in all honesty I really don't think ANY of those need attention after only 30K miles. I recently changed my trans oil with 35K on it (a lot of strenuous miles) and the oil came out looking new...

does this "service" have any impact on maintaining your warranty if you skip it?

 

Agreed.

Man poor Civic SI of mine by these standards! Only had 2 sets of tires, 1 sets of pads, and oil change every 5k miles and its just turned 108,000 miles(all mine)! I've had a couple shops check the trans oil, they all say is fine, stock clutch is fine, and brake fluid is fine... so I keep riding!:lol:

Need to consider the STI as an exception to all this i guess...

 

I am coming up on 30k, and my dealer gave me pretty high quote for the "30k" normal maintenance schedule.


It seems the only things I truly need to do is:

Transmission flush
Rear Diff Flush
Coolant Flush
Brake Fluid
Steering Flush

Anything else I should be doing?

This seems to hold me over until 30,000 when I need to do all of this again + spark plugs.

I can get these items done rather cheaply at a local shop. The other things that Subaru is claiming are visual, and I don't see the point of paying for check marks that I could do in 5 minutes, so as long as I pay for the necessary item, I should be fine?

Why all the flushes? Seems like they are trying to add on a bunch of work just to add to the bill. Here's the actual 30K list: replace brake fluid. Inspect all hoses, belts, brakes pads, inspect all fluids and engine air filter, replace oil/filter, rotate tires, replace cabin air filter

 

I just looked up and the flushes are at 30k. Maybe I am looking at the wrong list.

 

none of that needs to be done until 60,000 miles with the exception of the brake fluid. Probably a good idea to change that.

I had the dealer do my brake fluid at 35,000ish miles, but declined everything else. I did all the other stuff myself at 60,000. Just did my power steering fluid at 73,000 but that was because a line was leaking that I replaced myself as well. I did my spark plugs at 58,000 miles. I'll probably do my brake fluid again this summer when I change out my rotors and pads for new brembo...I'll be at 74,000 miles at that point probably in may.

I do change my air cleaner twice a year though.:tup:

 

none of that needs to be done until 60,000 miles with the exception of the brake fluid. Probably a good idea to change that.

I had the dealer do my brake fluid at 35,000ish miles, but declined everything else. I did all the other stuff myself at 60,000. Just did my power steering fluid at 73,000 but that was because a line was leaking that I replaced myself as well. I did my spark plugs at 58,000 miles. I'll probably do my brake fluid again this summer when I change out my rotors and pads for new brembo...I'll be at 74,000 miles at that point probably in may.

I do change my air cleaner twice a year though.:tup:

Rackin in those miles lol hows she holdin' up at 70k+? Im at 11,500 and picked up my car at the end of October 2015

 

Double post...

 

I think the trans and diff oil should probably be changed every 30-45k since subaru asks for 30k. I bleed out used brake fluid every year or two. Coolant and PS are more like 100k items IMO.

 

On my 07 wrx I had the dealership only do one or two things on the 'scheduled maintenance'. Cut the cost down significantly. Things like engine oil, filter, tire rotation, etc all jacked the price up.

 

and what were those things?

I do not plan on doing all the other stuff such as tire rotation, etc, etc.

Just trying to see if it is worth the dealer or a shop change my transmission and diff fluid since it DOES call for it at 30,000

If not, then it sounds just like basic oil changes until 60,000.

 

Has anyone used Amsoil Severe Gear instead of Motul or OEM fluid for The Trans & rear Diff? I'm due to change mine and Amsoil is available locally, but i'd have to order Motul online and have it shipped for almost twice the price. Anyone have experience with Amsoil?

 

I'm using amsoil severe gear in my mine. Swapped it out at about 33000 miles. Factory fluid still looked like it came out of the bottle even after multiple track days.

 

I have motul 90pa (I think) in my rear diff... On about 40K miles now.

 

There are multiple threads on preferences for gear oil - I only say this because some people were unhappy with the change in feel after switching oils. It can affect the syncros etc and you may end up missing shifts that you didn't before etc. OR it could feel even better. Read up and/or try some out yourself.

