The easy solution is don't buy a Subaru.
Subaru Filters Upside down harmful on Starts?
- Thread starter Al
- Start date
Patman
Staff member
Subarus have a huge following though. My son’s very first car when he turned 16 was a 2002 WRX and he still has it 7 years later and he will never sell it. His daily driver is a 98 Forester. Most of his friends drive Subarus too. In fact he just got back from a weekend in Quebec to watch a snow rally event sponsored by Subaru and most of the race cars at the event were WRXs.
One thing that is really great about Subaru owners is the passion they have for their cars, at least the ones driving WRXs and BRZs
The funny thing is, when the roads are bad or you’re in the dirt/gravel, all Subarus are faster than they are on pavement. It’s more exciting flogging a slow car to within inches of its life (and maybe yours) while still going not much faster than a school zone, than it is to own a car that will do 0-100 in six seconds and top 200mph and only do that a couple times in the vehicle’s life.
One method is usually legal, the other will result in free jewelry and a new wardrobe!
Let the haters hate. Leaves more for us!
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2023
- Messages
- 95
Not a Subaru, but my 2006 Saturn Ion Redline has an upside down replaceable element style oil filter, which annoyingly lives partially under the supercharger.
These 2.0 S/C motors regularly reach 200 k miles without much drama, so the upside down oil filter seems fine. The only time I hear any noise on start up is after an oil change, it lasts maybe 2 seconds, and when I remove the oil filter it is always dry,
but I think when I disengage the element from the housing, the oil drains out of it.
Conclusion: I don't fear the reaper for my particular motor, but YMMV on yours regarding oil filter orientation.
These 2.0 S/C motors regularly reach 200 k miles without much drama, so the upside down oil filter seems fine. The only time I hear any noise on start up is after an oil change, it lasts maybe 2 seconds, and when I remove the oil filter it is always dry,
but I think when I disengage the element from the housing, the oil drains out of it.
Conclusion: I don't fear the reaper for my particular motor, but YMMV on yours regarding oil filter orientation.
So do the Pentastar and various BMW. But they likely have anti-drainback valving in the cartridge boss/mount.
I find the filter is pretty empty when I change the oil, but these also have a high flow oil pump so the start rattle is about the same as my Focus with a right side down filter. Anyways, its never been a "sweet" sounding motor at idle so I don't worry about it. I just put some decent oil in and the wife drives the khrap out of it! Seems to be OK plan so far.
+2
The little O-ring on the bottom (on the GMs at least) seal the housing and unscrewing the cap lifts the filter enough to "pop the cork".
Yea..just settle for an inferior vehicle.
Like what?
Safety? ..nope
Durability? nope
Customer satisfaction? ..nope
Ease of maintenance? ..nope
Retaining value (relatively)?..nope
Duel Fuel injection....totally sucks
Controls infotainment.. subpar
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Yep, cause rally car!The funny thing is, when the roads are bad or you’re in the dirt/gravel, all Subarus are faster than they are on pavement. It’s more exciting flogging a slow car to within inches of its life (and maybe yours) while still going not much faster than a school zone, than it is to own a car that will do 0-100 in six seconds and top 200mph and only do that a couple times in the vehicle’s life.
One method is usually legal, the other will result in free jewelry and a new wardrobe!
Let the haters hate. Leaves more for us!
