New to Legacy-question about mileage and oil

[huffman142]

I have a 2006 Legacy 2.5i that I bought from my dad. Although I'm not new to Subaru (drive them as mail cars on the route), this is my first Subaru as a personal car.

 

I took a 400 mile trip last weekend and according to the computer I averaged 32.4 (mostly interstate, but some city and rural driving). The 200 miles interstate stretch average 33.8. This was much higher than I expected, but I'm pleased. Is this normal range for these cars? I just did timing belt/tune up at 180,000 miles.

 

Second, I drive my personal car less than 3,000 miles/year. I'm not reaching the mileage requirements for a change, but I still feel like I need to change it every so often. Does oil age or breakdown if it's not being used or am I just wasting my money by changing it with maybe 2,000 miles on it? On my work car, we change at 5,000 miles, but those miles are put on quickly.

 

Thanks for the help!

[Bdubs]

A general rule is 3,000 miles or 3 months. If the car isnt just sitting for 3 months straight, Im sure you can go longer. I do about 4 months if my own car hasnt come up on the 3500 mile mark.

[rob-2]

7500 miles on syn is fine for the 2.5i

[stanjk3]

If you're not using synthetic, just change it every 6 months. That's what I did in my old '95 Legacy that I usually drove ~4K miles a year. Yes you could use M1 Extended performace and just change it once a year, but its kinda overkill if you're only driving 3K miles a year.

 

Usually oil doesn't break down (well not in a NA engine, turbo engines are another story) before it gets dirty from cleaning your engine. If you mostly drive short distances, your engine may not get up to full temperature. This can increase the amount of moisture and fuel in your oil.

[apexi]

I agree with stanjk3.

 

When you do drive your personal car, do you do a lot of short trips, or is the engine at operating temperature for an extended period of time? The only worry I'd have would be condensation in the oil, which typically burns off when the engine is at operating temperature for an extended period of time. I would probably change it every 6 months - 1 year, or somewhere in between there. I think you could get away with doing an oil change once a year, but at the same time you can do two oil changes a year for less than $30 if you DIY, which is pretty cheap in my opinion. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

[Max Capacity]

If you're not using synthetic, just change it every 6 months. That's what I did in my old '95 Legacy that I usually drove ~4K miles a year. Yes you could use M1 Extended performace and just change it once a year, but its kinda overkill if you're only driving 3K miles a year.

 

Usually oil doesn't break down (well not in a NA engine, turbo engines are another story) before it gets dirty from cleaning your engine. If you mostly drive short distances, your engine may not get up to full temperature. This can increase the amount of moisture and fuel in your oil.

 

I agree with stanjk3.

 

When you do drive your personal car, do you do a lot of short trips, or is the engine at operating temperature for an extended period of time? The only worry I'd have would be condensation in the oil, which typically burns off when the engine is at operating temperature for an extended period of time. I would probably change it every 6 months - 1 year, or somewhere in between there. I think you could get away with doing an oil change once a year, but at the same time you can do two oil changes a year for less than $30 if you DIY, which is pretty cheap in my opinion. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

X2 what these guy's said.