FWIW even though it says "inspect" fluids at 30k I went ahead and changed them. I don't like to use the word flush as a holdover from auto trans cars - drain and fill is different from "flush." It's less important to distinguish that on a manual since we're obviously not referring to the process of hooking an auto trans up to a machine to flush it out etc, but I still don't like using the term.

IIRC the trans and front diff oil were pretty clean and the rear diff oil came out looking pretty dark. I used the replacement for Subaru Extra S (SUPPOSEDLY the same stuff sold in quart bottles - Subaru Certified High Performance Gear Oil. I never had problems with the OEM stuff and a lot of people like it, so I didn't see a point in paying 2 or 3x as much for something else.

Hydraulic fluids absorb moisture (hence "wet" and "dry" boiling point ratings), so I would replace those regularly. Doesn't necessarily have to be every 30k, but I'd say at least every 30k is a good idea. For infrequent drivers, I agree I'd do it every year or two even if there is less mileage accumulated. It's pretty easy to remove most of the power steering fluid with a turkey baster etc and replace it. Sort of like an auto trans it isn't a 100% change but I'd rather do that frequently and always have 60-80% new fluid vs getting the urge to do a 100% fluid change which basically would be once every 100k haha.

If you do it yourself, the 30k is pretty cheap. I do my filters every 15k or so because they are super cheap and it can make a difference for you and for the car. I did front diff / trans drain and fill, rear diff drain and fill, brake fluid change, engine oil and filter, tire rotation. I need to get a new turkey baster and I'll do the power steering haha. Even with purchasing a hand pump for the quart bottles (so I can fill from beneath the car) and other misc stuff it was < $150 I think. I genuinely intend to DD this car well into the 200s on the odometer, so I consider it cheap insurance. From the trans back there's no reason you can't go to 300k if you take care of everything properly.

 

ok, so it seems that even though the 30K calls for transmission and diff change, I am prob fine until 60.

Just do the brake flush..

 

Just to clarify, I posted that I did my fluids at 60,000, but that was because when I bought the car it had 29,000 on it and the subaru dealer said they performed the 30,000 mile maintenance. So I WOULD change the diff and transmission fluids at 30,000, it's very easy to do. The power steering fluid and engine coolant are the ones that really dont have to be changed until 60,000, unless of course there is problem up until then.

This is the 30,000 mile interval scheduel recomendations:

Perform at 30,000 Miles, 60,000 Miles, 90,000 Miles, etc

Replace engine oil, filter and drain plug washer
Inspect and adjust all drive belts to factory specifications
Inspect and ensure cooling fan is operating within factory specifications
Replace transmission fluid with Subaru High Performance Fluid
Check to ensure air conditioning and heating systems are operating within factory specifications
Rotate tires, inspect tread wear and check and adjust tire pressure as needed
Perform brake system inspection; pads and/or drums, lines, hoses and fluid
Inspect suspension system and steering components to ensure factory specifications
Service battery, clean terminals, install anti-corrosion pads and check battery condition
Inspect wiper blades and linkage operation
Lubricate all door, trunk and hood latches and hinges if needed
Inspect exhaust system and heat shields
Replace front and rear differential fluid
Inspect radiator and cooling system
Adjust emergency brake to within factory specifications if needed
Replace air filter element
Inspect steering operation, tie rod ends and steering rack guides per factory specifications
Inspect all engine and transmission mounts
Inspect and adjust all fluid levels as needed
Check all interior and exterior lighting operation
Replace brake fluid
Install premium fuel additive (dealer recommended)
Factory trained technician to conduct road test

 

Where did you read that they recommend the gear oil change? Everything I've read says inspect, not replace. I just do it anyway but that's not technically what they call for.

 

see list posted above. It says replace.

 

Just remember that Subaru is making money off of maintenance

 

That they do. Maybe they charge more if they inspect the fluids THEN change them.

FWIW, the gallons of super blue coolant are premixed. Thu do sell quarts of concentrate for cold weather states. The "long life coolant" however does come in undiluted gallons

 

they would always try and sell me the nitrogen tire inflation when I was having them change the oil underwarranty.

