Best Engine oil for Subaru Forester

Manufacturers

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Rank	Manufacturers	Ratings	Avg. rating	Votes	Reviews	Positive	Neutral	Negative
1.	OEM Subaru	16%	3.2	9	8	5	1	2
2.	AMSOIL	16%	4.8	9	3	3	0	0
3.	Shell	10%	4.5	6	2	2	0	0
4.	PENNZOIL	10%	5.0	6	2	2	0	0
5.	LIQUI MOLY	5%	5.0	3	1	1	0	0
6.	IDEMITSU	5%	5.0	3	1	1	0	0
7.	VALVOLINE	5%	5.0	3	1	1	0	0

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OEM Subaru › Engine oil

ajuscojohn 23 Jan 2026, 15:36

Rating 4.0

The dealership here itself was using 5w-30 as the default for oil changes even though 0w-20 is stamped on the filler cap. After checking myself that Subaru said that would be OK, I started using it too for my own changes just to avoid flipping back and forth -- though I have no idea if that would be a problem. In any case, the Forester seems happy, even if the mileage may have dipped slightly.

Pros: Forester seems happy

Cons: mileage may have dipped

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

OEM Subaru › Engine oil

Bai13579 21 Dec 2025, 13:56

Rating 4.5

I had a 2017 Forester with 175k miles on it and only used factor oil and never had any issues. I did not do any off road stuff and it was only a premium model, not a wilderness model. I don’t think it matters as long as you change it regularly.

Pros: no issues, engine longevity

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

Mileage: 175000 km

AMSOIL › Engine oil

RLoggia 8 Oct 2025, 18:47

Rating 4.5

I switched to 5w-30 instead of the factory spec 0w-20 and that slowed down my consumption. I use Amsoil to maximize protection with use of the "wrong" oil weight and I monitor wear with oil analysis and seem to have no change in wear from my 0w-20 use.

Pros: slowed consumption, maximized protection, no wear change

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

Mileage: 180000 km

VALVOLINE › Engine oil

Redrum-0 6 May 2025, 00:42

Rating 5.0

Exhaust smoke:

My 03 forester was burning a quart every 1,000 miles when I got it. Switched to restore and protect and it just stopped burning oil. Not even a gradual decrease in the amount it was burning, just completely stopped burning oil all together.

Pros: stopped burning oil

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

Mileage: 1000 km

AMSOIL › Engine oil

Whale460 20 Mar 2025, 15:47

Rating 5.0

Exhaust smoke:

Now, my wife's '16 FORESTER XT, 2.0 turbo, has 130,000 miles, Amsoil changes every 10,000 miles, and still burns NO oil.

Pros: still burns no oil

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

Mileage: 130000 km

PENNZOIL › Engine oil

Just_a_lil_Fish 20 Mar 2025, 11:12

Rating 5.0

I've been using penzoil platinum

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

AMSOIL › Engine oil

Danep21 8 Oct 2024, 02:52

Rating 5.0

Engine noise:

I'm a loyal Amsoil user. I usually change my oil every 5k miles. However, 3 oil changes ago, I started sending samples to Blackstone.

First Analysis: paraphrased, engine looks great

Second Analysis 5k miles later: Engine Looks great, Oil still has plenty of life

Third Analysis, another 5k miles later: everything looks great, try waiting 8k between oil changes.

Pros: engine looks great

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

Mileage: 8000 km

OEM Subaru › Engine oil

1234golf1234 6 May 2025, 14:25

Rating 3.0

Exhaust smoke:

Yeah? I’ve been using Subaru oem oil in my 260kmile 2015 forester. It only burns a little.

Pros: burns a little

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

Mileage: 260000 km

OEM Subaru › Engine oil

Tyesokay 23 Aug 2025, 02:57

Rating 1.0

Engine noise:

Do not listen to them. I have a 2015 forester non turbo I used 5w30 and had all kinds of problems id get codes for over advanced timing on one bank and under advanced on the other, I was getting power loss going uphill, weird chattering noise.

Cons: power loss, weird noise

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

OEM Subaru › Engine oil

LicarioSpin 5 Jan 2025, 04:45

Rating 1.0

I avoid the 5 minute drive-thru places. One of them wanted over $100 for full synthetic on my Subaru Forester. Not worth the 5 minutes.

Pros: full synthetic

Cons: expensive, not worth it

Vehicle: Subaru Forester

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Top manufacturers of engine oil for Subaru Forester

This part for Subaru Forester is made around the world. We have reviews for engine oil manufacturers from countries such as: Japan, USA, Netherlands, Germany .

In March 2026, the ranking of engine oil for Subaru Forester on PartReview included 7 manufacturers. It is based on 18 reviews and 55 votes.

Which engine oil to choose for Subaru Forester?

Last month, PartReview users preferred OEM Subaru. 16% of positive votes went to this manufacturer.

In second place: engine oil AMSOIL — 16%.

Third place: Shell with 10% of the votes.

In the overall ranking of engine oil, which aggregates opinions of owners of different car makes and models, these brands hold the following positions:

OEM Subaru ranked 21, PR Score — 81. Based on 30 reviews and 94 votes.
AMSOIL ranked 6, PR Score — 93. Based on 328 reviews and 999 votes.
Shell — rank 4, PR Score — 94. Based on 351 review and 1069 votes.

Other parts for Subaru Forester

After seeing which engine oil owners of Subaru Forester prefer, check other popular parts for this car. In March 2026, leaders on PartReview were:

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