How often for an oil change?

[cissy]

I drive a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, and an oil change is recommended every 3 months. I drive less than 6,000 miles a year. Is it really necessary to change the oil that often?

 

[jtp1947]

I would go with the factory recommendation, just for warranty purposes. What does your manual say? I believe it should be every 6 months or 6K miles.

 

[geekette]

I would go with 3 mos or 3000 miles. Oil gets old, dust and dirt driving matters, too. Why put your engine at risk? Besides, it is not expensive.

 

[bbodb1]

I would go with the factory recommendation, just for warranty purposes. What does your manual say? I believe it should be every 6 months or 6K miles.

Be aware your dealer may want you to change your oil more frequently than the manufacturer recommends. JTP's point is what I follow as well for what that may be worth.

 

[slip]

I found it best to switch to a synthetic oil that lasts one year 15,000 miles. I put on slightly more miles than you. The synthetic lasts longer over a time period better than traditional oil. I’ve been doing this for years with great results.

It’s nice only doing it once a year. Spring is my time when I do all mine. Easy to remember too.

 

[Passepartout]

Oil doesn't wear out over time. Many cars have sensors that tell when it has begun loading up on pollutants, and it's lubricating quality is beginning to diminish and it's time to change it. I would expect a 2018 vehicle to have such ability. Check your owner's manual, or with the service writer at your dealer. Absent info from knowledgeable sources, I'd change the oil spring and fall and call it good. You drive less than half the mileage of what's considered 'average use', so double the suggested interval for average driving.

We have a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In. It uses no gas for daily driving around town. We have about 5,000 miles on it, and asked the dealer about oil changes. We were told to wait for it to tell us when it was due. Since we have a road trip coming up I'm going to change it and get the 'break-in' oil out and replace it with the recommended synthetic lube. The dealer's Service Writer thinks that's wise. Who Knows?

Jim

 

[bbodb1]

Also, allow me to refer you to the esteemed crew from Car Talk..
https://www.cartalk.com/content/service-your-car-8

And by the way, if you have never listened to their show you have missed an hour full of laughs, guffaws, and lots of advice - some of it about cars!

 

[Phydeaux]

I drive a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, and an oil change is recommended every 3 months. I drive less than 6,000 miles a year. Is it really necessary to change the oil that often?

That depends upon the oil that you're using. Conventional, semi-synthetic or full synthetic. Unless your vehicle is under a warranty that specifically stipulates you change the oil every 6 mos., first I'd be using nothing but full synthetic like Mobile 1, and then extend it to every 6K miles. So in your case, 1x/year. Be certain to change the filter with each oil change, and don't skimp on the filter (i.e. Fram is garbage). I use K&N or Mann.

 

[Brett]

Also, allow me to refer you to the esteemed crew from Car Talk..
https://www.cartalk.com/content/service-your-car-8

And by the way, if you have never listened to their show you have missed an hour full of laughs, guffaws, and lots of advice - some of it about cars!

yes but the tappet brothers have retired (one permanently)
my 2017 honda indicates change the oil every 7,500 miles or 12 months whichever is sooner

 

[bbodb1]

yes but the tappet brothers have retired (one permanently)
my 2017 honda indicates change the oil every 7,500 miles or 12 months whichever is sooner

please see: https://www.tugbbs.com/forums/index...ething-fun-to-listen-to-want-to-laugh.282990/

 

[SmithOp]

My Honda has a maintenance minder that shows oil life, the little wrench indicator comes on at 15%.

I just had service at 33,000 miles and he wanted to change brake fluid, I just laughed at him. Its a sealed system, I only replace when I have brakes replaced. The only contaminant getting in would be moisture.

I changed the air filters myself, much cheaper than the Honda dealer.

I let them do the transmission, just dont know enough about these new CVT transmission wear yet.

The factory battery went out at 36 months right on cue, replaced with a 7 year battery cheaper than the dealership again.


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[Makai Guy]

The factory battery went out at 36 months right on cue, replaced with a 7 year battery cheaper than the dealership again.

The battery in my wife's 2011 Accord went out 5 months past the 3 year point, just like you said. Had it replaced by the dealer. The new battery had a 3 year 100% replacement / 100 month prorated warranty. Second battery needed to be replaced at 3 years, 7 months which put us into the prorated replacement range. Much to my amazement the dealer put it in under warranty at no charge, not even labor. I about dropped my teeth.

 

[Passepartout]

The factory battery went out at 36 months right on cue, replaced with a 7 year battery cheaper than the dealership again.

I just replaced the OEM battery in my '10 Toyota Tundra. 9 years. I replaced it with an Interstate, but expect that the truck will reside at someone else's house by time it gives up the ghost.

 

[SmithOp]

I just replaced the OEM battery in my '10 Toyota Tundra. 9 years. I replaced it with an Interstate, but expect that the truck will reside at someone else's house by time it gives up the ghost.

Thats excellent for OEM! This is the second CR-V OEM that has only lasted 3 years. I love Hondas, great cars but wear parts not so much. Their maint recommendations reflect that, must be a profit center for them. The CR-V battery is tiny, like a motorcycle battery.

My Ram truck OEM battery lasted 8 years too, but when it went it blew up. I turned the key and heard a poof under the hood, blew a big crack in the side and the caps popped off. It was a mess to clean up, the guy at Autozone was great helped me with it and put everything in a sealed box for the core charge.


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[Luanne]

My Honda has a maintenance minder that shows oil life, the little wrench indicator comes on at 15%.

Mine too. I keep getting "reminders" from Honda (via postcards, etc) that I need maintenance before the indicator light goes on. The first time this happened and I called Honda to make a service appointment they told me that my car would tell me when it was needed and to wait for that. I have a 2013 with a little over 26,000 miles on it. To date all I've had done is oil changes.

 

[bbodb1]

The battery in my wife's 2011 Accord went out 5 months past the 3 year point, just like you said. Had it replaced by the dealer. The new battery had a 3 year 100% replacement / 100 month prorated warranty. Second battery needed to be replaced at 3 years, 7 months which put us into the prorated replacement range. Much to my amazement the dealer put it in under warranty at no charge, not even labor. I about dropped my teeth.

???

 

[Talent312]

My DW likes to buy shiny new toys, but not read instruction manuals.
As a result, several are sitting unused in drawers, but cars won't fit.
The manufacturer's maintenance schedule may be in the glove box.

.

 

[WinniWoman]

Look in the owners manual and follow the recommendation. Most cars today don't need oil changes until 5000 or 6000 miles. If you don't hit the recommended mileage within the year, you might want to change the oil once for the year anyway.

 

[billymach4]

All new Subaru's use 100% synthetic 0w-20 oil. Recommended 7500 miles between changes.

 

[billymach4]

At your usage you could change your oil annually.

 

[billymach4]

 

[VacationForever]

The recommendation for oil change on a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek should be every 6000 miles or once a year whichever comes first. Subaru used to recommend every 7500 miles and has since dropped to 6000 miles.

 

[billymach4]

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/maintenance-2018.html

 

[billymach4]

Love to change the oil in my Subaru's. Filter on top. Replace the drain plug with a 1/4 turn fumoto value. Easy as pie.

 

[billymach4]

http://fumotousa.com