Recently picked up a 2002 H6 auto tranny wagon for my girlfriend.  I have never owned a EJ or H6 subaru.  The newest subaru I have ever had is a 94 loyale.

 

Need some newbie advice on what type of oil to run in it, and other things to look out for.

 

It has a rattle/squeaking upon start up (like a bad bearing in a pulley) that goes away after warm up.   Other than that it runs excellent, and it has 186,000 miles.  The stereo and climate control is out of this world, feel like I am in a Cadillac when driving it.....not at all like a gen 1 Subaru.

 

any feedback from other H6 owners appreciated.

My 08 takes 6 quarts. I use the synthetic stuff. 

10w30. Follow the owners manual.

Change oil often, it has hydraulic timing chain tensioners. Brand/weight hardly matters - any 10w30 is fine.

 

The noise is the serpentine pulley bearings - replace both of them. They're standard 6203 (i think) bearings. Tap out the old, tap in the new. real easy and common failure point. They fail so often I check/replace them every 60k or so. There's an off the shelf dayco pulley that's close enough to use, i forget the part number but a google serach will find it.

Edited September 7, 20169 yr by grossgary

check the 'sticky' threads here; http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/110-gen-2-2000-2004/

 

put a small clamp or a coupla small zip ties on the coolant o'flow hose at the radiator nipple.

 

the car may need it's 3rd set of spark plugs - tricky job so, stay with OEM double platinum for 60K+ miles of use.

 

I love my wife's 03 H6 - awesome highway cruiser.

Thanks for the info.  found this thread on replacing the pulleys.

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/39708-h6-serpentine-belt-pulley-tensioner-replacement.html

 

Unfortunately I have no maintenance records on the car, so I will also put on a new serpentine belt when I change the pulleys.

 

Should I run NGK plugs or do folks recommend another brand?

NGK 'double platinum' as it came from the factory - maybe mentioned in the owner's manual and possibly on a sticker under the hood. There is an iridium plug from NGK that works too.

 

no other brand is recommended as much and some are known to cause problems.

definitely run the stock NGK plugs, they're awesome.  i change them at 100k and they still look like-new.  they're expensive but robust and it's not a job that's fun to do or you want to do any more than you have to.

 

the valve cover gaskets frequently leak too over time - and with the valve covers removed the spark plugs are easy to replace. plugs are a pain to replace with the valve covers insitu.  if there's any sign of leakage or you like being a little proactive replace your valve cover gaskets, spark plug tube gaskets, and spark plugs all at the same time. 

I have factory plugs in mine, been in there far over 100k, no problems.

yeah, I changed 'em at 62k or so, looked like they could go another 20k .

Looks like rockauto sells a kit by Gates that has the belt and the 2 pulleys for $100.  I haven't priced the parts at the subaru dealership.  I'll probably go with the Gates Kit.

Looks like rockauto sells a kit by Gates that has the belt and the 2 pulleys for $100.  I haven't priced the parts at the subaru dealership.  I'll probably go with the Gates Kit.

 

didn't know that!

End of thread Update: No more squeaky pulleys.  Gates kit was an easy install.  The pulleys had Made in Canada markings, will see how they hold up.