2016 Subaru Crosstrek Oil Change — FB20 Engine

My 2016 Subaru Crosstrek has been one of the easiest cars to maintain in my fleet. The FB20 engine is compact, accessible, and the oil change is a 20-minute job once you've done it a couple of times. The critical spec most people get wrong is the oil capacity — the FB20 is a small engine and only takes 4.2 quarts with a filter change. Overfill it and you'll have oil consumption problems.

Engine Specs

The 2016 Crosstrek uses the FB20 2.0L naturally aspirated flat-four (boxer). This is not the turbocharged engine — that didn't arrive in the Crosstrek until 2021. All 2016 Crosstreks use the FB20, so there are no variant concerns for this job.

Quick-Reference Specs

Item	Spec
Engine	FB20 2.0L Boxer
Oil type	Full synthetic
Viscosity	0W-20
Capacity with filter	4.2 quarts (3.97 liters)
Drain plug torque	33 ft-lb (44 Nm)
Filter torque	14 ft-lb (19 Nm)
Oil filter	Subaru 15208AA100 or equivalent
Drain plug size	14mm
Change interval	6,000 miles (conventional) / 7,500 miles (full synthetic)

Note on oil spec: The FB20 requires 0W-20. This is not a suggestion — Subaru specifically designed the engine's valve train and bearing clearances around 0W-20 viscosity. Using 5W-30 or other heavier oils may cause cold-start clearance issues and long-term wear. Use ILSAC GF-5 or GF-6 certified 0W-20.

Parts List

• Subaru 15208AA100 oil filter (OEM), or:
  • FRAM PH4967 (good aftermarket)
  • Purolator PL14459 (recommended aftermarket)
  • WIX 51356MP
• 4.5 quarts of 0W-20 full synthetic (you'll have a half-quart left over — saves you a trip next time)
• 14mm socket
• Oil filter wrench (cup-style recommended — the filter is in a tight spot on the boxer)
• Drain pan (5-quart minimum)
• Torque wrench

Getting Under the Crosstrek

The 2016 Crosstrek rides a bit higher than a regular sedan thanks to its lifted suspension, but you'll still need ramps or a jack with stands to access the drain plug comfortably. The Crosstrek has a plastic under-tray protecting the lower engine area.

1. Drive onto ramps or jack up the front and place on stands. The front jack points are the subframe rails outboard of the oil pan.

2. The plastic undertray has several 10mm bolts and pop-clips. Remove it to expose the oil pan and filter. Some owners skip reinstalling it — I always put it back to protect the undercarriage.

Step-by-Step

Drain the Oil

3. Warm the engine for 3–5 minutes, then shut down and let it sit 2 minutes. Hot but not scalding is ideal.

4. Position your drain pan under the oil pan. The drain plug is on the driver's rear corner of the oil pan — a 14mm hex bolt.

5. Remove the drain plug. Pull it away quickly as oil starts flowing. Let it drain completely — the FB20's pan is shallow and drains fast, about 3–4 minutes.

6. While draining, remove the oil fill cap on top of the engine (above the passenger-side cylinder head on the boxer). This vents the crankcase and speeds up drainage.

Replace the Filter

7. The oil filter on the FB20 sits on the passenger side of the engine block near the firewall. It can be tight to access — this is where a cap-style filter wrench on a short extension makes the job much easier.

8. Spin the old filter off counterclockwise. Have a rag ready — the filter will drip.

9. Clean the filter seating surface. Lightly coat the new filter's O-ring with clean 0W-20.

10. Thread the new filter on by hand until the gasket seats. Then tighten to 14 ft-lb (19 Nm). The FB20 filter has a specific torque spec — use a torque wrench, not a guess. Under-tightening leaks; over-tightening damages the O-ring.

Reinstall and Fill

11. Clean the drain plug and its sealing surface. The 2016 Crosstrek uses a metal crush washer on the drain plug — replace it if it's flattened. Reinstall and torque to 33 ft-lb (44 Nm).

12. Reinstall the undertray.

13. Lower the car and move to the top. Pour in 4.0 quarts of 0W-20 first. Check the dipstick. The FB20 dipstick is between the two cylinder banks — pull it, wipe, reinsert fully, pull again.

14. Add oil in small increments until you reach the "Full" mark. Total capacity is 4.2 quarts with the filter change. Don't overfill — the boxer engine's horizontal layout means oil distribution at the overmark is worse than in a conventional inline engine.

15. Start the engine and check for leaks at the drain plug and filter. The oil pressure light should go out within 3–4 seconds.

16. After a 5-minute idle, shut down and re-check the dipstick level after a 3-minute wait.

Common Mistakes

1. Using 5W-30. The FB20 is designed around 0W-20. It's a common substitution when 0W-20 is out of stock, but it puts the engine out of spec and may cause piston ring wear over time.

2. Overfilling. The 4.2-quart capacity leaves almost no margin. Adding 4.5 quarts and calling it fine can raise the oil level into the rotating assembly — causing aeration and foam in the oil, which reduces lubrication.

3. Under-torquing the filter. The FB20 filter torque spec (14 ft-lb) is there because the filter location puts it close to other components. A hand-tight-plus install that isn't properly torqued will seep.

4. Not replacing the drain plug crush washer. After 3–4 uses, the old washer doesn't seal reliably. Subaru drain plug washers are $1–$2 at the dealer. Replace them every other oil change at minimum.

5. Forgetting the undertray. The boxer's oil pan hangs lower than most cars. That tray is protecting real hardware — reinstall it.

For more Subaru oil change guides, the 2019 Subaru Forester oil change guide covers the EJ25/FA24F engines with their own quirks, and the 2020 Subaru Outback oil change guide walks through the CVT + oil change procedure if you're maintaining multiple Subarus.

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