5Y/60K Dealer Servicing Advice - Too early for spark plugs?

Spark plugs are recommended to be replaced at 60k, you can wait til then. They aren't an item that falls under the miles/time whichever comes first qualification as stated in the service schedule.

Will do

Thanks kōbai-iro! Will do; will be interesting to see if/what pushback I get from the dealer.

You're welcome. Don't let a dealer dictate your servicing schedule. They will oversell you everything if given the chance. Just follow Subaru's recommended servicing schedule. I'd recommend finding an independent Subaru shop in your area if you can or one that is very familiar with our brand. I'd only use the dealer for warranty/recall issues or maybe replacing the CVT fluid (yes that should be replaced at some point even though Subaru says it's a "lifetime" fluid- search CVT fluid replacement here for more info on this). Based on your mileage and use that could wait for quite a while as well.

There are a fair number of people who feel that 100K with iridium plugs is OK.

My mechanic also owns a 16 Trek like me. I’m going to follow his lead on maintenance. I have 34 k on mine right now. I wouldn’t consider changing plugs now, or some of the other nonsense they push to make money. I’m also not going to a dealership, unless it’s a warranty problem or something covered by my extended warranty.


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OldGoat38 said:

There are a fair number of people who feel that 100K with iridium plugs is OK.

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There was a thread, in the last year or so, where someone posted photos of the plugs they changed. I can't remember exactly, but I thought they had well over 60K on them, and they look great.

There seems to be a good case for longer life with iridium plugs, I just changed my sister's 2004 Honda CR-V original iridium plugs with 144K on them and they looked great. At the very least I wouldn't do the plugs any early than the manufacturer's recommendation.

Unless you start getting engine missing, I'd wait till 100k and then replace with iridium plugs and never plan on replacing them. Just drive and enjoy

I just bought an 08 Impreza for $800 because it was misfiring with 126k miles. I replaced spark plugs and wires (as well as the Air/Fuel) sensor and it drives like a top now! Plugs were not Iridium and it looked like originals.

Definitely don't change the plugs on yours at 34k miles

1982 said:

OldGoat38 said:

There are a fair number of people who feel that 100K with iridium plugs is OK.

Click to expand...

There was a thread, in the last year or so, where someone posted photos of the plugs they changed. I can't remember exactly, but I thought they had well over 60K on them, and they look great.

Click to expand...

That was me. Plugs could have gotten to 100k. New ones made no difference I could tell.

I asked my dealer service manager if plugs need to be changed at 60k miles, he said yes, of course. Then I asked, why weren’t they done on my CPO Forester? He hesitated but finally did the plugs free of charge.

When they have to pay, it’s “ oh, you can go over 60k miles”. No likey this dealership.

Thanks for sharing all the feedback and advice folks! Really appreciate it. :grin2: