subaru maintenance

Owning a Subaru is easy; neglecting one is not.

Most late-model Subarus in Australia want servicing every 12 months or around 12,500 km, whichever comes first, though some older/turbo models prefer 6‑monthly fussiness.

Keep fresh, correct‑spec oil in that flat-four, change filters on time, and don’t ignore coolant—these engines like stable temps almost as much as you like weekends.

Older EJ engines use timing belts (budget for replacement roughly every 100,000 km), while newer FA/FB units run timing chains—inspect, don’t replace on a schedule.

If you’ve got a CVT, have the fluid inspected regularly and consider changes between 60,000–100,000 km depending on use; also keep diff oils and brake fluid current.

Do that, rotate tyres, and the Subaru will return the favour with grip, reliability and the occasional smug hill climb.