🔧 Outback - Engine Oil & Oil Filter Replacement

This job drains the old engine oil, replaces the oil filter, and refills your Outback with fresh oil. Clean oil protects the 2.5L flat-four engine from wear, overheating, and sludge buildup.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 30-60 minutes

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a level surface so the oil drains correctly and the vehicle stays stable.
• ⚠️ Never rely on a jack alone. Use jack stands if you raise the vehicle.
• ⚠️ Engine oil can be hot. Let the engine cool until warm, not burning hot.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses to protect your skin and eyes from used oil.
• ⚠️ Keep used oil away from pets, children, and drains. Recycle it at an oil collection site.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 17mm socket
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• Torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs
• Oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute
• Drain pan 8-quart minimum
• Funnel
• Floor jack rated 2-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 2-ton minimum
• Wheel chocks
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses
• Shop towels

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine oil 0W-20 full synthetic - Qty: 5.1 quarts
• Engine oil filter - Qty: 1
• Engine oil drain plug crush washer - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Outback on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels. Wheel chocks are blocks that stop the vehicle from rolling.
• Warm the engine for 2-3 minutes, then shut it off. Warm oil drains faster.
• Open the hood and remove the oil filler cap. This helps the oil drain smoothly.
• If raising the front, use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum and support the vehicle with jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• The oil filter is accessed from the top of the engine on this 2.5L Subaru engine, which makes this job beginner-friendly.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Secure and Raise the Front

• Use wheel chocks behind the rear tires.
• Use a floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front of your Outback at the front center jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 2-ton minimum under the front side support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands before going underneath.
• Give the vehicle a gentle shake.

Step 2: Position the Drain Pan

• Put on nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
• Slide the drain pan 8-quart minimum under the engine oil drain plug.
• The drain plug is on the bottom of the engine oil pan.

Step 3: Remove the Oil Drain Plug

• Use a 17mm socket and 3/8-inch ratchet to loosen the drain plug counterclockwise.
• Remove the plug by hand once loose and let the oil drain fully into the pan.
• Wait until the oil slows to an occasional drip.
• Keep pressure on the plug while unscrewing.

Step 4: Replace the Drain Plug Washer

• Use shop towels to wipe the drain plug clean.
• Remove the old crush washer from the drain plug.
• Install the new engine oil drain plug crush washer. A crush washer is a soft sealing washer that compresses to prevent leaks.

Step 5: Reinstall the Drain Plug

• Thread the drain plug in by hand first to avoid cross-threading. Cross-threading means the plug goes in crooked and damages the threads.
• Use a 17mm socket and torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs to tighten the drain plug.
• Torque to 42 Nm (31 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Remove the Oil Filter

• Open the hood and locate the oil filter at the top/front area of the engine.
• Place shop towels around the filter base to catch small spills.
• Use an oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute with the 3/8-inch ratchet to loosen the oil filter counterclockwise.
• Unscrew the filter by hand and keep it upright to reduce spills.

Step 7: Prepare the New Oil Filter

• Use a clean gloved finger to apply a thin film of fresh 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil to the new filter gasket.
• The gasket is the rubber sealing ring on the filter.
• Make sure the old gasket did not stick to the engine. Two gaskets stacked together will cause a major oil leak.
• One gasket only.

Step 8: Install the New Oil Filter

• Thread the new engine oil filter onto the engine by hand.
• Tighten until the gasket touches the engine, then tighten another 3/4 turn by hand.
• If using a torque wrench rated 10-80 ft-lbs and oil filter wrench 65mm 14-flute, tighten carefully.
• Torque to 14 Nm (10 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Refill the Engine Oil

• Place a funnel into the oil filler opening.
• Pour in about 4.8 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic engine oil first.
• Reinstall the oil filler cap.
• Start the engine and let it idle for 30 seconds.
• Shut the engine off and wait 5 minutes so oil drains back into the pan.

Step 10: Check and Top Off the Oil Level

• Use shop towels to wipe the dipstick clean.
• Reinsert the dipstick fully, then pull it out again and check the level.
• Add small amounts through the funnel until the level reaches the full mark.
• Total refill with filter is approximately 5.1 quarts.
• Do not overfill the engine.

Step 11: Check for Leaks

• Use a flashlight if available and inspect around the oil filter and drain plug.
• Use shop towels to wipe any spilled oil clean.
• If you see dripping, shut the engine off and recheck the drain plug and filter installation.

Step 12: Lower the Vehicle

• Use the floor jack rated 2-ton minimum to lift the front slightly off the jack stands.
• Remove the jack stands rated 2-ton minimum.
• Lower your Outback slowly to the ground.
• Remove the wheel chocks.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and confirm the oil pressure warning light goes out within a few seconds.
• Let the engine idle for 1 minute, then shut it off and wait 5 minutes.
• Recheck the dipstick and top off only if needed.
• Look under your Outback for leaks after the first drive.
• Recycle the used oil and old filter at an approved collection center.
• If your maintenance reminder needs resetting, use the steering-wheel controls or gauge cluster buttons to enter the maintenance screen and reset the oil interval if equipped.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $80-$140 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $35-$65 (parts only)

You Save: $45-$75 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.3-0.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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