Subaru Forester, SJ (USA / CAN)

Coolant capacity & service interval

Subaru Forester, SJ (USA / CAN) coolant capacity ranges from 7,4 to 8,9 liters. Service intervals include 75000 miles or 72 months and 137500 miles or 132 months. The data covers 12 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
Forester 2.0 XT (2015-2018)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8,9 liter
  • Change 75000 miles/ 72 months
Forester 2.0 XT (2015-2018)
  • Use: First change only
  • Capacity 8,9 liter
  • Change 137500 miles/ 132 months
Forester 2.5i (2015-2018)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7,6 liter (with CVT)
  • Capacity 7,4 liter (with manual transmission)
  • Change 75000 miles/ 72 months
Forester 2.5i (2015-2018)
  • Use: First change only
  • Capacity 7,6 liter (with CVT)
  • Capacity 7,4 liter (with manual transmission)
  • Change 137500 miles/ 132 months
Forester 2.0 XT (2014-2015)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8,9 liter
  • Change 75000 miles/ 72 months
Forester 2.0 XT (2014-2015)
  • Use: First change only
  • Capacity 8,9 liter
  • Change 137500 miles/ 132 months
Forester 2.5i (2014-2015)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7,6 liter (with CVT)
  • Capacity 7,4 liter (with manual transmission)
  • Change 75000 miles/ 72 months
Forester 2.5i (2014-2015)
  • Use: First change only
  • Capacity 7,6 liter (with CVT)
  • Capacity 7,4 liter (with manual transmission)
  • Change 137500 miles/ 132 months
Forester 2.0 XT (2013-2014)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 8,9 liter
  • Change 75000 miles/ 72 months
Forester 2.0 XT (2013-2014)
  • Use: First change only
  • Capacity 8,9 liter
  • Change 137500 miles/ 132 months
Forester 2.5i (2013-2014)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 7,6 liter (with CVT)
  • Capacity 7,4 liter (with manual transmission)
  • Change 75000 miles/ 72 months
Forester 2.5i (2013-2014)
  • Use: First change only
  • Capacity 7,6 liter (with CVT)
  • Capacity 7,4 liter (with manual transmission)
  • Change 137500 miles/ 132 months

Additional Notes

  • The Subaru Forester SJ cooling system capacity for the 2.0 XT engine holds 8.9 liters across all listed model year ranges from 2013-2018, regardless of transmission type.
  • The 2.5i engine carries a smaller coolant volume than the 2.0 XT, with a capacity of 7.6 liters when paired with a CVT and 7.4 liters when paired with a manual transmission. The 0.2-liter difference between transmission types reflects the varying thermal mass and coolant routing associated with each gearbox.
  • All configurations across both engine variants share the same normal-use change interval of 75,000 miles or 72 months, whichever comes first. The mileage and time limits run concurrently, so the interval closes at whichever threshold is reached earliest.
  • A separate first-change-only interval of 137,500 miles or 132 months applies to all listed configurations. A first-change-only designation typically indicates that the factory-fill coolant has a longer service life than subsequent refills, which revert to the standard normal-use interval after the initial drain.
  • The extended first-change interval of 137,500 miles is nearly double the 75,000-mile normal interval, reflecting the higher-grade long-life coolant commonly used as a factory fill in modern vehicles.
  • The 2.5i cooling system capacity remains consistent at 7.6 liters (CVT) and 7.4 liters (manual) across all three listed year ranges, from 2013-2014 through 2015-2018, with no variation in volume between those periods.
  • The 2.0 XT and 2.5i engines share identical change intervals under both the normal and first-change-only conditions, even though the two engines differ in displacement, forced induction configuration, and total coolant volume.

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