My new 2025 Subaru Forester Limited

Congrats on the new car. Beautiful color and interior. Currently own a 2021 Outback 2.5 with essentially same drivetrain. I highly recommend you stick with 5w30 or 0w30 in this engine. They absolutely destroy motor oil in as little as little as 2-3k miles. 5% + of fuel dilution is very common. 3% is doable in warm weather with no short tripping. Considering you’re driving 10k or less I’d stick to 6 month 4-5k mile oil changes. It’s sad Subaru has pushed for 0w-16. Meanwhile same engine FB25DI couple years older allowed for 5w30. Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 or a Valvoline Restore and Protect should serve you well.

Edited: changed to couple years older FB25DI.
 
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Meanwhile same engine FB25DI couple years newer allowed for 5w30.
uh since its a 2025 how is there an FB25DI a couple years newer?
Has the fb25-DI ever recommended thicker than 0w20?
even in 2019 the forester owners manual had this to say:
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uh since its a 2025 how is there an FB25DI a couple years newer?
FB25DI has been around since 2019. Engines relatively the same other than the thermal cooling valve and a couple service bulletins on minor things like fuel pumps or drain plugs.
 
FB25DI has been around since 2019. Engines relatively the same other than the thermal cooling valve and a couple service bulletins on minor things like fuel pumps or drain plugs.
yes I'm well aware of that info.
I was trying to figure out if you had typos or what since AFAIK its never recommended anything thicker than 0w20 since 2019
and you said
Meanwhile same engine FB25DI couple years newer allowed for 5w30.
Being that its never recommended 5w30 and there is no newer engine than 2025... :unsure:

Thought maybe a phone voice typo etc.
 
yes I'm well aware of that info.
I was trying to figure out if you had typos or what since AFAIK its never recommended anything thicker than 0w20 since 2019
and you said

Being that its never recommended 5w30 and there is no newer engine than 2025... :unsure:

Thought maybe a phone voice typo etc.
I was referring a couple years as to the engine itself. Here is the 2019 owners manual recommendation. First year of FB25DI.

IMG_9911.webp

IMG_9912.webp
 
I was referring a couple years as to the engine itself. Here is the 2019 owners manual recommendation. First year of FB25DI.
So when you said a few years newer you really meant 6 years older.. got it.

with the 1999 manual language to pick the proper thickness oil.. from back when the oil chart had multiple options.
it doesn't state or recommend 5w30 its still the standard 0w-20 :unsure:

The other wording is also funny.. allows 5w30 or 5w-40 CONVENTIONAL(is there one?) for replenishment
if 0w-20 isnt available.

I'd run whatever makes you happy. I did in the 4 FB25 powered subarus I owned or worked on.

Literally anything from 0w-20 to 20w-50 would work although you have to keep in mind climate and conditions.
 
12,098 mile update.

I really like this vehicle with one exception - the interior trim rattles are WAY out of control. There are rattles on the driver's door and right rear door that legit sound like those spring door stops when you flick them - they literally make a loud 3 second sustained boing sound. Then there are no less than 10 other rattles, some of which make noise even on perfectly smooth pavement. My 6 year old Tundra has a fraction of the rattles and the Kia Soul with 40k miles is a Bentley when comparing rattles noises to the Forrester.

It's too bad because the overall car feels very solid and I really like driving it - I'm just going to have to do it with the radio turned way up.
 
12,098 mile update.

I really like this vehicle with one exception - the interior trim rattles are WAY out of control. There are rattles on the driver's door and right rear door that legit sound like those spring door stops when you flick them - they literally make a loud 3 second sustained boing sound. Then there are no less than 10 other rattles, some of which make noise even on perfectly smooth pavement. My 6 year old Tundra has a fraction of the rattles and the Kia Soul with 40k miles is a Bentley when comparing rattles noises to the Forrester.

It's too bad because the overall car feels very solid and I really like driving it - I'm just going to have to do it with the radio turned way up.
That is odd. My sister has 10k on her 25 Forester Touring and it has zero rattles.
 
12,098 mile update.

I really like this vehicle with one exception - the interior trim rattles are WAY out of control. There are rattles on the driver's door and right rear door that legit sound like those spring door stops when you flick them - they literally make a loud 3 second sustained boing sound. Then there are no less than 10 other rattles, some of which make noise even on perfectly smooth pavement. My 6 year old Tundra has a fraction of the rattles and the Kia Soul with 40k miles is a Bentley when comparing rattles noises to the Forrester.

