how many of you guys got your 1K change done? or did you wait till 3k?

Also, if you took it to a Subaru dealership...how much did it run?

thanks!

~V

i was a bit late at 1,100 miles. but despite what the manual says, why not be safe?

i spoke with the specialist at my dealership. he told me to wait until 3 k and try to keep the break in period as close to that as possible. also he said do not switch to synthetic until later on. i checked the oil every few days to make sure it was at the right place , and after 3012 miles the oil was at the same spot. i followed all he said apart from the prolonged break in period. come on man , when you live at a place with 20 awesome corners in 5 miles distance how can you resist???????????? have fun with it

always do your first one at 1 run

The manual says to do it at 1000 miles so do it then. Why would they tell you to do that if you were not supposed to do that. People are full of crap. YOu can also change to synthitic right at 1000 miles. People make up these myths but none are true.

Follow the service manual and don't listen to stupid people.

The service manual lists the first oil change at 3,000 miles, then the next at 7500 miles.

if you doubt me go READ the book.

I changed mine at 1000 miles

just as a reminder ,, you dont have to be rude in your responses if u are short tempered just dont read the threads.
and by the way its no big deal 1 k 3 k !!!!!it all depends on how u drive ur car

It's always better to be safe then sorry... i would say go with the 1000k oil change and then again with theh 3000 k oil change and just go every 3000k after that with synthetic oil...

thanks for the tips ya'll. I just finished reading the manual last today..hehe. Beast of a book i tell ya!

i'll definately do the 1k change. After that we'll see.

Now to find a cheap place to get a official Subaru oil filter, hmm..and a Fumoto valve :)

TriniTuner,

That is what it says in the maintance schedule. In the break in section It says to change it at 1K. You have to read the whole book to preach from it.

"TriniTuner The service manual lists the first oil change at 3,000 miles, then the next at 7500 miles.

if you doubt me go READ the book. "


Hey there TriniTuner why don't you go back and read the manual. Try to do it with your eyes open this time cause it does tell you to change your oil at 1000 miles the first time. It is all part of the break in for the car.

No need to be snippy. Especially when you have no idea what you are talking about.

Subaru does NOT recommend an oil change at 1000 miles for the 2002 Impreza.
http://www.i-club.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=982911
And here's the break-in procedure from the Owner's Manual:

Sorry to be "snippy". But I agree with what Jon [in CT] posted....

Originally posted by Jasno999
Try to do it with your eyes open this time cause it does tell you to change your oil at 1000 miles the first time.

You must have a different manual than I...:rolleyes:

Yea this whole thread screwed me up, I went through the entire manual, can't find anything about a 1k oil change. However, the service guys at my local dealership didn't seem to object when I said I had 1.5k and I wanted an oil change.

-jb

ya...i think the 1K oil change was brought on by I-clubbers who were saying it wouldn't hurt to change it after breakin (hence 1K). The manual says 3K.

I'll probably do mine sometime after 1K anyways just so I can get my Fumoto Valve in :)

I will have to find it but the only reason I changed my oil at 1K was becasue I read that you were supposed to change it a 1K for the first time. I did not just do it cause I felt like it.

I will look tonight.

The confusion over the schedule for the first oil change has arisen because the North American manuals recommend 3000 miles, whereas the British manual recommends 1000 miles. I do not understand why there is such a discrepancy. So, you are actually probably reading different manuals.

Ive talked to Tech Support about this and they have assured me that an oil change is not necessary at 1000 miles. All Subaru engines are broken in by Subaru before they are put in a vehicle. The dealership i work for does all its first oil changes at 3000 miles, with no problems. They have also assured me that you can switch to synthetic right away, which I have. However, I am mystified by the discrepancies between manuals from different coutries, since all the Imprezas are made in Japan:confused:

speed safely,

Joe

I asked the dealer when I bought the car and he said 3000 miles, I also asked the service manager at the dealership when I brought the car in for some after purchase upgrades a few days later and he also told me 3000. I took the car in at about 2200 because I knew I wouldnt have time to take it in until 4000 +. I had them put Mobil 1 in and it cost me near $50 for the whole thing. I think im gonna do the oil changes myself from now on.

Many dealerships recommend waiting until 3k. I have neot yet been able to ascertain if they use special break in oil or just normal oil.

i changed mine at 1100 miles and plan to go to synthetic Mobil1 5w30 at 2500 miles.

i've practiced this since '87 on all of my cars and have been very pleased with the results.:D

Many threads on both the 1K oil change and use of synthetics. No need to re-invent the wheel here. A search will yield much. The result will not be clarity. Controversy reigns.

happy Motoring ;)

Theoretically, it is probably more important to change the oil filter at 1000mi than the oil.
I got a surprise 'free' 2yr/24K mi maintenance contract with my WRX and a competing dealer gave me a free first time oil and filter change which I did at 1000mi.
The dealers here use Castrol 10/30 year round so I'll use that until the contract expires; then I'll go to Mobil 1 (Walmart sells the 5 qt container for $16.99).

So why not go by the book? I bought one of those fumoto vales tooo seems like a time saver!

I had mine done at 1000 miles because it was free from the dealership.

I did the next oilchange myself 3000 miles later, changing to synthetic oil (Mobil 1) at the same time.

David

hi all,
didn't read all the posts.. thought I post the following from SOA:

As for synthetic oil, this is your decision. Our Technical Services Department advised that if you do decide to use synthetic oil, that you always use it because your engine will become accustomed to it. The same goes if you decide to use 'regular' oil. Also, please do not replace the oil in your WRX until at least after the break-in period of 1,000 miles is exceeded. The first oil change is recommended at 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.

Fuji Heavy Industries has liberalized their position on the use of synthetic engine oils in Subaru engines. Synthetic engine oils can be used in our engines if the user follows the engine oil recommendations prescribed in the Owner's Manual. Subaru has not tested the compatibility of all synthetic oils with engine seals, but the petroleum industry does adhere to standards for the refining process which meet Subaru requirements. Subaru does not guarantee the performance of any brand of any engine oil.

Engine Oil Guidelines: - only use engine oil that meets or exceeds the API classification designated in the Owner's Manual for the vehicle - only use engine oil that meets the VISCOSITY requirements for the ambient temperatures under which the vehicle will be operated as outlined in the Owner's Manual - THE ENGINE OIL MUST BE CHANGED AT THE INTERVALS SPECIFIED IN THE WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE BOOKLET FOR THE VEHICLE. SOME SYNTHETIC OIL REFINERS RECOMMEND EXTENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. SUBARU DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY DEVIATION FROM THE SPECIFIED INTERVALS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.

Best wishes!!

John J. Mergen
Subaru of America, Inc.