A Service or "How did I put on 72,000 KMs in just over 2 years?"

 Hello Sports Fans!

After a very successful trip out East to the Canadian Maritimes with a total of 5,400 kms over the 2 weeks I was away, the odometer passed 70,000 kms necessitating the need for an "A" service at my local dealer, Stratford Subaru.

The "A" service is essentially an oil and filter change with inspections of:

- tires,

- differential fluid levels (changed just prior to the trip),

- Inspections of lights and horn,

- belts and belt tension,

- CV boots and suspension components.

The Red Mist performed flawlessly the entire trip and there was is not mechanical or electronic snags.

The only gripe I have is a small amount of damage to the left-rear rim sustained in Halifax near a cemetery I was visiting as part of my research for my blog about the 18th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (World War 1).

My gas mileage is averaging just above 40 miles-per-gallon (Imperial) and I have been so pleased as this has been at an average speed of 105 km/h.

The only real snag has been the Infotainment system. Though minor, the system has glitched were it won't take a command to send a text to a person, or it takes the voice recognized text and replay it and then says it cannot complete the process.

Typically, the next day after shutting off the car, everything is back to normal and works fine,

This minor irritant is so much better that when I first got the car and the Infotainment system would be slow and sometimes completely unresponsive. It looks like Subaru has updated the software so it works much more reliably and faster than it did when the Red Mist was new.

I suspect the issues are related to Google and Gemini AI. I really find the incorporation of AI into the Infotainment system as unnecessary.

I am currently using the dealership for all the service requirements during the warranty period, and I do double up on my oil changes.

Buy the way, there has been no noticeable oil consumption during the trip.

The Red Mist keeps trucking on, giving safe, reliable transportation while being eminently fun to drive.

Remember to keep the rubber on the right side of your vehicle. Drive safely and practice the Subaru Salute.

Almost Time!

 Hello Sports Fans,

So, the Red Mist is going out East for a little adventure. A reverse trip around the Gaspe, as I went from East to West with the Grey Mist (2013 Accent 5-Door) several years ago and want to do the same route but from West to East. The coast is beautiful and scenic and I am leaving PM this Monday or AM this Tuesday. Pressing for past Montreal and the rest of the trip is clean sailing.

Did a pre-trip wash and wax.

More to come Sports Fans!

Remember to keep the rubber on the right side of your vehicle. Drive safely and practice the Subaru Salute.

Pre-Trip Fluids

Hello Sports Fans!

A quick trip to Elgin Auto Sales and Service for the following:

Oil and Filter Change.

Front and rear differential fluid change.

Installation of Fumoto F108S FS-Series Drain Valve with Short Nippple with Lever Clip, Bronze, 16mm-1.5.

I do my oil and filter changes every 5,000 kms and recently changed from Idemitsu IFG6 standard oil (0w-16) to Liquid Moly IFG7 standard oil (0W-20). The Red Mist will be heading east for a major road trip and the timing could not be better for an oil change, just before my departure in early September. OEM filter was changed as well.

The front and rear differential oil specification, per the manual, is API classificaiton GL-5 with a viscosity of 75W-90. There is no stated replacement interval in the 2024 Owner's Impreza manual, save that it says that the fluid may need,

"Frequent driving of an AWD vehicle

under hard-driving conditions such as

steep hills or dusty roads will necessitate

more frequent replacement of the

following items than that specified in the

“Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”.

and...

"It is not necessary to check the gear oil

level. Check that there are no cracks,

damage or leakage. However, the oil

inspection should be performed according

to the maintenance schedule in the “Warranty

and Maintenance Booklet”. Consult

your SUBARU dealer for details."

The Warranty and Maintenance does recommend replacing this fluid every "D" service which occurs every 60 months of 100,000 kms.

This service occured at 65,400 kms, so the Red Mist is getting some extra care. Fresh and frequent fluid changes are the cheapest, most effective way to prolong engine and drivetrain life.

For the differential change the Red Mist went for MOTUL GEAR 300 75W-90 from Subie Supply Co.. I ordered 3 litres to cover the capacity needed for the front and rear differentials and the price was really good as I got it for about $20.00 less than the current price at NAPA.

Elgin also installed my Fumoto F108S drain valve to ease the oil change process in the future. This was aquired through Amazon.ca and the primary value is ease of maintenance. Sure, I save on oil drain plug crush washers, but the ROI at approximately $2.00 is about 25 oil changes.

Last, I decided to replace my cheap, formally black (now an odd bronze colour) tire valve stem caps with a set of Fifteen52 Valve Stem Cap Set - Red - 4 Pieces (SKU: FFT52-VALVE-PACK-RED) as a simple cosmetic upgrade.

