Subaru Impreza WRX STI - servicing and fuel type question

[Compost Clegg]

Hey folks (just posted this in general gassing section but I think it is gonna get lost in there)

Pick up my new toy tomorrow - slightly excited - oh yes

A few questions which searching on the internet I dont seem to be able to get a definative answer

Ok so car is a 6 month old Subaru Impreza WRX STI in standard tune

1. What is the service intervals - the salesman at the dealership said 12k which I thought to myself sounded very unlikely

2. What fuel should I be putting in? 95 or 98? or does it not matter too much If I get stuck for 98?

Thanks in advance

[GravelBen]

Run on 98 if you can, it should still run ok on 95 if you have to but I personally wouldn't want to risk driving it hard on 95.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 21st October 12:06

[paulmoonraker]

It should be about 12K, even though it’s a STI (My MY05 STi is every 10K I think).

You need to run it on 98ron petrol. If you don’t then it wont perform like it should (ECU will retard timing etc), and longer term you’ll knacker the engine. Somewhat foolishly I was putting 95ron into my STi for the first few tanks, and when I started using 98ron the performance difference was quite significant.

Welcome to the Scooby Turbonutter club mate… They are such a laugh

[Compost Clegg]

thanks guys - I am actually returning to the fold

I owned one of the early turbo 2000's many years ago and then went onto buy one of the frogeye wrx's - I then started a family with the missus and bought a sensible honda diesel estate (oh well)

a couple of years of car boredom followed and then went out and bought a duratec powered westfield which i still have and enjoy

first time for an STI though - certainly looking forwards to tomorrow and a proper shove in the back - thanks for your help and welcome

[ScoobieWRX]

98RON was yesteryear...Try 99RON from Tesco or Shell V-Power, both been around for some time now.

Always use the best where you can and your car will love you all the more for it. I drive a shedload of miles around the UK and i never ever have a problem finding either. Plan ahead and you'll always have the right fuel.

[bigmac146]

Another vote for V Power,or tesco momentem,your engine(and wallet) may thank you in long run!!

[AndySpecD]

I think other newage cars (2001-2007) were all every 10k miles, certainly was for 2004 and 2006 WRX and STI models. 12k could well be correct but the handbook will tell you for sure.

98RON or Vpower/Tesco99 etc is certainly recommended but if you get stuck using 95 is not going to make it go bang, but you may see reduced performance.

[Compost Clegg]

well had her for a few weeks now - she's fun

[Scooby72]

It will run fine on 95 but I always use 98. (Although mine is a WRX, an STI maybe more sensitive to the fuel used)

I also change the oil and filter every 7.5k, approx £30 for oil, £8 ish for a Subaru filter, and about 45mins work on a Sunday afternoon once you've got the hang of getting the undertray off and back on again.

Haven't bothered with dealer services since it went out of warranty.

If its a job that I can do myself I prefer to do it, rather than letting some 'cowboy' near my beloved car, and paying main dealer prices :-)

Edited by Scooby72 on Wednesday 3rd November 23:00