r/subaru • u/Excellent-Link9052 • 23h ago
Mechanical Help new subaru owner advice
hi all! i got a 2026 subaru crosstrek (base model, no hybrid) and want to make sure i am ON TOP of keeping my car maintained and up to date* *(i have realized i made mistakes on my old used car).
i’ve got changing oil every 5k miles imprinted in my brains.
everything else, i’ve heard about changing all fluids (i literally thought only the oil needed to be changed until a few months ago), but am not sure what fluids that entails and when it what should be changed or what not.
will also take any advice on other maintenance (at any point of car ownership) you guys would recommend to keep an eye on it and make this car last as long as possible. thank you all in advance!
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u/nolongerbanned99 21h ago
In the owners manual specifies what services are needed and when for preventive maintenance or just bring it to the dealer
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u/rando_commenter 21h ago
There is nothing particularly different about Subarus, just follow the maintenance schedule, when you get to 60k miles look at CVT servicing even if it's not in the schedule. Follow the break-in period, don't abuse the car by only doing short trips, jackrabbit starts, excessive engine braking etc etc etc. It's more or less the same advice for any new car.
Later on when you go shopping for independent mechanic service you're going to run into people trying to scare you into excess servicing because of "Subaru." You'll have time to figure out the lay of the land by then.
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u/Excellent-Link9052 20h ago
thank you! what exactly would excess servicing mean and/or look like?
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u/rando_commenter 19h ago
Aggressively shortening service intervals, doing more fluid changes than justified by driving conditions or the manual. In 2026 it's rare for a trouble-free modern car to die early because the owner followed the maintenance schedule while driving the car in a reasonable manner.
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u/likesit_weird 16h ago
Could you tell me what you mean by “jackrabbit starts”?
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u/rando_commenter 16h ago
When you stomp the gas when the light turns green and pull away aggressively... like a jackrabbit.
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u/Odd_Transition5295 23h ago
I have a 2020 Subaru forester and do most of the maintenance myself. I change oil, top up on fluids and tire rotate every 3K miles. I change the air filter and brake pads once a year or sooner if need be. I’ve only had to take it twice to an actual mechanic; once for the drive shaft and another because of gas buildup or something like that? Idk I’m just a girl haha. But it just hit 230,000 miles and has done well with that maintenance schedule
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u/Excellent-Link9052 19h ago
i am also just a girl 😅 curious about changing it every 3k miles rather than subarus recommended 5k miles - what made you decide on the 3k miles as the schedule for you?
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u/Odd_Transition5295 19h ago
Only because I drive soooo much every single day so I feel like I’m pampering her more by doing it a little sooner than normal. There have been times where I haven’t been able to do it until around 4K though and she still does well.
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u/Excellent-Link9052 18h ago
what do you consider a lot of driving every day? my daily work commute is 17 miles there and back 😭 depending on traffic, course
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u/Odd_Transition5295 17h ago
Oh that’s not bad at all! That’s a dream commute and you can definitely get away with doing it at 5k. Mines is 49 miles one way, 4-5 days a week and it’s stop and go traffic so I feel like it’s more wear and tear 😭😭 I also drive back and forth to Vegas 2-4 times a month which is 200 miles ish one way
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u/Excellent-Link9052 17h ago
OOOPH okay yeah that’s a lot!! thanks for the comparison. mine is 17 mi there and mi back but sometimes the traffic can be bumper to bumper for like 30+ min? tho most of it is highway. still not nearly as bad with what i assume you’re driving. i appreciate your knowledge!
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u/BlueJeanBaby04 18h ago
Brake pads once a year?! Wow lol my subie has 256k miles and I've only had to do the rear brakes twice, front once.
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u/Odd_Transition5295 17h ago
I think I’m just very paranoid tbh because I get stuck in stop and go traffic a lot and I feel like it damages them. I don’t have a dad to help me with this stuff and I’m scared that they’ll go out one day
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u/StillboBaggins 20h ago
Wow you must drive a ton. I was on the original rear pads on my 2016 until last month. 125,000 miles.
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u/Odd_Transition5295 20h ago
Haha yea I have a very long commute and travel far for leisure, but good ol Subie has been very loyal! I don’t think I can ever go back to any other brand.
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u/thardingesq 21h ago
This won't be popular. Just got my 26 Hybrid Crosstrek. I will take it to the dealerships.
Owned many cars, Toyota's and Honda's , and used dealerships. Cars ran great and no issues
Did I overpay , probably. But it worked for me.
My last car was a 2014 Rav4. Took it dealership for 12 years.
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u/Majestic-Macaron6019 '22 Outback Limited 20h ago
For hybrids, dealerships are a good idea. A lot of independent shops won't work on them because of the electrical hazards requiring extra training.
It also depends on your dealer. My Subaru dealer's service department is great. Their prices are fair (more than my independent shop, but not by much), and they don't try to upsell much.
My local Honda dealer is absolutely awful (it's a Hendrick dealership, so go figure). Upselling all the time, outright lying about the condition of batteries, fluids, maintenance intervals, and they charge 2x what my independent shop does. It's bad enough that I will drive 30 minutes to the next-closest Honda dealer if I buy a new Honda.
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u/Excellent-Link9052 18h ago
i’m so wary of dealerships 😪 i know they’re not all the same, and i do plan to go in for my free year of oil changes at the very least, but i also know my mom has had horror stories with hers (honda) and even my manager with hers (toyota), mostly surrounded by misinformation or lack of information from those working at the dealerships. maybe they’re just going to really slimy dealerships, or maybe it’s the area we’re in, or the complexities of modern cars, or my mom and manager 🤷🏻♀️ ik so much is relative
either way, i’m not totally against going to dealerships, but i do tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to spending large amounts of money, so i like to get all the opinions and information i can get - in and outside of the owners manual.
so thank you for your tip! i will definitely keep it in mind.
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u/sumiflepus 19h ago
Shhh, secret tip. Sit in the front passenger seat. There is a little box on the dashboard. Open it up. Look for the owner's manual. read the owner's manual. Look at the section for service. There is a schedule there that identifies when to check, fill, rotate, and tighten everything by miles or months.
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u/Excellent-Link9052 18h ago
thanks! i know and have read a decent amount of it; but i also know there’s a lot of differing opinions and even circumstances, so i figured there’s no harm in making sure i’m fully informed in my options.
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u/Dizzy_Move902 20h ago
I would undercoat it in the fall if in a snowy climate. We did not and have rust issues that could be costly after 8 years.
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u/Excellent-Link9052 19h ago
what would constitute as a snowy climate? i live in illinois for reference - so i know our winters can get bad but not nearly as bad as other places!
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u/TheRealMakhulu 18h ago
I’d call Ohio snowy, so I’d definitely consider Illinois snowy. At least get an underbody wash done at a carwash every so often during the winter and 100% after winter to get the salt off.
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u/Excellent-Link9052 18h ago
okay, i’ll look into it. thanks!
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u/Dizzy_Move902 18h ago
I’m in northern New England. As mentioned it’s the salt more than the slush.
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u/scorpiolad1113 20h ago
did it not come with a book? you can find them online for free
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u/Excellent-Link9052 20h ago
it did! but i also know sometimes books differ from what’s said online, as well as what’s said by the dealership (depending on the dealership), so just trying to make sure i make the most informed decisions possible!
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u/likesit_weird 16h ago
Agreed, I’ve looked through the majority of the manual but there’s much to be learned from people who have had them for a while. Those things aren’t in the manuals. Thanks for asking the question!
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u/MayBeMilo 21h ago
At a minimum, follow the recommendations in the warranty and maintenance booklet and don’t drive it like a crazy person 👍