Of note, I think the Red Mist runs better on the thicker viscosity oil. I have had not needed to add oil between this last oil change. There was a minimal amount of oil consumption and the oil was mildly discoloured.

So, the Red Mist is ready for the next travel adventure!

Remember to keep the rubber on the right side of your vehicle. Drive safely and practice the Subaru Salute.

Changing Your Cabin Air Filter: Why the hell so?

 

Hey! Sports Fans! It’s been a while since the last post and today I have an exciting service to review – installing a cabin air filter in a 2024-2026 Subaru Impreza!

I mean, what could get more exciting?

Cabin Air Filter: Do I Really Need It?

No.

The idea of an air filter for a car is a bit silly, really. There are probably plenty of entry points for air other than the ventilation system, especially if you open the windows or sunroof, thus making the need for a cabin air filter pointless.

In 1989, Mercedes (of course!), introduced the cabin air filter in a response to… Wait for it! More profits.

The off-cited reason of the decrease of air quality and increase in pollution are not resolved by this system. It may reduce pollen and dust, but as it cannot be a totally closed system, and from the two vehicles I have owned, the filter and housing system does not offer an assured seal.

By 1990, the Opel Astra, a mass market car, had introduced the cabin air filter.

So, Hans Freudenburg, in a bid to prevent dust getting on his clothes while he drove, developed the idea of the cabin air filter. That must have been one hell of a long drive or one motherfracking dusty road. Was he commuting on the Dawson Highway?

Anyways, my 2013 Hyundai Accent was the first car I owned that had a cabin air filter. I never changed that filter until I had but 300,000 kms before I changed it. I really should have changed it sooner, but do you need to change it as frequently as the recommended service interval?

In the case of my Hyundai, the long time before the change found that filter had distorted and was not sitting in the housing properly, negating any filtration effects. I have no idea of how long the filter had not been doing its job, but it was a lesson in considering making changes of the filter to keep the car in good shape. I mean, you change the oil and filter but leave other items that degrade and if you have any pride in ownership, you think an owner would at least put a good filter in, or remove it altogether if you think having a cabin air filter is pointless.

Though I question the real utility of a cabin air filter, is now a part of the car’s maintenance regime and an understanding of this part and its place in the service life of your Impreza.

As to profits…

Google the OEM part number and you will find a PLETHORA of 3^rd-party providers offering solutions at a wide range of price offerings. Some are basic filters and some offer, I don’t know, protection from Anthrax or Nuclear fallout.

It’s a filter, damn it. Its primary role is to prevent PARTICULATE intrusion into the car’s cabin. It is a paper accordion pleat with a paper frame. Probably about 0.32 cents manufacturing cost. $1.01 landed cost in Canada in its box. These aren’t real numbers, but I am sure the profit margin on this part is ginormous.

Changing Your Filter

Below are the instruction for the current body style of the Impreza (2024-2026). Other Imprezas are probably similar, but CHECK your manual for correct procedures and fitment.

Replaced with FRAM CF12157 (est. $25.00 to $39.00 CDN).

 

 

Condition of Removed Filter

 

Why Change Your Filter?

It was evident from changing out the original filter it was picking up debris. Was this debris, if it passed unfiltered into the passenger cabin? Probably not, but it does prevent contamination of the ducting and fan, and that does keep the efficiency of the HVAC system intact during the life of the car.

Seriously, if you drive with your window(s) open, you are fully defeating the purpose of the filter.

Plus, for those with OCD, changing stuff related to your car’s care will be a soothing balm as each item gets done.

Do you need to change it as regularly as Subaru recommends?

Depends, Sports Fans. If you live and drive in a dusty climate or desert area, I would do the first change at the recommended interval and then amend the frequency of the changes. You could check the filter at intervals, but I think the effort outweighs the result. Plus, if you are not careful, you could introduce containments into the fan and ducting.

I would not leave it for more than 2 years, regardless of mileage, as it may start to warp and deform in the housing, preventing it from doing the job it was indented for.

Definitely do it yourself, and save some money, and learn a bit more about you car.

What Does Subaru Say?

Subaru recommends replacing your cabin air filter every 12,000 miles / 20,000 kms.

As this is a recommendation, your mileage/kilometerage may vary. If you drive on dusty road regularly, you might consider a more regular maintenance interval.

The OEM part number is 72880FN00A and its price is $30.00 USD MSRP.

There are plenty of 3^rd-party providers with Fram being one of the more recognizable brands.

Conclusion

So, a bit of contradictory information...

I think car cabin filters in most North American environments are silly. They are another high margin part that fixes a problem that does not really exist.

However, with my last car, I totally neglected the filter, and paid for it with fan noise, which potentially could have led to fan damage or failure.

