Reddit reviews Subaru Oil Filters & Washers - 6 Pack

OEM oil filters are so cheap there's no reason not to use them, in my opinion. Amazon sells a six pack of them for $27.

Also, the oil could be burning because it's too thin. I have been using Motul 8100 xcess 5w40, which my tuner Yimisport recommended, in my 2012 STI and I've had basically zero consumption over the last two years.

Finally, a big step toward solving oil consumption is using an air-oil-separator. The stock configuration returns oil to the engine via the intake, which ends up getting in your intercooler and ultimately burning in the combustion cycle. An AOS strips the oil from this air and returns it via a drip back into the engine block. It never needs emptying like an oil catch can either. Crawford and Perrin both make them now. Grimspeed makes a cheaper, smaller design but I've read it doesn't work as effectively.

Yeah, turbo failures on the XTs aren't uncommon and can cause a total engine failure when they blow. Have fun, give her all she's got every once in a while, but don't rag the engine out, and stay on top of those oil changes with full synthetic. Your manual will say 7,000 miles but Subaru amended it to be 3,750 miles after seeing a lot of turbo failures. If you're mechanically inclined, do it yourself and save $40-$50. I bought a six pack of Subaru filters on Amazon for $35 or so and a pack of crush rings for the oil drain plug. I might get one of those Fumoto drain plugs one day, but they make me a little nervous. I used to use Castrol GTX Edge, but recently switched over to Shell's Rotella T6 5W-40. It's a heavier weight engine oil, but I live in the south and it's within summer temp weights for our car most of the year. A lot of Subaru drivers use Rotella T6. Even though it's labelled for diesel engines, you won't hurt your car.

Here's a link to the oil filters and crush rings

Also, as another user stated, be sure to remove the filter on that banjo bolt for the oil feed line to the turbo. They get clogged and will starve the turbo of oil, killing it pretty quickly.

Congrats again on the new car. I love mine. She's at 200k miles now, and I'm hoping to get another 50k out of her.

It can also help to buy the filters in bulk on Amazon, or a similar site: http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Oil-Filters-Washers-Pack/dp/B007NLQO0O/

One thing that helps is having a driveway with a little privacy, and no homeowner's association that won't prevent you from doing oil changes and tire rotations on your car.

Husky and Craftsman tools are ok: http://www.amazon.com/Craftsman-Mechanics-36220-Newest-Version/dp/B00F1WPCEG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_328_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=51O7n-Tt4mL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0GZXKZTCM0RPZKMW48D2

You can just buy tools individually on amazon if you can't afford the whole tool kit.

Here's a huge guide for the tools needed for working on Subarus: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f62/what-tools-buy-work-my-subaru-127475/

And some rhino ramps, wheel chocks, and jack stands: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/199GQ6N13H6N0/ref=cm_wl_huc_view

For oil changes, you should order yourself a 6-pack of genuine WRX oil filters with crush washers off amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Oil-Filters-Washers-Pack/dp/B007NLQO0O/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458339681&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=subaru+wrx+oil+filter+and+crush+washer

Buy your fully synthetic oil at walmart. Auto parts stores will rip you off on oil.

Dealerships are expensive for general maintenance but useful for doing comprehensive checkups for the maintenance intervals. The maintenance intervals are pretty standard general maintenance every 5k miles.