We love Subarus and want to keep them on the road.

That’s why we strongly encourage doing timely repairs and maintenance. It also provides your mechanic an opportunity to check on the health of your motor and other vital parts.

Schedule your appointment now:

Our most common services include

Engine rebuilds

We use a Subaru-exclusive machine shop to ensure motor rebuilds meet our standards

Timing kits

We use OEM parts only, and stock DIY kits

6-clutch disc

Clutch replacements or upgrades

We stock OE kits as well as Staged and Performance brands

Brake pad and rotor replacements

$375 flat for front or rear (WRX/STi call for quote) - new rotors & ceramic pads

Scheduled services

30K, 60K, 90K maintenance, fluid flushes, oil changes (we do these services a la carte so you never pay for more than you need)

Pre-purchase inspections or estimates

Priced at $145 with discounts for consecutive inspections. Make an appointment with our shop and buy your used Subaru with confidence!

Diagnostic of a specific problem is $145 ($50 is credited for future work), which includes detailed notes and estimate on the issue and work needed.

Head gaskets/motor rebuilds

Head gasket replacements and motor rebuilds can be a common issue with Subarus. Here at Subietech HQ we use a Subaru only machine shop for all our rebuilt motors. While this does add on a shipping expense and additional time to complete the job, you can be assured that your motor was rebuilt properly and to the high standards that we want to maintain. We are Subaru specialists and we only trust other Subaru specialists to handle our customers’ engines.

Subietech HQ will not put a used motor or JDM motor* into your car. We don’t believe in the integrity of budget builds. We believe your Subaru can last a long time, if you build it right. 

*We will do a full JDM swap if you want to use a stand alone ECU.

Oil Changes

The most important thing you can do to maintain your beloved Subaru is to get regular oil changes every 3500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes sooner.

We stock and sell Fumoto Oil Drain Valves – $29.95

  • Oil Change (all oil changes include OE filter and crush washer), and a visual inspection of your brakes, under carriage and engine.
  • Conventional Oil Change $60.00
  • Synthetic Oil Change $75.00
  • Motul Syn Oil Change $105.00
You can buy Fumoto Oil Drain Valves and Motul Oil Change Kits in our online shop if you are a DIYer! Oil is available via local pick up only.

AVCS Gear Servicing

Whether you’re DIYing your engine swap or having us do a full motor rebuild, we always recommend having your AVCS gears cleaned and upgraded while they’re out of the car. We generally can do a 24 hours turnaround on gears.

Want a set sent to you? Don’t forget to send in your cores or pay a core charge. Contact Us to get this set up!

INTAKE AVCS GEAR SERVICING: $75 each

EXHAUST AVCS GEAR SERVICING: $160 each, includes internal pin repair/upgrade

Frequently Asked Questions - Subaru Maintenance & Repair

We recommend all Subaru’s living in the Central Oregon area change their engine oil every 3500 miles. This includes both conventional and synthetic users. While the interval for oil changes on newer Subaru’s using synthetic oil can be up to 6000 miles, we know that all vehicles living here meet the severe conditions requirement (very high and low temperatures) laid out by the Subaru owner’s manual.

Subaru says meeting even one of the following conditions is enough to be considered severe, and therefore owners should follow the severe conditions parameters for maintenance (this is what we follow at SubieTech). Vehicles that meet the severe requirements have their oil changed every 3500 miles, rather than every 5000, to maintain the integrity of the engine and other vital components.

The conditions Subaru lists as severe include:

  • Extreme hot weather (common in Central Oregon)
  • Extreme cold weather (common in Central Oregon)
  • Dry & dusty conditions (common in Central Oregon)
  • Heavy loads
  • Towing
  • Rough or muddy roads (common in Central Oregon)
  • Frequent stop and go traffic
  • Frequent trips of less than 10 miles (common in Bend, Oregon and Central Oregon)
  • Frequent mountain driving (common in Central Oregon)
  • 3 or more cold starts per day

In addition to the severe condition issue, Subarus are known for oil consumption. This is so common that Subaru recommends you are checking and topping off oil at every fuel refill. If this is not happening and the vehicle does burn even an “acceptable” amount of oil, by the time it is due for a 7500 mile oil change, damage may already have been done to engine internals or components due to your vehicle running low on oil.