My goal is to change the filter at an interval that is double that of the recommendation, and to source a filter of reasonable cost.

So, Sports Fans, take these wizened words into consideration when you consider doing a filter change.

Remember to keep the rubber on the right side of your vehicle. Drive safely and practice the Subaru Salute.

New Oil!

 Hello sports fans! It's been a long time since I posted anything, and I think it's appropriate that I take the opportunity to give you an update.

 February 2026

Oil. Oil! It's the lifeblood of the engine, and consequently, it's a very important part of maintenance. I've had an obsession with oil changes since my first car; consequently, I double up on my oil changes so that I effectively change my oil twice as much as the maintenance manual requires.

 I'm gonna link a previous article where I discussed my oil choices, but essentially what I did was use the OEM oil manufacturer's oil and would buy it and have it installed at my local Subaru dealership, as well as my independent mechanics.

 A little word of encouragement and appreciation to my local mechanics, Elgin Auto Sales and Service in Cambridge, Ontario. I've been going there for at least 15 years now, and they were referred to me by a friend, and I have had a wonderful relationship. Can't speak enough about their loyalty to their customers and also their integrity and mechanical skills.

 But this is, well, a post about oil. Exciting, isn’t it?

 One of the things that occurs with any technology is that it improves. I'm a former aircraft mechanic, and consequently, standards are really important to me. The assumption, and I know what you're going to say next, is that the newer standard should be a better product or process. In this case, the oil standard that I am currently using has been superseded. Here is a great article outlining some of the information that is involved in oil standards and why they change.

Essentially, I've been using an older standard oil (IFG 5), and I wish to upgrade to the most current standard. I would like to stay with my current vendor, but sadly, this oil is not currently available in Canada (Idemitsu part no. 30015132953). A vendor by the name of Liquid Moly does create such an oil (Liqui Moly Special Tech AA Motor Oil 0W20 Full Synthetic) that complies with the highest standard currently available.

Another important aspect is viscosity. The reason that the engine oils are designed this way to the specification of 0-16 W is in part related to the auto Start-Stop feature, which is supposed to save gasoline and increase your fuel economy. I'm not a big fan of this system. There are a couple of reasons I don't like it; the main one is the wear and tear it puts on the engine, as well as on the starter and battery. I also don't like the fact that when it engages in certain situations, it causes a lag between when the engine starts and when you can accelerate, and there will be times that you gotta get going! This system could potentially prevent that from happening and be dangerous as far as I'm concerned.

I figured that I would stay with the lower band of viscosity but increase the higher range, particularly for this summertime. I can report that I currently have very little, if any, oil consumption, though with a flat boxer-style engine, you do tend to get a higher consumption rate, and please, please check your oil every time you stop the gas, especially if your Subie is a little bit older. A great indication of engine health is how clean the oil is between engine oil changes. My oil goes off colour, but does not have much in the way of suspended material. It's also a great idea to make sure your crankcase ventilation system is working well, as a holistic approach to the oil system, as well as the crankcase breathing system, is important.

 So the Red Mist is going in for an oil change next week, and I'll collect my new oil and OEM filter and take it into my guys in Cambridge and get the Red Mist ready for another 5000 kilometres.

 Just for reference, this winter was a tough one as far as weather and driving were concerned. But the Red Mist has performed flawlessly, and I'm so happy I bought her. No complaints other than the fact that I really did pick the wrong tire combination for the wintertime, and I think I'm gonna remedy that next season. She hasn't let me down at all. She continues to drive and ride beautifully, and she's got enough power and pep for what I need. Every day of my commute is a pleasure. It's nice to be able to spend approximately 90 minutes a day enjoying your driving, and the Red Mist is a big part of that.

 So, campers! Feel free to leave a comment or join my Facebook group. It is specifically for Imprezas, and not WRXs or STIs.

Remember to keep the rubber on the right side of your vehicle. Drive safely and practice the Subaru Salute.

52,000 Kilometers

 I have put some mileage on the Red Mist. I have put an average of 92 KMs per day on this car. The two trips to each coast racked up the mileage, and she's been a good girl the whole time, putting up with me and accepting my inability to avoid potholes with grace and patience.

While I wait for the service at Stratford Subaru, I will pen some thoughts.

Some thoughts:

Infotainment System

At first, it was slow, and it was irritating to make a selection and then drive 100 kms before it would respond. This is an exaggeration of course, but in today's world, with dozens of interactions on technology devices offering instant gratification, it was concerning.

But I am happy to report that the infotainment system seems to have matured, where the delay appears to have disappeared. It runs smoothly and responds well.

I am pleased that the (I think 2) software updates I have applied have resulted in this outcome.

