The 2015 Subaru Forester has a ton of legroom and cargo space—a great choice for a road trip vehicle. But if you want to make sure your Subaru is in the best condition for your cross-state trek, you’re going to need to know its oil capacity.

Owning a car can get expensive from all the unexpected bills, car insurance payments, and regular maintenance costs involved.

You can reduce the cost of your Subaru’s maintenance by changing its oil at home—but make sure you’re consulting your owner’s manual first.

If you’re looking for a guide to your 2015 Subaru Forester engine oil capacity,

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2015 Subaru Forester engine oil capacity

The first question you’re going to need to answer is how much oil your 2015 Subaru Forester is going to need.

The Subaru Forester’s oil capacity is about 5.1 quarts. Do not confuse this number with its 2.5L engine displacement—which refers to the space its cylinders take up. Your Subaru’s oil capacity tells you how much oil you’re going to need for an oil change.

These numbers aren’t interchangeable, so don’t confuse them!

What kind of oil does a 2015 Subaru Forester need?

Now, you’re going to need to know what type of oil you’re looking for. Since different types of motor oil are compatible with different engines, you can’t just use the first bottle you find.

Subaru recommends 0W-20 motor oil for the 2015 Forester.

To understand why using 0W-20 motor oil is so crucial, we’ll break down what the numbers and letters mean. The 0 tells us that the motor oil has a low viscosity at 0°F, while the 20 indicates that it has a thinner consistency at the vehicle’s normal operating temperature of 212°F. The W stands for winter, meaning that it works well in colder temperatures.

While you can use conventional or synthetic oil, synthetic is easier on your engine and will last longer in between oil changes. This means that you won’t need to change your Subaru’s oil as often if you use synthetic oil.

Subaru recommends 0W-20 motor oil because it is optimal in colder temperatures and will cause less damage to your engine throughout its lifespan. However, if you are unable to find suitable 0W-20 motor oil, the owner's manual recommends using SAE 5W-30 oil as a short term replacement until your next oil change.

MORE:

Ultimate FRAM oil filter guide

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How often to change oil on a 2015 Subaru Forester

You’re also going to need to be able to recognize when your Subaru needs an

oil change.

Subaru recommends that drivers change their vehicle’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. This number can vary depending on your driving habits, whether you’re using conventional or synthetic motor oil, and how often you drive.

It’s usually a good idea to check your engine for issues after every other refuel. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

Dirty motor oil: If your oil is dark brown, black, or gritty in texture, your motor oil is dirty

Strange noises

: Sudden sounds, like screeching, are a sign that your oil needs to be changed

Weird smells: Smells like oil, smoke, or burning will alert you that you need to change your oil

A decrease in overall vehicle performance

MORE:

The most common Subaru problems

How to change your oil and oil filter

You’re ready to change your Subaru's oil! Have the following ready next to your workstation:

A socket wrench

A drain pan

A filter wrench designed to remove the old oil filter

A replacement filter

Premium 0W-20 engine oil, at least seven quarts

Follow these steps:

Run your engine. This will warm your vehicle up, and shouldn’t take longer than five minutes in normal temperatures

Turn the engine off, and pop the hood open

Take off the oil fill cap

Remove the oil drain bolt and washer. They can be found under the engine

Drain the old oil into the drain pan

Remove the old oil filter and continue to let the oil drain

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer and tighten it to 29 lb-ft

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap. Use your dipstick as an indicator of when you’ve added enough oil to your engine

Run your engine again to check for leaks

Clean your workspace. Gather the oil in a sealed container and bring it to a participating recycling center

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn on your car and let your engine run for about 30 seconds before you check the oil level. This will give you a more accurate measurement, and you’ll be able to top it off if necessary.

If you’ve followed the steps correctly and successfully changed your oil, your

oil pressure light

should turn off.

Don’t forget regular insurance policy maintenance

And that’s all there is to it! If you’re looking to save money on maintenance, you’ll want to find savings on your car insurance as well.

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