The Subaru brand is something different because of its cars, synthetic oil & history. This brand was initially started as an aircraft research company in 1915 and then converted its business model to manufacturing cars.
Due to the exciting history & quality production, everything about Subaru is premium – oil change is nothing exceptional. Like most users, you may wonder why the Subaru oil change is so expensive.
Don’t worry; I have got you covered. From top to bottom, I will explain everything related to the expensiveness of the Subaru oil change. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Why Are Subaru Oil Change So Expensive
From buying the oil to the oil filter, you will have to spend a couple of bucks extra due to the brand value & premium quality of Subaru.
Subaru oil change costs $60 to $100 on average & it is definitely higher than most other commercial vehicle’s oil change costs.
For example, you’ll have to pay only $30 if you are doing an oil change on your Honda Civic.
How Much Does Subaru Oil Change Cost: Total Cost Breakdown
It is clear that Subaru charges more; let’s investigate in this segment where the money actually goes.
An oil change job isn’t just about the oil; other factors such as – Labor, Parts & Taxes play essential roles in keeping the overall cost high.
Parts Expense
The total parts costs, including oil & oil filter, are $40 to $55. This price range may increase or decrease depending on where you buy from. Let’s have a look over the parts one by one.
Full Synthetic Oil
You might already know Subaru manufactures their own synthetic oil named Subaru Synthetic Oil. This oil is slightly more expensive than traditional oil (It costs around $50 per 4 Quarts).
- 0W-20: For Non-Turbo Subaru Cars
- 5W-30: For Turbo Subaru Cars
Oil Filter & Sealing Ring
The oil filter & sealing ring will cost around $10 to $12. If you’re facing a lot of family crises, you may use our funds raised for the admission candidates of 2022.
Head over to third-party online stores if you are not getting the oil filter & sealing ring for the right price. Here’s the link
Labor Expense
Unlike Porsche dealerships, Subaru dealerships don’t charge $200+ as labor fees while changing the oil. The Subaru oil change labor will cost you $27 to $36.
Taxes & Others
Depending on where you are living, expect to pay 10% to 15% of the total cost in taxes. If you follow the price chart, you’ll see the total cost of changing oil stays between $90.
However, you will have to pay around $10 to $13.5 in taxes & other fees.
After going through this analysis, you can comfortably say that the oil change of Subaru is definitely more expensive than most others & it costs around $60 to $100 per oil change.
How Often Should I Change Subaru Oil?
You’ll have to change Subaru oil after 6000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. Remember, you should use only Subaru’s full synthetic oil while doing any oil change.
If I had only advice to give you regarding the engine’s longevity, it would be – “Change your oil regularly & don’t use low-quality oil if synthetic oil is recommended.”
DIY – How To Change Subaru Oil at Home?
If you are thinking of doing the oil change on your own, you might be one step ahead of saving the labor fees. You can easily change your Subaru’s oil with proper materials and a private garage.
Things You’ll Need:
- Synthetic Oil
- Oil Filter & Sealing Ring
- Oil Drain Pan
- Wrench
- Jack stand
- Gloves & Goggles
Let’s get started with the general step-by-step tutorial assuming you have all the materials. You may watch the end YouTube video too – if needed.
Step 1: Open Your Car Hood & Remove The Oil Filter Cap
Step 2: Raise Your Car Height With The Jackstand According To Your Need.
Step 3: Place Your Oil Drain Pan In Place & Remove/Rotate The Drain Plug.
Step 4: Wait Until The Oil Pan Is Empty.
Step 5: Reattach/Rotate The Drain Plug.
Step 6: Remove & Replace The Oil Filter.
Step 7: Reattach The Oil Filter Cap.
Step 8: Clean Everything Up & You Are Good To Go.
Here is the YouTube tutorial which I was talking about: DIY Oil Change – 2015+ Subaru WRX
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Conventional oil will save you a lot of money. However, if you’re using a Subaru from 2011 & later – there is no way of using anything other than full synthetic oil. Now it’s up to you whether you want to buy Subaru’s synthetic or other brand’s synthetic oil.
Here are the top three signs of an oil change alert: 1. Low Oil Pressure, 2. Dirty Smell & Black Smoke, 3. Poor Mileage. Aside from these signs, numerous others indicate the need for an oil change immediately or as soon as possible.
A Subaru can go 6000 miles without an oil change. It doesn’t mean the Subaru will stop working if you don’t change the oil after driving this far. It just means your Subaru won’t be functioning like before & it will cause poor efficiency, which is also harmful to the engine.
Conclusion
I hope now you know why Subaru oil change is so expensive. I’ve tried my best to explain so that you can understand why exactly Subaru oil change is costlier by breaking down the costs.
You know a big chunk of the budget is for the labor fees. Now decide whether or not you’ll be doing the oil change or handing it over to the independent mechanic or any Subaru dealership.
