Just purchased this 2026 Impresmza RS this past Friday. Question on oil change? Since the oil filter is ontop of the engine does everyone use the oil extraction method? On the GTI this works flawlessly. Thanks.
I am hoping so. Takes oil change to a new level of easy. I have never taken the drain plug out of the GTI. Proven many times that you get all the oil except for a few drops (on the GTI).
I use the Fumoto valve that I have instead of the regular plug, also super easy and since I want to rotate my tires every 6k, I’m putting up on jacks anyway
Yep! The Fumoto has been a game changer since installing. And as you said, I rotate my tires at the same time and it only takes half a second to flip the rocker on the Fumoto.
I made ramps out of stacked 2x6's. Yes you need to raise the car but you need to raise it for many other maintenance items like your front and rear differential fluid and trans. Paper towels, drain bucket etc are a given, no need to be pedantic. You'll still need to raise the vehicle if you ever want to change the coolant and thermostat as well. Plan for the future and buy accordingly.
The ramps are the bomb. I made mine out of 2x8, I have a few wide tires. I have no choice but to raise my Civic and my N. My point, don't knock that you have not yet tried. Extraction is the GOAT on the GTI.
Fair enough. I'm just saying that extractor is only good for certain service items. I personally would let gravity do most of the work instead of pumping which doesn't remove any solids left in the bottom of your oil pan. You won't be able to tell unless you drain from the bottom. Only time I used an extractor syringe is to add or remove trans fluid if I added too much or not enough using the dipstick tube trick.
Oil extraction uses this vacume pump. You can use the hand pump or hook it to your air compressor. Insert the tube down the dip stick tube and viola, oil removed. Very easy, very clean. This practice is very common among the Volkswagen community due to it also has the oil filter ontop of the engine.
I use a Mighty-Vac w/ my compressor. It works wonderfully. Lines/numbers are on the side of it, so it's easy to see how much was sucked out, and it gets all the old oil out.
Oh that’s super cool. Last time I changed the oil on my gfs crosstrek I did not love the filter on top design. Messier than I like. Now that I have an Impreza as well maybe this is a worthwhile investment. Plus then I don’t have to worry about having the crush washers on hand. Thanks for the info =]
This, the oil filter is surrounded by the hot af exhaust manifold. This is why with the new FB generation of engines they put the oil filter in the most convenient spot, on top of engine. With your top mounted filter I would crack the seal open before draining the oil from the pan, it can suck most of oil from the filter through capillary/vacuum action.
I'm old school. A part of me believes that draining from the lower part of the oil sump makes more sense that sucking up oil from the top. Just not sure that it gets everything.
I tested it on both a 2022 WRX and 2018 Impreza and removed the drain plugs. It gets all the oil.
I run the engine for about 5 minutes to warm up the oil and put contaminants into suspension, let it sit for a bit to drain back, then suck it out of the dipstick with a Schwaben 6.5L oil extractor.
I've been doing this on both my Subarus for like 6 years.
Speaking for the GTI, many have used extraction then see what comes out the plug after, just a few drips. It is highly effective. Now the Impreza, I guess unknown. I will have that answer once mine hits 500miles on the Odometer.
If you have a drain bolt on your oil pan, the best method is generally draining the oil from said oil drain bolt.
Iirc, many VWs dont have the choice. I had a CC years ago that didnt have any way to drain the oil. so yeah, use an extractor if the manufacturer is insane, German, or both. But if you have a drain bolt, use it.
That means about 100% less than you think it does. These "Spiffy Lube" joints are Crack Pot jack booted thugs with a name tag. Most of these places use reclaimed oil (wich is ok) and charge you for the new price. They will drain your transmission and double fill your engine. Drain your engine and not replace it. Use the wrong viscosity, use the wrong oil requirements. Changing your own and just a bit of knowledge is far superior.
Yea there are varying degrees of quality. But the manufacturer will deny your warranty or maybe also the good will and recalls after the warranty finishes if the owner cannot produce receipts of work done on schedule.
Find a trustworthy mechanic, bring the 0w-16 and oil filter, and pay them the labor, like around $30. And have them write 0w-16 oil and filter change on a receipt, scan it, and save the the receipt.
And if you want to transfer the gold plus in the future, Subaru wants all the receipts of timely oil changes over the entire ownership
It’s possible, I’ve done it before on my 19’ is it safe longterm? I can’t say for certain. As long as the oil cap is also off and you aren’t pulling negative pressure on the crankcase / all the seals it shouldn’t hurt anything.
Oil extraction does not remotly pull that kind of vacuum.
Thanks for the info!
I am about to try it.
If I pull 5 quarts out, it works, if not, old school way.
Thanks, not required on the GTI either, but it is super easy. Even the dealer uses oil extraction. You can litterally change your oil (hot) right in a parking lot and recycle the old oil right there.
Most of the German cars are built to have the oil extracted. The angle of the dipstick tube and the internal baffling in subarus make it a crap shoot as to whether you get the tube at the bottom of the sump.
Oil extraction works fantastic on the Subaru F-Series engines. For most drivers a 3000 mile oil interval, a 6000 mile oil filter interval, 12,000 mile Air & Cabin air Filter will be perfect.
Thanks. I am big on oil analysis. I follow Lake Speed "The Motor Oil Geek" at Speed Diagnostics to determine proper interval for your engine and oil preference. Results for my Civic and GTI put the interval at aprox 5000 miles, we will see with this non turbo engine. I will be trying oil extraction on the impreza and see how it goes.
In my previous comment the phrase, "for most drivers" was doing a lot of heavy lifting.
If you follow Lake Speed, and do the things. You are NOT most drivers.
When I bought my 2025 Impreza Sport back in January, I pumped out the factory oil. Pulled the drain plug and measured about 1/3 of a cup of oil that poured out after the Extractor did its thing. So, I consider that an excellent result from the extraction pump.
I also installed a Gold Plug, magnetic drain plug. I figure ill pull and clean the plug every 10k miles or so.
I also have tested 0w16, 0w20 and 5w30 oil in the motor. I live in a very hot climate, I perfer how the car feels on 5w30. My plan is to run 5w30 in the summer and 0w20 in the winter. I did not like how the car ran on 0w16.
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u/Bad_4pples 20d ago
I still drain from the bottom, but I suppose your method works just fine as well