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.
