Subaru Forester
Maintenance specs for 11 variants of the Subaru Forester — from 1998 to 2026.
1998–2002 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (EJ251) · AWD
165 hp / 162 lb-ft
Transmission
Type5-Speed Manual
FluidSubaru Gear Oil 75W-90
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF Dexron III
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
1998–2002 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (EJ251) · AWD
165 hp / 162 lb-ft
Transmission
Type4-Speed Automatic
FluidSubaru ATF Dexron III
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity9.6 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF Dexron III
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2003–2008 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (EJ253) · AWD
173 hp / 166 lb-ft
Transmission
Type5-Speed Manual
FluidSubaru Gear Oil 75W-90
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2003–2008 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (EJ253) · AWD
173 hp / 166 lb-ft
Transmission
Type4-Speed Automatic
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity9.6 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2003–2008 Subaru Forester
2.5L Turbocharged H4 (EJ255) · AWD
210 hp / 235 lb-ft
Transmission
Type5-Speed Manual
FluidSubaru Gear Oil 75W-90
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypePremium 91
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2009–2013 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (EJ253) · AWD
170 hp / 170 lb-ft
Transmission
Type5-Speed Manual
FluidSubaru Gear Oil 75W-90
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2009–2013 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (EJ253) · AWD
170 hp / 170 lb-ft
Transmission
Type4-Speed Automatic
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity9.6 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2009–2013 Subaru Forester
2.5L Turbocharged H4 (EJ255) · AWD
224 hp / 226 lb-ft
Transmission
Type5-Speed Manual
FluidSubaru Gear Oil 75W-90
Drain & fill3.7 qt
Full capacity3.7 qt
Power Steering
TypeHydraulic
FluidDexron III ATF
Capacity16 oz
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypePremium 91
Service Intervals
Oil change7,500 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush30,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs30,000 mi
Timingbelt — replace at 105,000 mi
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2014–2018 Subaru Forester
2.0L Turbocharged H4 (FA20F) · AWD
250 hp / 258 lb-ft
Transmission
TypeLineartronic CVT
FluidSubaru CVTF-II
Drain & fill4.2 qt
Full capacity8.4 qt
Power Steering
TypeElectric (no fluid)
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypePremium 91
Service Intervals
Oil change6,000 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush137,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs60,000 mi
Timingchain (no scheduled replacement)
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2014–2018 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (FB25) · AWD
170 hp / 174 lb-ft
Transmission
TypeLineartronic CVT
FluidSubaru CVTF-II
Drain & fill4.2 qt
Full capacity8.4 qt
Power Steering
TypeElectric (no fluid)
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank15.9 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change6,000 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush137,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs60,000 mi
Timingchain (no scheduled replacement)
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi
2019–2026 Subaru Forester
2.5L H4 (FB25) · AWD
182 hp / 176 lb-ft
Transmission
TypeLineartronic CVT
FluidSubaru CVTF-II
Drain & fill4.4 qt
Full capacity9.8 qt
Power Steering
TypeElectric (no fluid)
Differentials
Rear fluidSubaru Differential Gear Oil 75W-90
Transfer Case
FluidSubaru ATF-HP
Fuel
Tank16.6 gal
TypeRegular 87
Service Intervals
Oil change6,000 mi
Trans service30,000 mi
Coolant flush137,000 mi
Brake fluid30,000 mi
Spark plugs60,000 mi
Timingchain (no scheduled replacement)
Air filter30,000 mi
Cabin filter15,000 mi
Drive belt60,000 mi