How to change the engine oil and filter on a Subaru Liberty or Legacy 3rd Gen EJ25 – 1998 to 2004

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Looking for a guide to change the engine oil and oil filter on your Subaru Liberty/Legacy 3rd generation with the 2.5L motor? Here’s ours.

Park your vehicle on hard, level ground suitable for jacking it up on – e.g. a concrete floor:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

Jack the car up – we are using the central jack point underneath the engine and a 3-tonne trolley jack:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

Once the car has been jacked up put some jack stands under the chassis rail on either side at the jack points – one visible here:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

You definitely don’t want to be under a vehicle that’s only held up by a jack. Assuming it hasn’t been removed/lost previously you should have a plastic shield attached to the underside of the car (part number 56410AE06A). Through it you can see the sump plug (part number 807020010 or 807020070 – eBay US, eBay CA, eBay UK, eBay AU, Amazon):

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

For easier access to the oil filter we are going to remove the shield. There are three bolts at the front, part number M000159 – shown removed here:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

Two more M000159 bolts at the rear right in front of the jack point:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

And one on either side in the wheel well, part number 59132AA010:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

With all of those removed we can take out the cover:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

The bolts removed – one of the screws is missing the washer:

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

Now you should be able to see the underside of the motor properly. Click here for the next part!

Here's a how to guide for changing the engine oil and oil filter on a Subary Liberty Legacy 3rd generation - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 with the EJ25 2.5L four cylinder boxer engine, as shown on MotoFaction.org.

Missed the first link? Here’s part two.

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