How to Do an Oil Change

Quick guide to changing the oil in your EJ motor powered Subaru.

3/8" ratchet

17mm socket, 3/8" drive

Filter wrench

Floor jack

Jack stands

Oil drain pan

Funnel

5 qt of 5w30 oil

Oil filter

Crush gasket

Locate the pinch weld, a small seam of metal that runs along the bottom of the sides of the car. If this is too rusty or folded over, locate the frame rail, a thick strip of metal running along the inner underside of the vehicle. Pictures of both included. Position the floor hack underneath this and pump it up. Once the tires are off the ground, position your jack stand on either of the pieces of metal and slowly lower the weight of the vehicle onto it. IMPORTANT: If you hear excessive crunching or can see the metal you are resting the car on bending, IMMEDIATELY JACK THE VEHICLE BACK UP AND REPOSITION YOUR JACKSTANDS. Appropriate jacking points can often be easily found on google as well. This step is complete once the vehicle is resting on the jacks stands, properly placed. At that point you can remove your floor jack from under the vehicle.

Release the hood latch from inside the vehicle, open the hood and prop it up. The oil cap will be large and yellow, located towards the front driver side of the engine bay. It will say the proper oil viscosity for your vehicle on it often. remove the cap and place it in the hood latch to ensure you can't close the hood without putting the cap back on.

Position your oil catch underneath the vehicle, keeping in mind the oil will come out with some force so be prepared to scoot your catch back or clean up spills. I always recommend a large piece of cardboard or paper to ensure no spills get onto your working surface. Using the ratchet and socket combination, loosen the drain plug and remove it from the oil pan. Make sure not to drop the plug into the oil pan when it comes out. Remove the old crush gasket from the drain plug and set it aside.

Reposition your catch to be closer to the oil filter, while still catching the remaining dribble from the drain hole. Using your filter wrench, loosen the filter and let the oil drain for a moment from the sides. Once the oil dribble slows, remove the filter the rest of the way until it is off the housing. Once removed, more oil will drain from the filter, so set it inside the catch to make sure all oil drains in the appropriate place.

Dip your finger in your new oil, and use it to lubricate the black rubber o-ring on the oil filter. Install the filter onto the housing, tightening with only your hands. IMPORTANT: NEVER use a wrench or any tool other than hands to tighten your filter. Overtightened filters can cause leaks, or strip causing damage to the car's engine.

Install your new crush gasket around the threads of the drain plug. Tighten the drain plug into the oil pan with your ratchet and socket combination. Tighten only to the point where you have to put some muscle into it, do not over tighten your drain plug or you will damage your vehicle. Subaru drain plugs only require about 20 Ft.-Lbs. of torque.

Place the funnel in the oil filler neck (where you removed the oil fill cap from). Pour in 4.5 out of the 5 quarts of oil. remove your funnel and tighten your oil cap.

Start the car and let it run until the red oil pressure light turns off. IMPORTANT: IF the light does not shut off within the first 15 seconds of running, IMMEDIATELY shut the car off and make sure your plug and filter are tight and you filled the oil properly. Once the oil light shuts off, shut the car off, wait about 30 seconds, and check your dipstick by removing it, wiping it clean, reinserting it, and then removing again. The oil level should be in between the two small dots on the lower end of the dipstick, closer to the highest one. If the level is too low, add more oil via the filler neck until the dipstick reads full.

Place your jack back where you originally lifted the car from. Lift the car until the weight is off the jack stands. Lower the jack stands and remove them from under the vehicle. Slowly lower the jack until the vehicle is resting on the floor. Remove the jack from under your vehicle and shut the hood.