It's too bad because the overall car feels very solid and I really like driving it - I'm just going to have to do it with the radio turned way up.
There is some sound deadening tape you can use… you wrap the offending items in it, or cut pieces to fit between the rattling trim. It’s frequently used for car audio upgrades.

I did my F150 doors with an MLV/CCF/foil sheet on part of the outer skin and whole inner skin, and it’s nearly Lexus-quiet at 80mph.
 
12,098 mile update.

I really like this vehicle with one exception - the interior trim rattles are WAY out of control. There are rattles on the driver's door and right rear door that legit sound like those spring door stops when you flick them - they literally make a loud 3 second sustained boing sound. Then there are no less than 10 other rattles, some of which make noise even on perfectly smooth pavement. My 6 year old Tundra has a fraction of the rattles and the Kia Soul with 40k miles is a Bentley when comparing rattles noises to the Forrester.

It's too bad because the overall car feels very solid and I really like driving it - I'm just going to have to do it with the radio turned way up.
Question, was your Subaru manufactured in the US or Japan?
 
Nice looking car! Very NICE!
I have been out of the Subaru loop for some time as my last new Subaru was a then new 2014 WRX, I only kept it 4,000 miles as I had a chance to trade it for a then new first year 2015 Dodge Hellcat, Back then the Hellcat was a Rock Star and was on the cover of every car magazine so I could not pass it up.

The first thing I did to the WRX was a COBB Tuner, made a big difference in the "feel" of the car.
Big changes came the next year 2015 but I always preferred the look of the 14 but I hated the headlights ( could not see the road in the rain) the radio stunk and the paint was very thin ( rock chips )
I'm sure all of those minor flaws have been addressed except perhaps the paint but thats what 3M clear bra is for.

My wife lease will be up in June on her VW, I wish she would consider buying a new Subaru. Her main requirement and something she uses most days in her VW is a large Sunroof, That was mentioned in this post but no pics of the Sunroof, So does the new 25 Subaru have one of those mega large sunroofs?
If So, I may get a Subaru in the family again.

We are considering moving from the coast to the Mountains next year. We never see snow now but that would change if we move higher and all wheel drive would be nice.

Just a thought, A Subaru may not be the best choice for everyone. As example, I have one friend that has owned a older WRX and had bad luck ( was his fault ) but my friend is stuck in his ways. He grew up in the 70's watching his father do car ownership a particular way so my buddy simply does what his father did.

Just one example, when its time to buy new tires his Dad and HE ONLY EVER Buy 2x new tires at at time, Would NEVER ever consider buying a matching set of (4) tires.

More people do this than one may think, I can't say I have ever NOT purchased 4 tires at a time?
I remember you could look at his old WRX and the tires were so off size it looked like Dragster with bigger tires on the back! Thats NOT good on a 4x4 system! I could not tell my buddy anything as when is WRX died it was the WRX fault. And now he is considering another new to him Subaru. Some folks should just but a Honda or a Chevy I guess?

We all know owning a Subaru is not for everyone as a Subaru will last forever but you must do a few things by the book!

Don't get me started about Dealer oil OVERFILL! I bet this was NOT done at the factory but the dealer did it with his inspection / setup.
I insist now when having a dealr change my oil he print on the ticket " Customer says DO NOT OVERFILL " and I tell him, I check it prior to leaving and IF its over YOU will fix it before I leave the dealership! OVERFILL is the NORM not the exception I am finding.
 
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12,098 mile update.

I really like this vehicle with one exception - the interior trim rattles are WAY out of control. There are rattles on the driver's door and right rear door that legit sound like those spring door stops when you flick them - they literally make a loud 3 second sustained boing sound. Then there are no less than 10 other rattles, some of which make noise even on perfectly smooth pavement. My 6 year old Tundra has a fraction of the rattles and the Kia Soul with 40k miles is a Bentley when comparing rattles noises to the Forrester.

It's too bad because the overall car feels very solid and I really like driving it - I'm just going to have to do it with the radio turned way up.
This seems to be the new norm.
Honda has embraced rattles too which drive me nuts...
 
This seems to be the new norm.
Honda has embraced rattles too which drive me nuts...
I have not been in a new Honda the last few years but my moms 2015 and models before all had LOUD front ends! When I purchased a then new Ford 2017 Fusion the fist thing I noticed was how very quiet it was, my daughter has it now and it is now more noisy than when it was new. I have some door wind noise etc but its almost 10 years old!

My Ford Work van was super noisy, some of that sticky back black rubber stuff on Amazon ( for car audio ) in the doors helped some and wonder what it would do for a modern car in the doors and under the dash but taking car doors apart is NOT something I enjoy!
 
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