All vehicles serviced at SubieTech receive a complimentary multi point inspection, which includes a visual check of the chassis, steering components, exhaust components, belts and hoses, air filters, suspension components, cooling system, brake system, fuel system, engine, transmission, and differentials. We also visually check the fluids including oil, coolant, wiper fluid, brake fluid, power steering, transmission fluid(when possible), and differential fluids (when possible).

The oil in your car gets dirtier and dirtier each time you use your engine. It also burns the oil, which some owners will refer to as “eating” oil. Most Subarus from about 2005+ utilize Subarus active valve control system (AVCS) for engine management. This means that the computer relies on oil pressure readings to control the timing and motor components in real time. When your Subaru is running on low oil or dirty oil, the oil pressure drops, and there is an increased chance of damage to the engine and its components. The longer you go between oil changes, the more damage is done.

Just like engine oil, gear oil used in transmissions and differentials breaks down over time. As the fluid breaks down, it loses its ability to both lubricate and transfer heat. The gears will grind against each other without proper lubrication, damaging the components.

Many owners skip or delay differential fluid maintenance because of the cost. However, if you consider that a differential fluid service costs around $100 (total $200ish with front and rear differential), but the cost of a NEW rear differential is around $900 plus labor ($750), it makes it seem much more reasonable to just do your maintenance at regular recommended intervals! Additionally, the front differential can’t be replaced without opening your transmission – an extremely costly service. If your transmission is automatic, you’re looking at several thousand dollars in parts and labor to remove and replace it.

Subaru’s regular maintenance schedule recommends checking trans & diff fluid every 30,000 miles.

Subaru’s severe maintenance schedule recommends replacing trans & diff fluid every 30,000 miles (this is what we recommend in Central Oregon, as we go through extreme temperature fluctuations and our air is very dry and dusty).

Brake fluid is hydraulic fluid that in the simplest terms, helps you use less force to stop the car. Power steering fluid does the same, by helping you use less force to steer. If you’ve ever driven an old classic car, you know that without power steering, it takes a lot of strength to turn the wheel because it’s using only human power alone! So while it’s possible to drive a car without power steering, it’s not the safest thing for quick reaction time or highway driving. Same for brakes – it can be a very serious safety issue.

Like other lubricants, power steering fluid and brake fluid loses its effectiveness overtime. The fluid will also absorb moisture, so delaying fluid exchanges means more moisture in the fluid, which leads to diminished braking or steering and increased chance of corrosion in hydraulic system. Sometimes, once damage is caused, you’ll also start to hear a whine from your power steering pump.

Subaru’s regular maintenance schedule recommends replacing brake and steering fluid every 30,000 miles.
Subaru’s severe maintenance schedule recommends replacing brake and steering fluid every 15,000 miles.

This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on a variety of factors such as how you drive the car, the model you’re driving (turbo motors are always more expensive to maintain than naturally aspirated (non-turbo) motors), the mileage of your car, the mileage you drive each year, the age of your car, and the state of your car now. That being said, if you put away at least $100/month or about $1,200.00 a year towards car maintenance, you’d be feeling the pinch much less when you need to do brakes, fluid changes, suspension replacements, etc., over the life of the car. This is only our opinion based on our experience and other shops will have their own opinions.

Typically, car batteries last 3-4 years depending on brand, use, and conditions. If your battery is older than that, we recommend doing a battery test every so often, especially in winter, to ensure it is still ok to use. A battery test will provide valuable information on the battery’s current ability to hold a charge (should be 60% or higher), internal resistance, and available cold cranking amps. It is also important to note that severe cold conditions can reduce the life of a battery.

Keep alert for signs that your battery is coming to the end of its useful life: extended cranking before starting, dimming of lights and electronics when cranking to start, corrosion or build up on battery terminals, or a bulging battery.

Subaru’s require brake replacements anywhere between 25,000-75,000 miles. This is largely dependent upon driving type and style. If you’re a hard braker or have a lot of sudden stops, you may wear your brakes down quickly or warp your rotors. If this happens, you’ll notice a shaking or wobbling when you brake.

