You've invested good money in your new Subaru. However, it is important to keep up with its maintenance. Even with Subaru's quality engineering, you still need to perform specific routine maintenance procedures. We had our North End Subaru Service Center experts create a list below of vehicle maintenance tips to help keep your Subaru running in tip-top shape.
Regular Oil Changes
Subaru XV by Rutger van der Maar is licensed with CC BY 2.0
Most mechanics will tell you that nothing is more important than changing your Subaru's engine oil. The BOXER engine relies on the oil to lubricate the many moving parts and to protect against the extremely high operating temperatures. Unfortunately, over time, the high heat of internal combustion degrades the oil. In addition, by-products from the combustion process collect in your engine oil, adding to the problem.
Old oil or low oil levels can seriously harm your engine, so it's imperative you change the oil regularly. Most experts suggest changing your engine oil every 5,000 miles. However, that number can change depending on the make and model and the type of oil. Conventional oil doesn't last as long as synthetic oil. Therefore, you can go 7,500-10,000 miles between oil changes if you use synthetic oil. Always consult your owner's manual for factory-recommended oil change intervals.
If you enjoy doing oil changes at home, that's great. We love DIY people. We do suggest you make sure you get the proper oil. You have many options available, from conventional to full-synthetic and synthetic blends, all of which have different viscosity levels. The viscosity determines the level of protection from heat and friction so pay close attention.
In addition, we strongly endorse checking your engine oil often. Mistakes can be made, even at professional garages. For example, a mechanic might not put enough oil in when performing the service, or you might experience a leak in the system. If something like this occurs, you could experience problems that result in costly repairs if undetected.
Inspect and Care For Your Tires
The tires on your Subaru have a critical role in safety as the only part of your car that touches the road. Therefore, they provide grip when accelerating, turning, and braking while you drive. Your tires also need to perform in different weather and surface conditions. You can help extend the life of your tires by taking a few simple steps.
Your front tires experience different load and operating conditions than your rear tires do. This uneven operation results in the tires on the front wearing differently than those on the rear. Rotating your tires routinely helps spread out the wear evenly. In addition to prolonging your tires' life, rotating them improves your overall safety and fuel efficiency. We tell our clients to rotate their tires every 10,000 miles or every other oil change. Our service center technicians can do this while changing your oil without adding any time to your visit.
Proper tire care includes keeping the correct amount of air inside them. Tires with low air pressure will wear faster and perform worse than properly inflated tires. We recommend investing in a small, inexpensive tire gauge you can keep in your glove compartment. Use it while you fill your gas tank. It takes a few seconds per tire, and if you need to add air, you're at a filling station already.
Regular Service and Tune-Ups
Newer Subaru models don't need the traditional tune-ups that older models require. However, you still have regular maintenance to keep up with to ensure your car runs at peak performance. Every model has different intervals for changing spark plugs, air filters, fuel injection cleaning, and other fluid exchanges such as brake and transmission fluids. Consult your owner's manual for the exact numbers and schedule a visit when ready. In certain situations, failing to perform regular maintenance can void your warranty. If you have concerns, feel free to contact us for answers.
You don't always have to wait to reach a milestone to perform regular maintenance. How you drive, the road, and the weather you experience impact performance. Varying from the manufacturer's recommended interval to an earlier time won't do any harm. However, you could experience a drop in performance if you wait too long to have your Subaru serviced. Alternatively, performing the service early would maximize the vehicle's performance capacity.
Monitor All Fluids
Your Subaru relies on more than oil to keep it running smoothly. Other fluids, such as transmission fluid, anti-freeze, power steering fluid, and brake fluid, also play crucial roles. Low levels in any area can lower performance and possibly create an unsafe situation. Fortunately, most fluids operate within sealed systems that generally don't leak. However, leaks can occur from simple wear over time to a minor fender-bender that jars loose a hose or part. In addition, rubber hoses and gaskets get brittle with age, leading to cracking and breaking. By checking your fluid levels often, you can spot these problems before they become larger, more expensive repairs. Therefore, we suggest you check your fluids monthly for early recognition.
Brake Service
In most cases, you need a professional service technician to inspect your brake system. This is because the brake pads themselves mount behind the wheels, which makes it difficult to see wear without removing the wheels. We recommend a minimum of one brake inspection every year, but we always check your brake pads with every tire rotation. If we find something, we'll notify you and provide you with an estimate to make the repairs.
In between brake inspections, if you hear squeaking or squealing sounds as you brake, you could have a problem with your brake system. You should bring your vehicle in immediately for an inspection to prevent severe damage.
Keep Your Subaru Clean
You do more than beautify your Subaru when you clean it. Dirt, dust, and chemicals from the road build up on your car's exterior and undercarriage and need to be removed to prevent corrosion. We also recommend you wax your exterior after every wash. Waxing adds a protective layer against dirt and debris and the sun's harmful rays. This protective layer prolongs your Subaru's paint and protects the metal underneath.
Inside your Subaru, a good detailing goes a long way to prolonging the soft surfaces and intricate trim. Abrasive dirt and debris can scratch and wear your seats. A good auto detailer will clean away the dirt and apply protective coatings to help keep these surfaces looking new.
We hope you found this article helpful. North End Subaru wants your car to last as long as possible. If you need help with maintenance, you can conveniently schedule service online.
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