# Oil Change

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** legacy, subaru\
**Created:** [April 17, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589 "2010-04-17T19:40:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Marty\_Kotlar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Marty\_Kotlar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Marty_Kotlar)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589/1 "2010-04-17T19:40:30Z")

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How often should the oil be changed? The manual says every 3,000 miles. The husband says every 5,000 miles. We live in Colo 2 miles up a dirt road.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589/2 "2010-04-17T19:49:26Z")

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If the owner’s manual says every 3000 miles, do it at least that often. BTW, is your engine the 2.5 L turbo? The turbocharged engines often require more frequent oil changes. If your car does not have a turbocharger, check the owner’s manual to see if Subaru lists maintenance requirements for both engines. My Honda Accord manual shows both 4-cyl and 6-cyl requirements and you pick the ones for your engine.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589/3 "2010-04-17T19:49:51Z")

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Split the difference at every 4000 miles. Subaru spec’s every 3750 miles severe conditions. Dirt road = severe conditions.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589/4 "2010-04-17T20:38:50Z")

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I agree with about 4,000 miles. 5,000 miles is stretching it a bit too far down that dusty dirt road.

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**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change/47589/5 "2010-04-17T23:49:59Z")

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If your engine is the turbo, I’d also consider using a full synthetic oil like Mobil-1.