I just picked up a 99 OBW and was planning on changing the oil this weekend. I use to have a 88 honda Accord that had to use a certain brand of oil filter or it would not seal right. What brand oil filters and oil do most people use? Also what brands should I stay away from if any. Thanks for any help.

Chris

If you have a dealer in the vicinity, I recommend going for Subaru filters. They are made by Purulator, by the way. They may not the absolute best of the best, but they are way ahead of some the aftermarket filters.

 

The filter screws on from below, so do your engine a favor and prime it - ie. fill it with fresh oil before you install it.

 

The oil debate is long and not ended yet. I have trusted Mobil 1 5W-50 for many years and many miles.

Napa gold is another good one. Avoid Fram.

so you put fresh oil in before you take the old filter off? I always use to drain the oil take out the oil filter then put in the new oil filter then fill back up with oil again. Anything wrong with doing it in those steps?

I do it this way:

 

1. Start the engine and allow it to fully warm up.

1a. Turn engine off.

2. Drain the oil.

3. Remove the filter.

4. Allow it to drain a minute.

5. Fill the new filter with new oil. This takes several minutes as the oil has to soak through the element.

6. Smear some new oil on the filter gasket.

7. Wipe clean the oil filter gasket surface on the engine.

8. Install and tighten the filter.

9. Install the drain plug with a new crush washer. Using a torque wrench is best.

10. Wipe up any drips.

11. Fill the engine with the proper amount of new oil.

 

I prefer to use ramps but I don't think they are necessary.

99obw: I suggest adding an extra line to your list of steps for doing an oil change:

 

1a. Turn engine off!

 

Yes, yes, I know that this is obvious, but who knows who out there just might take your list too literally?

Your right! Done.

I use OEM Sube (Purolator?) on my 00 OB and after final Auto-Rx rinse phase with Castrol Formula R 5W30 will change to BP Visco 5000 5W40 with RX maintenance dose. Would use Redline again if I could afford it (I use RL gear oils only) but times are tough!

Sorry, asuman, I realize that description was a little vague. Fill the NEW FILTER with fresh oil. Of course you drain the old oil first and remove the old filter!

 

obw has cleared that up anyway..

filter: NAPA Gold, Purolator, WIX if you can find them. AVOID FRAM!! I think delco also makes a good one, but not Bosch, champion.

 

Mike

just curious, why is a fram oil filter bad?

they are bad because they mass produce the filters as cheap as they can.

 

Filter tests have been done (filters cut open)

heres the link:

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/

 

Fram filters basically use toilet paper as the filtration system

Where as WIX, Ac delco and puralator would use carboard

 

Hope this answers the question

Fram have cardboard end caps, crap anti-drainback valves etc. Not something you want on your Sube under any circumstance IMO.

Fram have cardboard end caps, crap anti-drainback valves etc. Not something you want on your Sube under any circumstance IMO.

thats why paper sludge came out of my oil pan

We have used Wix, Purolator and Advance Auto Parts (made by Purolator) in our Legacies. Have seen no differences in oil filter performance, even though the Advance Auto filter is half the cost of Wix and one third less than the regular Purolator. They get a steady diet of regular Pennzoil 5W 30. So far, so good, with 96K miles on our 1999.