The 2016 Subaru Outback is a popular vehicle with many features and benefits. Knowing when to perform your next oil change on this car can help ensure that it continues running smoothly for years to come.
This article will answer common questions about the Subaru Oil Change, as well as give you some tips and product reviews to consider before you head out to your local auto parts store.
2016 Subaru Outback Oil Change Guide [hide]
2016 Subaru Outback Oil Type
Every car has an ideal oil type, and your 2016 Subaru Outback should be no different. The owner’s manual will detail the manufacturer’s suggested oil type, but if you’ve lost your manual or simply want some additional help, reference this list below.
VISCOSITY GRADE
Subaru recommends using SAE 0W-20 viscosity for 2.5L synthetic engines and SAE 5W-30 for 3.6L engines.
CAPACITY
The oil capacity of 2.5L engine is 5.1 quarts (4.8 liters), whereas, for 3.6L engine, the capacity is 6.9 quarts (6.5 liters).
SPECIFICATION OF OIL
For 2016 Subaru Outback recommends using oil with a viscosity of SAE grade only those brands that meet the maker’s Subaru for their vehicles. These brands include:
- Subaru Extra MT
- according to API classification GL-5 (75W-90)
- CASTROL
- MOBIL
- ROYAL PURPLE
- PENNZOIL
2016 Subaru Outback Oil Change Intervals
The 2016 Subaru Outback has a recommended oil change interval of at least every six months or the first time you reach 7250 miles, whichever comes first. The engine doesn’t use any special type of oil and can be used with conventional motor oils that meet API certification standards for gasoline engines. Here is more information about your car’s maintenance schedule:
- every six months or the first time you reach 7250 miles, whichever comes first.
- replace oil filter with each scheduled oil change using an OEM part # 11122AA201 (Walmart).
It’s recommended to use full synthetic motor oil that meets API certification standards for gasoline engines like Mobil One 0W-40 Full Synthetic Motor Oil.
Best Oil for 2016 Subaru Outback
What oil should you use? Here are the best types of motor oils and filters.
Oil (By Manufacturer) – Subaru recommends using Genuine Subaru Synthetic Oil SAE 5W-30 for maximum protection from cold starts as well as provide excellent fuel economy during normal city driving conditions.
Oil (Our Choice) – Great option is Royal Purple API-Licensed SAE 0W-20 High Performance Synthetic Motor Oil, this will give maximum protection from cold starts as well as provide excellent fuel economy during normal city driving conditions.
Oil Filter (By Manufacturer) – Subaru recommends a Genuine OEM Subaru oil filter for your 2016 Outback.
A great option is Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil, which is formulated with PurePlus Technology that helps reduce engine wear. It is also recommended to use a Genuine OEM Subaru oil filter for your 2016 Outback.
REQUIRED TOOLS
This is how to change the oil in your own car. You’re gonna need some tools to change oil on a 2016 Subaru Outback.
Tools:
✔️ Oil Drane Pain
✔️17 millimeter Socket Wrench
✔️Ratchet
✔️Extension
✔️Torque Wrench
✔️Oil Filter Wrench
✔️ Synthetic filter 0-20
✔️ Crush Washers
✔️Paper towels
✔️Car Ramps
✔️Jack Stands
How to Change Oil By Yourself – Step by Step
Here are the instructions for changing your oil. You can do it even if you have never done it before!
STEP 1: PREP
To begin with, make sure you have all the things you need to change your oil. Then, lifts the car with a jack and secures it on sturdy stands. Then, the first thing you need to do is take off the oil filter and let it drain.
STEP 2: REMOVE THE COVER
This is where you are going to have to find the oil drain plug, which may be on either side of the engine.
Use a 17-millimeter socket wrench and take it off slowly so that no new dirt gets into your car’s parts. Make sure not to over-tighten this bolt because then you’ll have problems with leaking later!
STEP 3: DRAINING THE OIL
Be sure to check the drain plug to make sure that the crush washer saw on it. Let this drain.
After draining all of the old dirty oil from your Subaru outback, clean around the area for any leftovers before taking everything apart.
STEP 4: PUT BACK THE DRAIN PLUG
And then replace a fresh crush washer and wipe off my hands. So we have got my drain plug here, we have cleaned it off, and we have got the new crush washer installed.
Alright, so bolt in finger tight by using a 17-millimeter socket and torque wrench, which you always want to grasp by the handle on the bottom. That way it actually torques correctly if you hold it up on the neck of the wrench.
Wait for the click of the torque wrench. So now just gonna clear off this residual oil and then lower the car down.
STEP 5: REPLACE THE OIL FILTER
We have take a finger and dipped it in the new oil, and I wiped it along with this O ring seal. Now that helps the filter go on easier.
And so you’ll spit it on until it stops, you know, just not really putting any torque on it. It’ll stop and then you turn it another three quarters to one turn. I’m sure that’s hard to read. take the old filter off and put new one.
When you take these off, you always want to make sure that the O ring stayed on the old filter and it’s not up on the ceiling surface in there. If you accidentally leave it on there, it can cause a huge oil leak and possibly blow your engine.
STEP 6: PUT BACK THE COVER
After replacing your old dirty oil with a clean new one, you can reinstall the holding cap back to how they were before.
STEP 7: ADD THE NEW OIL
And we’re gonna the spec on this is 5.1 quarts of 0w-20 synthetic oil. So we are going to start with five quarts and check the level.
Then run the car for 30 seconds in that should give the oil pressure time to build up and that’ll fill in the oil filter and fill up the oil galleys and lube the lifters and all that and then we are going to shut off and check the oil.
Alright, so we’ve run it for 30 seconds and the dipstick is red on the opposite side of the engine. It’s still on the front, but it’s over here compared to the filter and the cap. So we’re gonna go take that out, wipe it off. Convinced that the dipstick is clean.
As you can see, it’s between two holes. It’s a little bit low, but the oil on the heads takes like 20 minutes to drain down all the way. So being between the middle of holes and not being really close, the lower hole is fine because as the soil warms up, it’s actually going to expand, and then that oil level will come higher up. So this is just fine.
And we’re done.
