🔧 WRX - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This service drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills with fresh oil at the correct level. On your WRX, clean oil is critical because the turbocharger relies on a steady supply of clean, properly-weighted oil.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.8-1.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on level ground and support the car with jack stands before going underneath.
• ⚠️ Hot oil can burn—let the engine cool 10-20 minutes if it’s fully hot.
• ⚠️ Keep oil off the exhaust and turbo area to prevent smoke and odor.
• ⚠️ No battery disconnect is required for this service.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Drain pan (at least 8-quart capacity)
• Funnel
• 17mm socket
• 3/8" drive ratchet
• Torque wrench (10-60 ft-lbs range)
• Oil filter wrench (65mm cup style)
• 12mm socket
• Trim clip remover (specialty)
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil (SAE 5W-30 full synthetic) - Qty: 6 quarts
• Oil filter (spin-on) - Qty: 1
• Drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface, set the parking brake, and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap and dipstick (this helps the oil drain smoothly).
• If your WRX has the plastic lower engine cover, you’ll remove it to access the drain plug.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Raise and support the front of the car

• Use a floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum) to lift the front of the car at the front jack point.
• Set the car down onto jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum) at the approved support points.
• Give the car a gentle push to confirm it is stable before sliding under.

Step 2: Remove the lower engine cover (if equipped)

• Use a 12mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to remove the bolts.
• Use a trim clip remover (specialty) to pop out the plastic clips (a trim clip remover is a forked tool that lifts clips without breaking them).
• Set the cover and hardware aside in a small pile so nothing gets lost.

Step 3: Drain the engine oil

• Place the drain pan (at least 8-quart capacity) under the oil pan drain plug.
• Use a 17mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to loosen the drain plug, then finish removing it by hand.
• Let the oil drain until it slows to an occasional drip (usually 5-10 minutes).
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug and install the new one.

Step 4: Reinstall and torque the drain plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
• Use a torque wrench (10-60 ft-lbs range) with a 17mm socket and Torque to 43 Nm (31 ft-lbs).
• Wipe the area clean with shop towels.

Step 5: Remove the oil filter (top of engine)

• Open the hood and locate the oil filter on top of the engine.
• Place shop towels around the filter area to catch spills.
• Use an oil filter wrench (65mm cup style) to loosen the filter, then spin it off by hand.
• Make sure the old rubber gasket came off with the old filter (a stuck gasket can cause a leak).

Step 6: Install the new oil filter

• Put a small dab of fresh oil on the new filter’s rubber gasket using your gloved finger.
• Spin the new filter on by hand until the gasket contacts the base, then tighten by hand an additional 2/3 turn.
• If using a torque spec, use the torque wrench (10-60 ft-lbs range) with the oil filter wrench (65mm cup style) and Torque to 17 Nm (13 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Refill with new oil

• Insert a funnel into the oil fill opening.
• Pour in 5.4 quarts of SAE 5W-30 full synthetic (start with about 5.0 quarts, then top off).
• Reinstall the oil filler cap.

Step 8: Start, check for leaks, and set the final level

• Start the engine and let it idle for 30-45 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 3-5 minutes for oil to settle.
• Pull the dipstick, wipe it with shop towels, reinsert fully, then check the level.
• Add oil in small amounts (about 0.2 quart at a time) until the level is near the upper mark. Don’t overfill.
• Look underneath and around the filter area for any seepage.

Step 9: Reinstall the lower engine cover

• Reposition the cover.
• Use the trim clip remover (specialty) to align clips, then press them in by hand.
• Use a 12mm socket with a 3/8" drive ratchet to reinstall the bolts snugly.

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✅ After Repair

• Take a short 5-10 minute drive, then recheck the dipstick level and inspect for leaks again.
• Dispose of used oil and the old filter at a recycling center or auto parts store that accepts used oil.
• If you use the maintenance reminder on the upper display, reset it: Info button > Maintenance > Engine Oil > Reset (menu wording can vary by audio/display type).

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹3,500-₹7,500 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹2,200-₹5,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹1,300-₹2,500 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run ₹800-₹1,500/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.7-1.0 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.