Ask the Car People.SM


Interesting info on synthetic oil recommendation

52 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2010 at 6:00 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon

Messages Page 5 of 6

#33 of 52 Re: Subaru oil change intervals [xwesx] by aatherton

Sep 17, 2010 (5:06 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 16, 2010 4:34 pm)
It also has a top-mounted oil filter, next to the filler tube. No more reaching up through the hot exhaust shields and spilling oil on them.

#34 of 52 Re: Subaru oil change intervals [aatherton] by xwesx

Sep 17, 2010 (9:27 am)

Replying to: aatherton (Sep 17, 2010 5:06 am)
Oh, is that what that is? I'm no fan of the hot exhaust (tried it once), but it is easily solved with the help of an oil filter socket (about $7). I don't like the concept of a top-mounted filter (sounds messy and would be problematic to pre-fill), but if they set it up properly, it might just work out and would be really nice if it did!

#35 of 52 Re: Subaru oil change intervals [xwesx] by aatherton

Sep 17, 2010 (10:17 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 17, 2010 9:27 am)
"... I'm no fan of the hot exhaust... but it is easily solved with the help of an oil filter socket... I don't like the concept of a top-mounted filter (sounds messy and would be problematic to pre-fill)..."
 
I have done my Forester oil changes at 3,750 miles for 24,000 miles. The gusher of oil from the oversize plug, and the filter location, make it the hardest car I have ever had.
 
The socket only enables the filter to be loosened. If unscrewed with the socket, oil will go everywhere. After loosening the filter, it can be removed rather cleanly by careful use of a 12 oz. paper coffee cup. The technique would complicate this post.
  
The 2011 top mounted filter is contained in a cup. Oil from the removed filter drains back down into the engine.
 
I have never pre-filled a filter in 50 years. A nice touch but not called for by mfrs or done by dealers or oil change shops. Pre-filling is unnecessary because the residual oil in the pump, and the oil films in the engine, last for minutes, while the oil pump refills the new filter in seconds.

#36 of 52 Re: Subaru oil change intervals [aatherton] by xwesx

Sep 17, 2010 (11:13 am)

Replying to: aatherton (Sep 17, 2010 10:17 am)
The 2011 top mounted filter is contained in a cup. Oil from the removed filter drains back down into the engine.
 
That should work pretty well, then. Do you know if this engine uses the same filter as previous? From the photo, it looks like it may be a shorter/wider unit and would hopefully include an anti-drainback valve.

#37 of 52 Re: Subaru oil change intervals [xwesx] by aatherton

Sep 17, 2010 (11:53 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 17, 2010 11:13 am)
I have no idea what kind of filter is uses. It would be nice if it used a regular type of filter that screwed into a regular mounting plate at the bottom. But with that cup, it might be some special OEM filter that screwed into the cup itself. Or even a canister filter contained in the cup.
 
The Saturn 2.2L Ecotech engine has had a top mounted filter for years, but I don't know it's details.

#38 of 52 Re: Subaru oil change intervals [aatherton] by ateixeira

Sep 17, 2010 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: aatherton (Sep 17, 2010 11:53 am)
I love that cup idea, and the top-mounted filter. This will cut oil change time in half.
 
It's funny, I was just complaining to rsholland about how the filter was surrounded by hot exhaust on our 2009 model (that was not the case on my 1998 DOHC). Plus the dealer overtightened the filter and I could not get it off even with the oil filter socket wes recommends.
 
So I went out and got a huge adjustable wrench that bites down and reaches up in to that cavity and got it loose. Without that tool I could not have removed it.
 
GoodYear auto service overtightened the filter on my Sienna, also, so I think I'm done letting others change our oil. 2 bad experiences are enough.
 
Plastic intake runners should put less weight at the top of the engine. I was always fascinated at how solid the old metal ones were, but it was probably overkill.

#39 of 52 Lock Jaw Pliers by ateixeira

Sep 17, 2010 (1:16 pm)

That's what it's called. Mine's huge and strong enough to crush the filter and long enough to reach in there and get it out! Here's a pic:
 
http://www.benmeadows.com/images/xl/10L-Straight-Jaw-Pliers-BEN-_i_LBM42760Z.jpg-
 
I actually got it for my Sienna, to remove a canister-type oil filter that was overtightened. Every handy man should have one of these.
 

#40 of 52 Re: Lock Jaw Pliers [ateixeira] by xwesx

Sep 20, 2010 (9:23 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 17, 2010 1:16 pm)
Yeah, I have a couple of those and they can definitely come in handy in a pinch. Since we're on the topic of oil filters, I had to use my larger one (probably about 15-16 inches long) to pull both of the oil filters off the Ford engines I was finishing up this weekend.
 
I literally would not have been able to remove them without this tool. I even had the engines out of the vehicles at the time!

#41 of 52 Re: Lock Jaw Pliers [xwesx] by ateixeira

Sep 20, 2010 (11:20 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 20, 2010 9:23 am)
Interesting.
 
On my Toyota, I gave up (prior to having that tool) and made the folks who overtightened it remove the filter for me. They had to drain the oil so they refilled it for free (I provided the filter element).
 
No other tool could remove it, but this one will.

#42 of 52 Re: Lock Jaw Pliers [ateixeira] by xwesx

Sep 20, 2010 (11:49 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 20, 2010 11:20 am)
Haha; I should have taken a photo of the filters I removed. They were incredibly stubborn! The pliers got them off, but they were trashed!

Messages Page 5 of 6

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement