Robert Lazenby doesn’t speak like someone trying to stir up drama. He talks like an experienced Subaru tech who’s rebuilt more engines than most drivers have oil changes on record. That’s because he has, by the way.

In his latest video, the longtime Subaru expert opens with a warning many owners flat-out reject. 

A Subaru, he says, “is not a normal car.”

That line triggers inbox fury and comment section combat. But behind the frustration sits a reality he insists can save owners “thousands and thousands of dollars.”

With over two dozen Subarus parked at his shop and a new 2026 Outback Touring XT on order, he speaks as both expert and believer. His point is simple. The boxer engine and full-time all-wheel drive system require a different kind of attention. Skip it, and failure isn’t a matter of if, but when.

3 areas a Subaru expert says owners ignore at their peril

1. Stop pretending oil consumption isn’t a known issue

“Subarus and boxer engines tend to consume more oil than any other configuration,” he says. 

It’s “normal until it’s not.” He advises checks at every fill-up or at least every 1,000 miles. 

Neglect it, and you risk a spun rod bearing or worse.

One commenter said their 2012 Outback ran into VVT solenoid failure after “low, old, and dirty oil” but perked back up with frequent oil changes and a new PCV valve.

Another admitted switching from 0W-20 to 5W-30 cut noticeable burn. Owners who stay ahead of it report long-term success. Those who ignore it? Well, they’re in for a rebuild.

2. Don’t believe the CVT “lifetime fluid” myth

Subaru of America, he says, helped create this problem by suggesting the transmission never needs servicing.

“If you want your transmission to last past 120,000 miles,” he advises, replace the CVT fluid “often and early.” He recommends every three years or 36,000 miles.

One commenter admitted their Subaru went a decade without a transmission or differential fluid swap because dealership maintenance intervals skipped it.

Another DIY owner replaces CVTF every 35,000 miles and says their 2015 Forester runs “great… No major problems.”

3. Never mismatch tires

Subaru’s all-wheel drive system allows just 3/32nds of an inch tread difference across all four tires.

Lazenby notes mismatches cause torque binding, noises, accelerated wear, even center differential damage. Some dealerships now offer tire shaving to match a single replacement.

“I confirmed and made my daughter pay for 4 tires,” a parent wrote after curb damage. Another said they’d “never buy a car” requiring that rule, but most longtime owners defend it.

As one commenter put it, “If you take care of a Subaru, that Subaru will take care of you.”