 

I would find another shop to do the 30k that isn't the dealer. You'll save a few bucks and likely get better fluid. If you have documentation on getting your maintenance done elsewhere it won't void your warranty because nowhere in your warranty does it say anything about how it must be done by subaru.

There's a shop near me that charges the same rates as the dealer, but for the same money they are using all Motul and Redline fluids so IMO it's a better bang for the buck.

 

"#10 Subaru Super Coolant. 1st replacement interval is 11years/137,500 miles (220,000 km). 2nd replacement interval is 6 years/ 75,000 miles (120,000 km) after the 1st. If towing replace more often. Use Subaru coolant only, do not mix with other types or it will reduce protection. Always add Subaru cooling system conditioner whenever coolant is replaced."

 

They quoted me almost 700 bucks. I already did the cabin filter/air filter/oil changes myself.

Took it to my regular place and did it for muuuuuuuuuuch cheaper.

 

If they charged everyone $700 for a 30k service then thru could afford to cover every engine warranty claim regardless of mods

 

I still wouldn't pay $700 to subaru. They use either their crap Subaru Oil or Mobil 1 for the oil change, and cheap subaru fluids for the diff and trans fluid. One of the best things I did for my WRX was change out all oem fluids to Motul and the car runs much much better

 

What documentation do you have to support Subaru oil being "crap"?

 

I wouldn't pay anyone $700 for it even if they used liquid gold. I don't think that would be a very good lubricant anyway. But seriously, $300 something is bad enough, $700 is heinous. Even if you include tools I had to get it was close to $200 for me to do it at home with quality fluids.

 

changing gear oils is a good idea, in my last trans that saw upwards of 9k rpms it was changed every 20k.

you can do it at the same time you drain your oil so there is no reason not to, same thing with the rear diff.

 

Curious, I just called my dealer for an estimate and it's $369. That's an oil change, oil filter, cabin filter, brake flush, tires rotated and all other fluids "inspected". No thanks.

 

I took my car in yesterday to my "trusted" local dealer for my 30k service... I had spoken to the service manager a few weeks ago and he told me $370. It seemed cheap so I asked that he was sure since it included brake and clutch fluid replacements and he said yes.

I go in yesterday and they tell me it's $500 and there is a 15% off coupon that I can use.

I talk to the manager and he said he's sorry but he's not sure where he got that $370 number from and he'll take 20% off because of the "miscommunication". He also tells me that's it's only an inspect on the clutch fluid, not a replacement. Fine, whatever.

The price and the lack of clutch fluid replacement is still bothering me so when I get home I check the maintenance booklet and it says brake/clutch fluid replacement at 30k...

This morning I called the dealer I bought my car from and they quote me $290-$330 for the 30k service and she tells me everything including clutch/brake fluid replacement. This is when I found out that the clutch and brake fluid share the resevoir so I guess that's why Subaru lists it as "clutch/brake fluid" in the manual.

So the price he originally quoted me should have been their actual price, not $500 freaking dollars. After the discount I paid $400 so it's not like it's that far off from what he said but I'm just really salty over this whole experience now.

 

I'd try to get them to match the other dealer. So you paid more but they still didn't change the fluids required? Also you probably know this now but I'd get a written quote next time. :tup:

 

I've been going to this dealer for over 4 years, I took my Outback there and now take the STI there. They have always been honest and even generous, like paying for state inspections for the hell of it when I was just in for an oil change or telling me I didn't need tire rotations when the factory schedule calls for it. I've never had this kind of problem in the past with them so telling me I should have gotten it in writing isn't very helpful and borders on the obvious after the fact.

I have to wonder, a few months back they moved into a brand new, fancy facility and I feel like they have found the way to pay for it...

 

$500? Even at high rates, a synthetic oil change shouldn't exceed $75. So even if they charge $250 for the diff fluid, they're valuing $175 to inspect stuff? Just pulling numbers out of my ass, I just don't see how they could stretch anything enough to reach $500

 

That's really what doesn't make sense about their price, they only charge $60 for a synthetic oil change.