2008 outback.

Chris

Chris

YARRR SUBY MONSTER!!
So my mom got this 2008 outback PZEV with 18k miles. Now has about 30k. Anyway, I've never liked the car, it handles like a buick, it's so big and cumbersome inside, but tonight I really developed a hate for the car.... That's why I'm posting in this forum.

She always has oil changed at the dealer, so to save her a bit of money I said I'd do it for her if she just pays for the oil, filter and crush washer. So I lift it up, get under it, and go to change the oil.

I always start by draining the oil. That went fine, except there's no room above the drain plug so I got oily. grrr.

Then on to the filter. Firstly, WTF is with the teeny tiny little filter?! It's double that big on my legacy and GL. Anyway, I finally found it. Where? Oh that's right. Above the exhaust header inside this little no-access "access" hole where I had to reach my hand between sharp exhaust heat shield. And had no access to even get a strap wrench in there to pull off the stuck filter!! That pissed me off. But I finally got it loose with a big pair of pliers and sand paper. Now, I started hating it even more.

Since the only way to get to the filter is from UNDER the filter, guess what happens? Oh that's right, all the oil up there in the pump goes pouring out down your arm and all over the place making a big mess. Lovely... I can't be the only one who hates changing oil in these, am I?

On my legacy and my GL too I can change the oil without getting a drop of oil anywhere besides in the change bucket. I can get my hand above the drain plug so I don't get covered when I pull that out. And I can access the filter from the side so I don't get covered when I do that too!

/rant

 
Yeah all the plastic under there makes it a pain, they definitely were easier on the older ones!!

 
Same problem with the 2010 Outback. So much plastic, doesn't even resemble a Subaru anymore. No problem with the OBS or the Legacy.

 
It's not the plastic so much as the fact that the exhaust header for some stupid reason goes around the FRONT of the oil pan and pretty much under the oil filter. There's a circle in the heat shield to get to it. Maybe it's a PZEV thing. I dunno. It worked so well how they used to have it.

 
Try doing 10-20 PZEV oil changes a day. Joy.

Those equal length wrap-around headers are worth 5hp, 80% fewer exhaust shield rattles, 30% fewer cat failures, and 69% easier to remove for the fun stuff like head gaskets (joy). The oil change inconveniences are well worth the other benefits imho.

Old people love their Outback boats. 95% better than a Buick.

 
I have a 2008 Forester Pzev with the full plastic under cover. I get VERY LITTLE oil any where but in my bucket. as far as getting the filter out just use a set of filter pliers and it will come right off. As long as the last person put it on hand tight. You just need to figure out how to do it all correctly. And yes my GC was easier to get to the filter.

 
the filter was on there REALLY tight. so that was probably part of why it was so bad for me. It took a big pair of pliers and a lot of mangling of the filter to get it off.

 
my days of "pro" oil changing ended in 94.

guess I am lucky...
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all cars have an instruction to do it easy, the filter pliers most likely.

the small filter and pump bothers me to think of, but its todays confidence in oil and environment.I bet it is hot in this summer heat. They made the boxer more like an inline four toaster when the EJ began (got winter heat?)

I like the idea of the pipe in front. On 90 degree days, my oil in the gl is lucky to see 160F... and it gets cooler past 70 mph. (no kidding)
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If your oil doesn't get warmer than that it's bad. It'll never warm up enough to evaporate out moisture from condensation. Oil on most engines runs around 200 to 220

 
Something that gets to me real bad is when I go to change the oil on something and the filter is wound on so tight that I even struggle with a filter wrench. There is no reason to crank a filter on that tight, in fact it is often bad, the seal can get messed up and actually cause a leak. Hand tight is plenty tight!!!

 
I do hand tight, sometimes if everything is all oily and I can't get a good grip I'll use a piece of sand paper for traction on the filter. But I never tighten with tools!!! I had a fuel filter on a boat I was working on so tight I had to cut the filter to bits to get it off!! It's just ridiculous that people can't figure it out!

 
Yup!! One of the few times I actually get a bit angry when working on cars, I crawl under there, try to fit my big hand into a tiny spot to get the filter, and then it won't budge!! Even if it's oily, I usually just grab it with a rag and tighten it, the big thick rubber seal does a great of sealing it up!!

 
the big thick rubber seal does a great of sealing it up!!
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Who'da thunk it? It seems that most people can't get that into their brain! Fortunately though, when a filter is severely over-tightened, and I mean so tight that a strap wrench with sand paper inside it starts actually ripping the sheet metal on the outside of the filter, the gasket is what's sticking it all up. Just cut up the filter then the screw part comes off the pump and you're good to go. Still, not necessary.

Except the time someone put the filter on their boat engine and didn't have the big gasket on somehow. That was a big mess!!

 
lol...double gaskets are even better...one hell of a mess for the first couple seconds until you realize what you forgot to do....not that i know anytbhing about it!!! ive got a tool that clips onto a 3/8 ratchet or extension that's spring loaded and fits around a filter with ease and gets into tight places....much nicer that filter pliers

 
Yeah FRAM crap is good for that, the friggin gasket always comes off the filter and stays on the motor.

 
I dunno.. I thought it was pretty easy. hell with the WRX I have to drop the skid plate. with the lexus there are twice as many bolts on the skid, and it is still kind of a pain.

 
it is worse when you have .5" spacers in the back. you have to line those buggers up again before getting it off your face. and actually the worst part is that I keep forgetting I have ramps and using the HUGE MONGOUS jack.

but the Lex's skids are quite substantial. I am wondering if there is a way to circumvent the skid dropping as I only need that to get to the filter. hmm...

 
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