For the record, I’m reporting that the Forester got a new dose of oil (Castrol Edge LL 5W30), plus the filters (air and oil); mileage: 332430 km.

And since I was already tinkering with it, I also fixed the wipers. The plastic bushings in the linkages were completely worn out, which resulted in the wipers mainly focusing on the A-pillar and the cowl panel. A simple fix, though a bit costly; I know that the plastic parts alone are available, but I didn’t manage to find them and with a holiday trip fast approaching I went for the whole set. You just need to unscrew the wiper arms and remove the cowl panel.

For quite some time, I have been changing the oil and filters myself. I have notes with the mileage and dates of the changes, but it always annoyed me that I had to check them to see if “it’s time.” Inspired by Boxer Beauty, who, by the way, have a lot of rare stickers for Subaru, I decided to fix this. Here’s the fix:

A single sticker is 105x85mm, the minimum order for that size was 66 stickers, so I’m good for round about 30 years.

During the last oil change, about 7,000 kilometers ago, I noticed that the engine mount subframe had seen better days. It took me a little while to buy them because the prices weren’t very encouraging, but in the end, I managed to get some well-refurbished ones from my local Subaru forum. For comparison, here are the old and new ones:

The hole in the picture above appeared with a light tap from a hammer during the last oil change, and I remember being quite concerned about it at the time. Honestly, I expected them to be in much worse condition.

2024 04 10

313109 km

• Tie rod ends.

2024 04 11

313350 km

• Wheel alignment.

2024 09 06

321058 km

• Engine oil change (Castrol Edge LL 5W30),
• Air filter replacement,
• Cabin air filter replacement,
• Rear brake pad installation kit,
• Rear brake discs,
• Rear brake pads.

2024 10 07

322133 km

• Rear suspension springs (KYB RC6431),
• Rear shock absorbers (KYB 334344, KYB 334345),
• Rear shock absorber mounting kit,
• Rear longitudinal control arm bushing,
• Right front window regulator motor.

2024 05 31

60871 km

• Engine oil change (Motul 300V Competition 5W40),
• Air Filter Replacement,
• Cabin Filter Replacement.

The Forester also got some attention. After 320000 km, the SLS shocks were put aside and replaced with a new set of KYB — shocks, springs, strut mounts, and covers. And that’s when things started to snowball. While I was at it, I also did the rear brake discs and pads, pressed in new bushings for the rear control arm, and since I was going all in, I even replaced the driver’s window motor, as it was on its last legs. And that’s not all; I took a look under the car and noticed that the engine mount crossmembers need replacing as well. I have sourced them already and they are waiting to be fitted.

Oil change: 60871 km, Motul 300V Competition 5W40.

Some time ago, I got myself one of those Mishimoto magnetic oil drain plugs, just for peace of mind. So far, so good.

On Saturday, with the temperature nearly at 25°C, Forek finally got its summer tires. Back in February, during the MOT, the mechanic mentioned that the tie rod ends were slowly wearing out, so Tomek and I decided to replace them. Surprisingly, it went pretty smoothly; the locknut bolts cooperated without much persuasion.

2023 09 25

305969 km

• Engine oil change (Castrol Edge LL 5W30),
• Fuel filter replacement,
• Air filter replacement,
• Cabin air filter replacement,
• Spark plug replacement (NGK Iridium).

2023 04 19

54435 km

• Engine oil change (Motul 300V Competition 5W40),
• Air Filter Replacement,
• Cabin Filter Replacement,
• Replacement of Rubber Gasket for Engine Oil Filler Neck.

2023 08 10

56514 km

• Turbocharger Intake Duct, Impreza STI 02-07 – 14459AA224,
• ACL Race Connecting Rod Bearings STD for Subaru – ACL-4B8296H-STD,
• Spec C Connecting Rod Bearings – 12108AB010,
• Crankshaft – 12200AA430,
• Cosworth Metal Head Gasket 1.1mm – 20010707,
• Piston for Subaru Forester/Impreza 2.5T – 12006AC410,
• Piston Rings 025 EJ25 NPR (AA760) – SWF20064ZZ025,
• Exhaust Valve Seal – 13211AA110,
• Intake Valve Seal – 13207AA120,
• Engine Block O-Ring – 10991AA001,
• Waterpipe O-Ring – 806933010,
• Engine Block O-Ring – 806932030,
• Intake Manifold Gasket – 14035AA421,
• Exhaust Manifold Gasket – 14038AA000,
• Rear Crankshaft Seal – 806786040,
• Front Crankshaft Seal – 80673-3030,
• Camshaft Seal – 806742160,
• Camshaft Seal – 806732160,
• Small Valve Cover Gasket – 13293AA051,
• Right Valve Cover Gasket – 13270AA190,
• Left Valve Cover Gasket – 13272AA140,
• NGK Spark Plug – ILFR6B,
• Timing Belt – 13028AA240,
• Double-Row Guide Pulley – 22-07010K,
• Timing Belt Idler Pulley – 22-07003S,
• Single-Row Guide Pulley – 22-07002S,
• Small Double-Row Guide Pulley – 22-07009D,
• Timing Belt Pulley Bolt 8x55x20 – 800708460,
• Hydraulic Timing Belt Tensioner – 21-07006D,
• Oil Pump – 15010AA360,
• ARP Bolts – ARP 260-4701,
• Aisin Turbo Water Pump, Three Inlets – 10-07009,
• Heat Exchanger – 21311AA051,
• Flywheel Bearing – 806212020,
• Oil Hose – 15192AA570,
• Engine Breather Hose – 99071AB352,
• Oil Filter – W67/1,
• Engine Break-In Oil – Millers CRO 10W40,
• G11 60L Coolant Fluid – KTT G11,
• Cylinder Head Regeneration,
• Block Machining,
• Radiator Replacement,
• Motylgear 75W90 60L MTF Gear Oil,
• Differential Oil Change,
• Release Bearing – 3050212U00,
• AC Belt Tensioner Pulley – RNK-SB-000,
• Millers Oils CRX LS 75W90 NT+ 5L,
• Knecht Air Filter – LX307,
• Timing Belt Cover Sleeve – 13592AA011,
• Camshaft Pulley Bolt (Intake) – 13199AA000,
• Oil Pump Pickup O-Ring – 806917080,
• Impreza WRX/STI Rear Muffler Gasket – 44022AA131,
• Internal Timing Belt Cover – 13573AA131,
• Thermostat – 21200AA072.

2023 09 25

57099 km

After all those Impreza Rust Diaries, it’s finally Forester’s turn for some love. This week, it’s time for an oil change, and since the mileage is steadily increasing, the spark plugs were also due for replacement, as per the book.

For the record, at 305969km:

Engine break-in done: 57099km. Oil change to the default: Motul 300V Competition 5w40.

Engine break-in begin: 56533km.

2022 02 16

276131 km

• Engine oil change (Castrol Edge LL 5W30),
• Oil filter replacement,
• Fuel filter replacement,
• Air filter replacement,
• Cabin air filter replacement,
• Transmission oil change (ATF Dexron 3),
• Transmission oil filter replacement,
• Front and rear differential oil change (Motul 75W90),
• Timing belt kit replacement with water pump,
• Repair of threads on timing belt rollers and tensioner using Helicoil (3x),
• Timing belt shaft limiter,
• Timing belt seal replacement,
• Right valve cover gasket seal replacement,
• Replacement of steering rack bushings,
• Replacement of turbocharger actuator hoses connector,
• Front Lambda Oxygen sensor replacement.

2022 03 18

277752 km