Welcome to our blog post on general best practices for keeping your WRX/STI reliable. While these powerful vehicles may not be as forgiving as some others, with the right care and maintenance for your Subaru, you can enjoy a thrilling driving experience for years to come. In this guide, we'll provide you with valuable tips and insights to ensure your Subaru stays in top shape. From warming up the engine in cold weather to using the highest octane fuel, tailoring your maintenance schedule, and relying on Subaru specialists for repairs, we've got you covered. Read on to discover how to maximize your Turbo Subaru ownership and make informed decisions about maintaining these exceptional vehicles. If you're considering a Subaru WRX or STI, pay a visit to Lakeview Automotive, where our experts can provide you with further guidance tailored to your needs.

Remember... it's a Subaru - not a Honda, they weren’t designed to take a big beating everyday and not fight back, they may look simple but they’re far from that.  With that said, here are 8 general best practices to help keep your Subaru WRX/STI reliable:

1: Warm it up before driving off in cold weather. 

The rod bearings are a known weak spot on an EJ motor, making sure the oil is flowing well and warmed up before loading them up is a good idea. 

2: Make sure you’re not “lugging” it in too high of a gear. 

You’re just increasing load on the engine for no reason. The engine design doesn’t like that. We see less Subarus with engine failures in automatic transmissions because the auto transmission does a good job of keeping it in the right gear. You should too.

3: ALWAYS use the highest octane fuel you can find and never run anything under 91 Octane 

Even in stock from the factory tune runs an aggressive timing map. Detonation due to low octane fuel can severely damage a Subaru engine. On hot days, octane booster helps. 

4: Tailor your maintenance schedule to you driving style. 

We have only really been talking about engines in this post, but while the drivetrain on an STI is robust, it still needs regular flushes, and more frequently if you drive it hard. 

5: We again, can’t stress it enough, OIL CHANGES, frequently.

The more your Subaru is in the shop for regular maintenance the easier on your pocket it will be. Bring it often, Our MOTUL service is under $200 and that comes with a full inspection from a tech that knows Subarus in and out. We will catch issues sooner before they snow ball.

6: Check your oil constantly, every gas fill up. 

Monitoring your oil consumption is key in a Subaru. You will catch problems earlier that way, and the earlier you catch any problem with a Subaru, you will avoid more headaches.

7: ALWAYS take your Subaru to a Subaru specialist, even if it isn’t us at Lakeview Automotive.

Ensure you pick a reputable Subaru specialists to take it to. These cars are very deferent to any other makes and models. Specialty tools are necessary, and general know how is a must. We fix problems from other shops all the time, and most the time from good shops, its not a lack of care, it’s that this type of car requires a specialist. 

8: If its your first time, or you’re not mechanically inclined don’t work on it on your own. 

A WRX / STI isn’t the best platform to start learning how to “tinker” on. Start with a simpler platform if you wish to be a do-it-yourself type of owner. 

Turbo Subaru ownership can be a bit demanding. They’re not your average car in terms of maintenance and ease of ownership. Come down to Lakeview Automotive and chat with us if you’re thinking about getting into a Subaru WRX or STI.