Want to keep your Subaru running strong, year after year? Whether you’re navigating the daily commute in your Outback, or are hitting the roads less travelled in your Forester, consistent maintenance is the best way to keep your vehicle performing at its best.
In this post, we’re sharing essential Subaru maintenance tips every owner should know to help avoid expensive repairs and keep their vehicle running smoothly and efficiently for longer.
1.Know Your Service Schedule & Stick To It
Whether you’ve just picked up a new vehicle from Perth City Subaru, or you’ve owned one for years—you should have a specific service schedule that ensures your vehicle continues to exceed expectations even beyond 100,000 km. This is the most important and easiest Subaru maintenance tip. All you need to do is stick to the schedule and check in with certain inspections, fluid changes and part replacements.
Typically services are set for every 12, 500 km or 6 months, whichever comes first. You’ll find your exact schedule in your owner manual or through the Perth City Subaru service centre.
Every scheduled service includes:
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake system checks
- Battery and charging system tests
- Inspection of belts, hoses, and fluid levels
- Tyre condition and pressure checks
Keeping up with your scheduled service is also vital to maintain warranty coverage and ensure your vehicle is performing in top condition.
2.Stay On Top of Oil Changes
Subaru’s Boxer engine stands out for its performance and reliability, but it relies on clean, high-quality oil to reduce friction and wear. Skipping oil checks or changes can lead to overheating, poor performance, and even engine damage.
Perth’s varied driving conditions may require more frequent oil changes. Keep an eye on your oil if you:
- Take short trips or drive in stop-start traffic: Your engine may not get hot enough to burn off moisture and contaminants.
- Go off-road: Dust and engine strain can degrade oil faster.
Tow regularly: Caravans or boats put extra load on the engine.
Drive in hot weather: Perth’s 40°C summer days can thin out oil and reduce its protection.
Subaru Maintenance Tip: Check your oil monthly, especially before long trips, and always use the recommended oil type listed in your owner’s manual to keep your engine performing at its best.
3.Check and Replace Air Filters
The air filters in your Subaru’s engine and cabin play a significant role in performance, efficiency, and comfort:
- Engine Air Filter: This filter protects your engine from dust and dirt. When it’s clogged the air flow is restricted, which reduces fuel efficiency and performance.
- Cabin Air Filter: This filter keeps the air inside your car clean by trapping pollen, dust and pollutants. You’ll be able to tell if it needs a change as it can cause the cabin to smell musty and become particularly stuffy and uncomfortable during allergy season.
Each needs to be checked roughly every 15,000-30,000 km. You should check them more often, if you’re driving off-road in dusty conditions.
4.Rotate and Maintain Your Tyres
The well-known Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) offers unmatched grip and stable handling on any road. This sophisticated system provides exceptional grip and handling, which relies on all four tyres wearing evenly.
Uneven tyre wear can happen for several reasons, from incorrect tyre pressure to driving style and road conditions. Over time, uneven tyre wear can lead to vibrations, poor vehicle response and potential expensive damage to your vehicle over time,
It’s recommended to get your Subaru’s tyred rotated every 10, 000 km, or at least every 6 months. Regular rotation helps:
- Maintain tyre lifespan
- Maintain grip and safety
- Protect critical drivetrain components
Bonus Tip: Keep up with tyre pressure checks, especially before off-road adventures or longer road trips.
5.Get Regular Brake Inspections and Fluid Changes
One of the most well-regarded safety features of every Subaru model is its braking system. Over time, your brake pads naturally wear down, rotors can start to warp, and brake fluid can absorb moisture.
That’s why regular brake inspections and fluid changes are vital in catching small signs of wear and tear that can turn into a serious issue. Getting them checked every 12,500 km or every 6 months during your scheduled service is recommended.
Replacing your brake fluid roughly every two years, or when your Subaru’s service schedule recommends, ensures you’ll always have reliable and responsive brakes—to give you peace of mind every time you get behind the wheel.
6.Keep an Eye on Coolant and the Head Gasket
Your Subaru’s cooling system plays a key role in preventing your engine from overheating. Perth’s hot summer weather and urban sprawl mean we’re often driving for long distances in the heat.
To avoid overheating and breakdowns, your vehicle relies on your coolant and head gasket. For it to function optimally you need to look out for:
- Milky residue under the oil cap (coolant mixing with oil)
- Sweet smell from the engine bay or inside the car
- White smoke from the exhaust
- Unexplained coolant loss of overheating
If you notice any of these signs, book a service immediately, as early detection can save you thousands.
Avoiding issues is as simple as checking and flushing your coolant based on your Subaru’s service schedule (usually every 60, 000-100,000 km).
7.Regularly Check Battery and Electrical Systems
Your Subaru battery powers everything from starting the engine to advanced safety technology. Over time, batteries naturally lose charge and connections can weaken. Getting your battery checked regularly is the best way to prevent frustrating breakdowns.
Signs you need a battery check:
- Slow starts
- Dim lights
- Dashboard warnings
Most batteries need replacing every 3-5 years, but you can get your battery tested during servicing. If you don’t drive your Subaru often, you can also look into getting a battery maintainer.
8.Use Genuine Subaru Parts and Fluids
To keep your Subaru functioning at its best and retaining the highest level of on road safety, choosing genuine Subaru parts and fluids is crucial.
General parts are built to factory specifications, ensuring every component of your vehicle works perfectly. Parts manufactured by third-party companies often compromise fit, speed up wear and tear, and even affect safety.
Similarly genuine Subaru fluids are specifically formulated for your Boxer engine and Symmetrical AWD.
Getting your Subaru serviced at Perth City Subaru ensures you are always using genuine parts and fluids.
Bonus Subaru Maintenance Tips: Wash & Wax Regularly
Washing and waxing your car regularly does not only keep your Subaru looking polished and new, it also protects the pain and undercarriage. Perth has a climate that can lead to premature wear and tear, like the coastal air, bush dust and hars sun. So, it’s even more important to rinse off mud and salt after off-roading, and apply wax every few months when it starts to lose its shine.
Unsure When Your Last Service Was? Or Looking For Subaru Maintenance Tips?
The key to keeping your Subaru running smoothly and standing the test of time, you need to be aware of common Subaru maintenance tips. Whether you’re only regularly driving to work or dropping the kids off at school, or are heading on off-road adventures on weekends—being aware of common issues can help protect your investment for years to come.
The easiest one to remember is regular services that can be performed by a team of Subaru factory trained technicians at Perth City Subaru.
If you’re ready for your next service, or can’t quite remember when your service is due, you can request a service with Perth City Subaru.