck!
David
It helps because I have tools, but fortunately you don't need many tools to do an oil change.
I would buy the aluminum racing jack from Costo (made by Allied, not avail. at all Costcos), because it works well and is indefinately returnable.
Buy a couple decent jack stands, because it's unsafe to leave a car up on a jack.
If you can't afford a $120 jack, you might just want to buy some plastic Rhino ramps to roll the front end up on.
Buy a good oil filter wrench, bring an oil filter in to make sure it fits right.
Use Subaru OEM oil filters, try www.subaruparts.com for purchase. Always buy one crush washer for the drain plug every time you change your oil, so buy them with your filters.
Until you reach 7-10k miles, use regular oil. Kendall and Castrol are brands that I use for conventional oil for proper break-in.
After that I recommend Redline 10W40 oil for your car. I've had great success with this oil both my old '02 WRX and my '04 STi. Its the only oil I trust with my cars.
Let the old oil drain out completely for 30+ minutes.
I think its a good idea to fill the oil filter up all the way with new oil (fill it slowly, and make sure to wet the rubber o-ring on the filter with new oil)
Don't overtighten the drain plug, or you could strip your oilpan.
Don't undertighten the drain plug, or it could start to leak oil.
Search for the proper torque settings for tightening the drain plug, I tighten it by feel, but that's because I've done it a million times.
The tools you need to change your oil:
Good med-sized plastic funnel (no spills is good)
17mm box-end wrench and/or 17mm socket & socket wrench (for drain plug)
12mm socket (for plastic under-tray)
rags (to clean up dirty oil from the oil filter boss)
The WRX and STi have a listed capacity of 4.8 quarts, so I just rapidly empty the oil containers into the filler neck, not letting all of it empty out.
I change regular oil every 3500 miles, and synthetic every 4500 miles.
Drive your car after you change the oil, and check for leaks afterwards, then re-attach your plastic undertray.
Good Luck!
David
Last edited by Group B; 12-21-2004 at 07:43 AM.
12-20-2004, 08:26 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by AzN121184
after i drain my oil, i also rinse it a bit with new but cheap oil (those 1-2 dollar a quart or somehting)
just my 2 cents
just my 2 cents
12-20-2004, 08:28 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by AzN121184
after i drain my oil, i also rinse it a bit with new but cheap oil (those 1-2 dollar a quart or somehting)
just my 2 cents
just my 2 cents
12-20-2004, 08:52 PM
#15
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Group B, Thanks for the detailed explanation.
And thaks to all others.
Is it OK if I put a valve: https://ssl2.adhost.com/fumotovalve/
Also I am renting so I cannot change oil in the underground parking lot. I have to find a place where I can do it...
And thaks to all others.
Is it OK if I put a valve: https://ssl2.adhost.com/fumotovalve/
Also I am renting so I cannot change oil in the underground parking lot. I have to find a place where I can do it...