Oil change question

"PowderHound" (PowderHound)
03/19/2018 at 21:00 • Filed to: None

Never thought I would have a question about an oil change. I’m going on a pretty lengthy trip that will probably total ~2,500 miles and leaving on Wednesday. My car is at just under 2k miles from the last oil change which I usually change every 3,500 or 4,000 miles. I plan on changing the oil out but should I do the filter as well? I tend to go with OEM filters but don’t have the time to go to a dealer and get one and would prefer not to use anything else. Which option would you choose?

1. Change oil, not the filter

2. Change oil and use a not OEM filter

3. Don’t change the oil because it’s a Subaru and I’m adding new oil all the time anyway.

Pic for your time.

DISCUSSION (21)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 21:20

Newer-ish (say, newer than 98) Subaru?

Personally I’d do nothing until you get home. You’re adding oil anyway lol. Going over by a few hundred miles makes no difference.

Subaru filters are made by Purolator, I believe. A normal Purolator or a PureOne is what I ran on all of my Subies for hundreds of thousands of total miles, no issues.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 21:25

It’s an oil filter. I’m pretty sure you can roll with whatever AutoZone sells for a few thousand miles. Or just stop at a Subie shop during your trip and pick up the filter and whatever oil you like and get any oil change shop to do the work. That’s what I do with my Corvette as I hate changing oil and Oil Changers 3000 doesn’t carry 20w50.

(I don’t let them touch the M5 however so if you’re the nervous type I understand but really any filter that fits is better than leaving the old one on.)

daender > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 21:27

You can use a non-OEM filter as long as it’s not a FRAM (ugh) model.

vicali > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 21:29

Do it when you get home..

gettingoldercarguy > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 21:35

Amsoil, Mobil 1, and Purolator pure one all used Donaldson’s synthetic media which is best in class.

HammerheadFistpunch > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 21:49

Change the oil, use a wix filter

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 22:00

I wouldn’t worry too much about a non oem filter.

PowderHound > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
03/19/2018 at 22:06

No Autozone. Have to stick with FRAM at Walmart

PowderHound > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
03/19/2018 at 22:06

yeah it’s an 03 wrx

PowderHound > daender
03/19/2018 at 22:07

FRAM was all they had!

daender > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 22:09

What?! Check a Walmart or something.

PowderHound > gettingoldercarguy
03/19/2018 at 22:10

Didn’t know Mobil 1 used that as well.

HammerheadFistpunch > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 22:19

Id also say to avoid Fram. There is a napa in town

gettingoldercarguy > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 22:20

Iirc they had to switch for their new oil mileage rating. The filter was the big holdup.

wafflesnfalafel > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 22:26

top up now, full oil and filter when you get back...

PowderHound > daender
03/19/2018 at 22:50

That’s where I went. They had Mobile 1 but not in my size

DipodomysDeserti > PowderHound
03/19/2018 at 23:51

The last time I bought OEM Subaru filters they were made by Honeywell, which means they were Fram filters. These were for the EJ255 engines (FXT and WRX). They aren’t that good of filters, so you’re better off buying whatever non Fram filter your local store has. I once ordered OEM Subaru filters off Amazon and they ended up being made by Purolator, so maybe look for Purolator filters at your local place. If you don’t mind the OEM Honeywell Subaru filters, then might as well buy the Fram filters.

DipodomysDeserti > daender
03/19/2018 at 23:52

A lot of OEM Subaru filters are supplied by Honeywell, which means they are Fram filters.

PowderHound > DipodomysDeserti
03/20/2018 at 00:37

I had bought a bunch of the ones off of amazon with crush rings for the oil plug and never had any issues with leaks so I was tending to stick with what worked. I’ll have to see if they were the honeywell or purolator ones

4kc > PowderHound
03/20/2018 at 02:32

3 for sure

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > PowderHound
03/20/2018 at 04:21

#3 fam. besides thru all the vape haze you cant see your ringlands going bad