We check brakes anytime a vehicle is in for standard service, and would recommend having the brakes checked every 10-12,000 miles.

Your pads will start to make a screeching noise when they are dangerously low. At this point there is barely anything between the calipers and the rotors. If the pads wear out completely, your calipers will be bare metal squeezing on your brake rotors. This will break the calipers or make them unusable, and you will need to replace your calipers, in addition to your brake pads and rotors. This can cost upwards of $500 (parts and labor) for each caliper.

Yes, we do that too - Services Offered at SubieTech

Maintenance 

  • Oil and filter change
  • Fluid exchange
  • Air filter 
  • Cabin air filter
  • Transmission fluid service
  • CVT transmission fluid service
  • Differential fluid service
  • Brake fluid service
  • 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance
  • 60,000 mile scheduled maintenance 
  • 90,000 mile scheduled maintenance
  • 105,000 mile scheduled maintenance 
  • 120,000 mile scheduled maintenance
  • Timing service
  • Tire rotation
  • Spark plugs

Diagnostics & inspection

  • Pre purchase
  • Post purchase
  • Second opinion
  • Check engine light
  • Computer diagnostics
  • Compression test
  • Leakdown test
  • ABS light diagnostic
  • Oil light diagnostic
  • Coolant temperature light diagnostic 
  • Boost & vacuum leak test
  • Pre dyno 
  • Pre track/autocross event inspection
  • Overheating 
  • Charging system – battery and alternator 
  • No start

Engine & Cooling

  • Timing service
  • Head gasket service 
  • Water pump replacement
  • Radiator replacement 
  • Leak repair
  • Gasket replacement 
  • Engine rebuild 
  • Exhaust repair
  • Cooling system
  • Charging system Alternator, battery
  • Drive belts
  • Sensor replacement – oxygen, coolant temperature, oil pressure, maf, map
  • Fuel system: injectors, fuel pump, fuel filter,
  • Ignition system – Spark plugs, plug wires, ignition coil 
  • Valve cover gasket replacement
  • PCV replacement 
  • Turbo rebuild or replacement 

Transmission & Differentials

  • Fluid replacements
  • CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) repair 
  • CV axles
  • Driveshaft
  • Clutch and flywheel 
  • Torque converter
  • Mounts and bushings
  • LSD (Limited Slip Differential)

Suspension & Steering

  • Steering rack replacement
  • Tie rod and ball joint replacement 
  • Stabilizer bar and link replacement 
  • Strut and spring replacement
  • Bushing replacement
  • Lift and lowering kits
  • Wheel bearings and hubs 
  • Mounts and bushings 
  • Power steering pump and lines

Electrical 

  • Starter replacement
  • Alternator replacement 
  • Battery replacement 
  • Fuses
  • Wiring
  • Lights and power accessories
  • HVAC controls 
  • Gauges

Brakes

  • Master cylinder replacement 
  • Pad and rotor replacement 
  • Parking brake
  • Brake fluid
  • ABS system
  • Caliper replacement

Exterior

  • Wiper blades
  • Bulbs 
  • Rain guards
  • Hitch installation 

Performance modification

  • Turbo upgrade
  • Engine tuning
  • Air intake system upgrade
  • Oiling system upgrade
  • Cooling system upgrade
  • Fueling upgrade
  • Custom engine builds- short blocks, heads, cams,
  • Brake upgrade
  • Exhaust upgrade
  • Suspension upgrade -lift, lower, stiffen, chassis bracing, coilovers, bushings, sway bars and links 
  • Overland & offroad
  • Street and track 
  • Custom gauge installation
  • Aftermarket accessories 
  • Air oil separators
  • Intercooler upgrade
  • Short throw shifter 
  • Clutch upgrade
  • Headlight upgrades 

Overland and offroad

  • Roof racks, ladders and accessories
  • Rock sliders
  • Skid plates and protection
  • Lighting – Light bars, fog light upgrades, ditch lights, roof mounted lights, 
  • Bumper upgrades and bars
  • Hitch installation 
  • Lifts
  • Springs and struts
  • Recovery: Tow hooks and winchesBS