2016 Subaru Forester Oil Capacity, Weight, & Filter Specs

The 2016 Subaru Forester takes 5.1 quarts (4.8 liters) of 0W-20 oil for the naturally aspirated 2.5L engine, or 5.4 quarts (5.1 liters) of 5W-30 oil for the 2.0L Turbo XT engine, when performing a standard oil and filter change. As an ASE-certified master technician, I always recommend verifying your specific engine under the hood before beginning your service, as the oil weight requirements differ drastically between the two available powerplants.

Quick answer

Here are the essential specifications you need for a 2016 Subaru Forester oil change:

• Oil Capacity: 5.1 quarts (2.5L engine) or 5.4 quarts (2.0L Turbo engine).
• Recommended Weight: 0W-20 (2.5L) or 5W-30 (2.0L Turbo). Full synthetic is highly recommended and practically required for the 0W-20 weight.
• Oil Specification: API SN / ILSAC GF-5 (or newer API SP / GF-6A).
• OEM Oil Filter: Subaru 15208AA15A (for 2.5L) or 15208AA170 (for 2.0L Turbo).
• Aftermarket Oil Filters: Fram XG7317, Wix 57055, or Mobil 1 M1-110A.

Capacity by engine option

The 2016 Forester was offered with two different four-cylinder "boxer" engines. Use the table below to determine your exact capacity and viscosity needs.

Oil change interval

Subaru's maintenance schedule for the 2016 Forester is relatively straightforward, but driving habits dictate how often you should change your oil:

• Normal Duty: Every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
• Severe Duty: Every 3,000 miles or 3 months. Severe duty includes repeated short trips (under 5 miles), extensive idling, towing, driving in dusty conditions, or frequent driving in extreme cold. Because the FA20DIT turbo engine works harder and generates more heat, I strongly recommend leaning toward the severe duty schedule if you own an XT model.

Drain plug torque

• Torque Spec: 31 ft-lbs (41.7 Nm).
• Crush Washer: You must replace the 16mm drain plug crush washer (Subaru Part # 803916010) at every single oil change. Reusing the old washer is the most common cause of a slow oil drip on Subarus. Note that the flat side of the washer should face the oil pan, while the rounded/crush side should face the bolt head.

How to change the oil

Thanks to the top-mounted oil filter, changing the oil on a 2016 Forester is one of the easiest DIY services you can perform.

1. Prepare the vehicle: Park on level ground, apply the parking brake, and raise the front of the vehicle using ramps or a jack and jack stands.
2. Drain the oil: Remove the 14mm drain plug from the oil pan and let the old oil drain completely into your catch pan.
3. Replace the drain plug: Install a new crush washer on the drain plug, thread it in by hand, and torque it to 31 ft-lbs.
4. Replace the filter: Open the hood and locate the oil filter sitting right on top of the engine. Place a rag around the base to catch drips, unscrew the old filter, lubricate the gasket of the new filter with fresh oil, and install it hand-tight (usually 3/4 to 1 full turn after the gasket makes contact).
5. Refill and check: Add the correct capacity of fresh oil through the filler neck. Start the engine, let it run for 30 seconds to fill the filter, and shut it off. Wait a few minutes, check the dipstick, and top off if necessary.

Common issues / tips

• Top-Mount Filter Mess: The top-mounted filter is incredibly convenient, but oil can pool in the cup-shaped housing when you remove the filter. Keep paper towels handy to wipe out the housing before installing the new filter.
• Oil Consumption: The FB25 2.5L engines are known to consume some oil between changes. It is critical to check your dipstick every few fuel fill-ups. Running these boxer engines low on oil can lead to catastrophic bearing failure.
• CVT Drain Plug Confusion: Do not mistake the transmission drain plug for the engine oil drain plug! They are somewhat close together underneath the car. The engine oil drain plug is on the black metal oil pan closer to the front bumper. The CVT pan is further back. Draining the CVT by accident and double-filling the engine oil is a very common and expensive DIY mistake.

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