Subaru Oil Change Types

At Santa Cruz Subaru, we provide the recommended oil change for your Subaru car or SUV. Every oil change service includes a highly qualified technician, genuine Subaru OEM Parts, completed in a state-of-the-art facility full of specialized equipment, and concludes with a Complementary Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection.

• Conventional - also dubbed as Standard or Regular oil, this type of oil is the traditional go-to oil marking the foundation of all engine oils. Although there are signals that the industry is largely turning to synthetic oils, many older-model vehicles call for Conventional.
• Semi-Synthetic - we consider this type of oil as between Conventional and Full-Synthetic because it is like a mixture of the two in terms of price and performance against thermal breakdown.
• Full-Synthetic - man-made, this oil type does not require any crude oil as a raw production material; it outperforms conventional oil resisting thermal breakdown for longer. Many of our older-model Subaru drivers have chosen to switch from Conventional to Full-Synthetic due to the impressive engine-protecting benefits.

Indicators of Faulty Engine Lubrication

As motor oil begins thermal breakdown due to lubricating moving parts within the engine's extremely hot environment, the associated indicators of defective engine lubrication will also worsen. If you notice any of the indicators of poor engine lubrication, then it is an excellent decision to have the oil changed immediately rather than put it off until later. Since engine oil that has broken down will only worsen, it will require replacement if you notice any of these symptoms in your driving experience:

• Dashboard warning light
• Oil is dark, black, or contaminated
• Engine sounds louder or has a knocking noise
• Dark black exhaust smoke
• Engine running hotter than normal or overheats