Not changing your motor oil? That's a non-starter. Motor oil needs to be changed at regular intervals, no matter how old or new your car. It's a vital part of keeping your car's engine running properly and you away from the shop. But, what kind of motor oil does your Subaru need? Can you go for the cheap stuff to cut costs or should you invest in a nicer product?
Here, we'll discuss why quality motor oil is so important (even if it costs more) and why you should stick to a regular maintenance plan for your Subaru!
Why is Quality Motor Oil So Important?
Quality motor oil-and we can't stress this enough-is so important. When you're considering a type of oil to purchase, you'll want to make sure the oil meets the American Petroleum Institute service standards. You can identify this requirement by searching for a little seal of approval by the API. The highest API rating for motor oil currently is SM-but different cars require different types of motor oil, so make sure to check on your specific make and model.
First, you'll want to follow any recommends from your Subaru owner's manual. Then, you'll have to make some choices for yourself. Investigate whether your car takes mineral oil, a blended oil or synthetic oil. (You can always ask your mechanic at Suburb Service for a recommendation if you're unsure-or read about conventional v. synthetic oil here!). Then, choose a high API rating for the best results.
What do we mean by best results? High-quality motor oil with a high API rating will keep your car's engine running longer and you out of the repair shop (but only if you keep track of maintenance and change your oil at regular intervals!).
How Often Should You Change Your Subaru's Oil?
Compared to other car-owner responsibilities, changing your oil can be a pretty simple task. For most Subaru owners, keeping up with a regular maintenance schedule will allow your car to run smoothly and get you from point A to point B every time. It's recommended to have your oil changed every 3 months or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles-whichever comes first.
A Suburb Service Customer: Quality Oil and 400,000 Miles
At Suburb Service, we recently had a long-time customer come into the shop with their 2004 Subaru WRX. At 15 years old, it had 405,161 miles on it. Our customer had owned the car since it was fresh off the lot-want to know his secret? This customer always did the maintenance services for the car on time. He changed the oil (with quality motor oil!) every 3 months or 3,000 miles. And, he followed all Subaru recommendations for maintenance and usability. Moral of the story? Make sure you put QUALITY oil in your car! Maybe your Subaru will drive you over 400,000 miles, too.
Choose Suburb Service: Seattle's #1 Subaru Repair and Maintenance Shop
Keeping your car well maintained is so important-especially when it comes to changing the oil! Every 3,000 miles or 3 months, the team at Suburb Service is here to help. We offer excellent maintenance and repair service to Subaru owners in and around the Seattle area. To schedule a maintenance appointment or to schedule a repair service, contact us at (206) 705-8695 or fill out our online appointment request form. Show your Subaru some love.