The soft touch controls are fine, but in the winter, it necessitates the removal of your gloves/mitts to operate, and the position of it below the cowl of the dashboard causes a driver to "heads down" a bit too much.

I think there is a move back to tactile controls, and the ones Subaru offers, such as temperature adjustment and defrost (front and rear window) are much appreciated.

The only pet peeve I have is that the Android Auto voice command goes awry from time to time, with "Google" unresponsive for no apparent reason for the entire drive. Usually, if you stop and restart the car in the normal course of use, Google comes back.

I find the inflection in my choice of voice on Google eerie, and sometimes it sounds like she is mocking me as I use voice recognition for texting while I drive.

This function I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. It can send texts to people in your contacts and read them back. It has a character limitation, and sometimes the voice recognition shits the bed and wants to render some bizarre iteration of your intended message.

Snow Tire and Wheel Combination

This is on me. I did this. Don't you do this.

I kept the same rim size, 18 inches, and tire size.

I should have got 17 inch rims and tires to increase the wheel well clearance. My current setup gets PACKED with snow and slush, and you can hear rubbing on some bumps and when making a tight turn.

I also think the width of the tire affects the traction negatively compared to a thinner tire.

Climate Control System (Winter)

It works GREAT...

Except that it does not regulate the heat. Bear with me on this. Set the temp to 25 degrees Celsius. She'll warm up and distribute the heat perfectly. But it will get warm. Turn down the temp to 20 degrees C., and it will stay warm. Too warm. I have found that once the cabin is toasty, putting the temperature to 18 degrees C seems to set the heated air to the place I am comfortable with. It feels like the temperature does not vary to the expected selection.

It is a small quibble, and I need to investigate this.

Subaru Auto-Start

I wish I could turn this off. I have no practical use for this.

There are 3rd party solutions that can resolve this, and I am considering this as a solution to an irritant that had no practical value to me.

My main objections are...

- It is my car, and if I don't want it, I should be able to disable it, without resorting to 3rd party solutions.

- I do not like the hestitation if creates when accelerating from a stop. There are times this delay could be detrimental to the safety of the driver and passengers.

- It increases wear on the starter, battery, and engine for a very small incremental increase in fuel mileage and the return on investment of the fuel savings compared to changing a combination of battery and starter and the increase in engine wear over the life of the car.

Other than these items, the Red Mist is a fantastic car. I am more than pleased with her and look forward to driving her every day.

What adventures are in store for us in the coming year?

The Red Mist is Violated... Oh, and Some Bling

 HELLO CAMPERS!

I'll start with the nasty bit and show you the bling later.

The Nasty Bit

Today I had an errand to do in London. It was a foggy drive, but the Red Mist dutifully let the miles (or kilometers in Canada) fall away for the 1-hour drive to my destination.

I did my chore and needed to be in the area for a bit, so I pulled into a location close to where I completed my errand and settled down for a drink in a fast food establishment.

Now, Sports Fans, I take great pride in owning the Mist. I wash her at least once a week, sometimes more.

And I try to park tactically to minimize contact with errant drivers who do not know or care about car etiquette and the importance of not knocking the shit out of another car's bodywork.

Earlier, I had a young boy knock the driver's side mirror out of the sideview mirror housing which caused s minor scratch, BUT now the mirror jiggles and vibrates a bit. Not super noticeable, but very irritatiing when I notice and think on it.

The Mist has some minor paint chips (2) and the bumper has some as well from road debris.

Yes, Sports Fans, it is normal wear and tear.

Today, fate would have it that my efforts to preserve the Mist went for naught.

As I approached my car a man putting in metal sign posts seemed a bit nervous and just as I started my car he approached and confessed to having damaged my car.

Its interesitng... IF someone owns up to their shit, I handle it calmly. This was such a case. I mean, I know, really, really know how he felt and he was direct with no excuses and stated he would pay for the repairs. I offered to get two quotes and he declined as one of the body shops is in a different town from where I live. He was actively encouraging me to take the least onerous route to get my car fixed.

As you can see, the damage is not significant. It is on the right front of the hood, But it will still cost between $1,000 and $2,000 CDN to repair and take 3 days. The main issue is not the damage, as much as the cost of the labour. They will have to take the bumper fascia off to fix the plastic that has been deformed, and the paint may need to be blended with the hood and the right front quarter panel so that the paint job looks correct.

So, I am awaiting a quote and the shop I went to can fit me in sometime in November. They look really professional and the shop is clean and well organized.

The Bling

Are you a XENALVR? Perhaps entirely comfortable with your orientation? If so, Subaru is for you!

Playing on that, I got a custom decal made and installed it in the engine bay.

Sports Fans, I hope you like it...

Remember to keep the rubber on the right side of your vehicle. Drive safe and practice the Subaru Salute.