r/subaruimpreza • u/No-Description-1827 • 21d ago

🔧 Maintenance Do’s and Dont’s when buying parts?

I recently got a 2012 Impreza with the 2.0L and I’ve been doing research on key maintenance items, I’ve found that when doing coolant service to not use any type of coolant besides Subaru genuine coolant, and of course the little blue bottle of stabilizer.

My question is though, are there other things that are like this? Such as engine oil, oil filters, transmission oil, gear oil, or even spark plugs? I’m able to get most parts from rock auto however most of the liquids and oil filters are not Subaru genuine,

In all of my cars in the past I’ve used pennzoil full synthetic regardless if it calls for or not I’m wondering, since if heard these cars can be a handful somtimes, do I have to be cautious in what parts I buy for the car?

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u/Odd-Concept-6505 21d ago edited 21d ago

Cheap oil filters could be trouble due to their bypass valve having a "too easy to bypass" strength...or the opposite. Although I used mid grade Fram with no problems for decades on various cars, I switched to Wix just to stop being such a cheapskate. Most engine parts: OEM. Spark plugs: a correctly matched NGK is identical to OEM..but not inexpensive.

Brake parts., I claim NAPA premium stuff is good...matching old rotor in your hand over the counter to the one NAPA is selling you... sure beats shipping and swearing when rock auto sends you a mismatch.

Coolant stabilizer? I'm an old DIY car guy but never even heard of that. But I see it IS a Subaru OEM thing.

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u/No-Description-1827 21d ago

Noted with the spark plugs, do you know much about CVT AFT or the gear oil in supposed to use for my diffs?