We just bought a brand-new Subaru Crosstrek. The dealer says it uses synthetic oil and that the oil changes will cost $75. Do we have to use synthetic oil? Is $75 a reasonable price? Sounds like a lot when we're used to paying $35 for an oil change.
-- Sherri
Congratulations on your brand-new heap, Sherri! I like the Crosstrek.
It does use synthetic oil. In my experience at the garage, synthetic oil is superior to standard motor oil, and it makes sense that more and more manufacturers require it now.
It does seem to provide superior lubrication. Not only is it more "slippery" than conventional oil, but it lubricates better in both very cold and very hot temperatures, which reduces wear and makes the engine last longer.
The other great advantage of synthetic oil is that it maintains its lubricity longer than regular oil. So instead of doing an oil change every 3,750 miles, you can do it every 7,500 miles, for instance. Some manufacturers go even longer.
So the math works out about the same. You pay twice as much for your oil changes, but you do them only about half as often. And, presumably, you'll save money on engine repairs later in the car's life. And you might even get a little better mileage with the synthetic.
And because you're draining out old oil less often, you're creating less waste oil, which is better for the environment. And $75 is not an unreasonable price for an oil-and-filter change with synthetic oil. You might be able to do a little bit better at an independent shop, but the dealer is not taking advantage of you, Sherri.
been using synthetic for years in my Toyota echo. once a year with filter, 10 to 15K miles per year. It just rolled past 200,000 and is still going strong.
This advice might be sound for new Subarus. If you own an old Forester like I do, the oil will all leak out every 2000 miles, so using synthetic doesn't mean you get to add oil less often!
Sherri should be grateful that it is only $75. My BMW requires 7 or 8 quarts and costs me around $90 a shot from my trusted mechanic. I'm grateful BMW's interval is every 15,000 miles.
Wait, I thought the guys at Car Talk said that you didn't need the oil changed every 3,000 miles, it was a little longer than that. Please clarify as I am fast approaching this deadline.
Your owner's manual will tell you how long to go. 3,000 miles used to be the standard, but it's increased in a lot of cars these days. (For example, I have a 2011 Ford Escape, and Ford recommends an oil change every 6 months or 7,500 miles. For vehicles older than 2008, the recommend every 5,000 miles. With an older vehicle that's driven heavily/roughly, they drop it to 3 months, 3,000 miles.)
I have used nothing but synthetic oil for years. I buy Mobil 1 (the best) on sale at Costco for $27 for 6 quarts. I buy the filter, Fram, for $5 from Amazon.
I take it to my local shop, where they charge me $20 labor, to do the oil service, rotate my tires, and top off all fluids. If your car is under warranty, be sure you do not exceed the miles driven between changes. I staple the Costco and Amazon receipts to the shop's labor bill, which has vehicle mileage on it also.
As an online special I can get the oil change done at the local Subaru dealer for my '15 Forester for $60. My dad gets a synthetic oil change at his Honda dealer for around the same amount, the independent we go to can't really beat that price for a synthetic oil change but it's still not that much.
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