Things to Know About Vehicle Oil Life Monitors - Subaru Service Questions in Salem, OR

Sick of that sticker in the corner of your windshield telling you when you need an oil change? Many vehicles now offer sophisticated oil life monitor systems that claim to do a better job of figuring out when your oil needs to be changed. They take into account things like idle times, distance driven, starting temperature and more to help determine how long your oil will last in your vehicle. But can you really trust them?

We've got three things you should really know about oil life monitors here on this page. When it comes to getting the oil changed in your Subaru, we'll explain why it's always best to follow the manufacturer's recommendation in your owner's manual.

Learn why Subaru doesn't rely on engine oil life monitors. 

3. Subaru Vehicles Don't Have Oil Life Monitors

In short, Subaru does not include an oil life monitor in its vehicles like you may get from other brands. In the infotainment system, you can program maintenance reminders for things like oil changes and other maintenance tasks, but a Subaru vehicle does not monitor its own oil quality. You'll have to check out the condition of your engine oil yourself.

The good news is that checking the oil level and color using the engine dipstick is easy and effective. Just let the engine cool so you don't burn yourself before removing the dipstick. Remove the dipstick, wipe it down, and reinsert it. Remove it again, and then take a look at your oil. If the color is almost black or the level is lower than it should be, you may need an oil change service at Capitol Subaru.

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2. Oil Life Monitors Can Be Wrong

Because they'd get in a lot of trouble very quickly if the oil life monitors were consistently incorrect and causing engine damage, brands are programming their oil life monitors quite conservatively. Two cars tested by Edmunds indicated that an oil change was due when they could've gone another 2,000 miles at least before an oil change was truly necessary. If your car from a different brand does have an oil life monitor, it could be suggesting that you change your oil more frequently than necessary, costing you money.

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1. Oil Changes are Required for Warranty Service

Remember: in order to qualify for warranty service on your new Subaru, you have to maintain the vehicle properly according to the manufacturer's recommendation. That means getting the oil changed when the owner's manual says to -- in the case of the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, for instance, that means getting the oil changed every 6,000 miles.

Subaru Crosstrek models don't have oil life monitors, but if they did, they might not alert you that you needed an oil change until after you had gone more than 6,000 miles. Even if the oil life monitor indicates that your oil is fine, it still needs to be changed based on the schedule in the owner's manual, or you may not qualify for warranty service. So, check your owner's manual and be sure to replace the oil regularly.

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Capitol Subaru of Salem

920 Auto Group Ave NE
Directions Salem, OR 97301

  • Sales: 503-587-5500
  • Service: 503-587-5500
  • Parts: 503-587-5500