2012 Subaru Impreza Oil Type & Capacity
The 2012 Subaru Impreza oil type depends on the engine: the Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Base, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Limited, 4D Sedan takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Limited, 4D Wagon takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Premium, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Premium, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Premium, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Premium, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Sport Limited takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Sport Premium, Automatic CVT Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the Sport Premium, Standard Trans takes 0W-20 (5.3 quarts with filter); the WRX STi, 4D Sedan takes 5W-30 (4.5 quarts with filter); the WRX STi, 4D Wagon takes 5W-30 (4.5 quarts with filter); the WRX, 4D Sedan takes 5W-30 (4.4 quarts with filter); the WRX, 4D Wagon takes 5W-30 (4.4 quarts with filter), per the factory service manual.
Factory-spec answer
It depends on the engine:
- Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Base, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Limited, 4D Sedan: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Limited, 4D Wagon: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Premium, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Premium, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Premium, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Premium, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Sport Limited: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Sport Premium, Automatic CVT Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- Sport Premium, Standard Trans: 0W-20, 5.3 quarts with filter
- WRX STi, 4D Sedan: 5W-30, 4.5 quarts with filter
- WRX STi, 4D Wagon: 5W-30, 4.5 quarts with filter
- WRX, 4D Sedan: 5W-30, 4.4 quarts with filter
- WRX, 4D Wagon: 5W-30, 4.4 quarts with filter
Oil capacity by engine
| Engine | Oil Type (viscosity) | Capacity w/ Filter | Capacity w/o Filter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Base, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Base, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Limited, 4D Sedan — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Limited, 4D Wagon — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Premium, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Premium, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Premium, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Premium, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Sport Limited — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Sport Premium, Automatic CVT Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| Sport Premium, Standard Trans — 2.0L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 0W-20 Synthetic Oil | 5.30 QTS. | 5.10 QTS. | — |
| WRX STi, 4D Sedan — WRX STi,2.5L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 5W-30 Synthetic Oil | 4.50 QTS. | 4.20 QTS. | — |
| WRX STi, 4D Wagon — WRX STi,2.5L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 5W-30 Synthetic Oil | 4.50 QTS. | 4.20 QTS. | — |
| WRX, 4D Sedan — WRX,2.5L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 5W-30 Synthetic Oil | 4.40 QTS. | 4.20 QTS. | — |
| WRX, 4D Wagon — WRX,2.5L Eng | ILSAC GF-4 or GF-5, API - SN or SM, 5W-30 Synthetic Oil | 4.40 QTS. | 4.20 QTS. | — |
Buy the right oil
Buy 0W-20 motor oil on AmazonBuy 5W-30 motor oil on Amazon2012 Subaru Impreza oil filter on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through these links.
More specs & repair guides for your Impreza
2012 Subaru Impreza factory service manualAll fluid capacities (transmission, coolant, brakes)Powered by factory manual data from our partner site AllOEMManuals.com.
Coolant capacity
8.2 quarts (7.76 L) — SUBARU Super Coolant
Frequently asked questions
What type of oil does a 2012 Subaru Impreza take?
It depends on the engine: Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans uses 0W-20; Base, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans uses 0W-20; Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans uses 0W-20; Base, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans uses 0W-20; Limited, 4D Sedan uses 0W-20; Limited, 4D Wagon uses 0W-20; Premium, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans uses 0W-20; Premium, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans uses 0W-20; Premium, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans uses 0W-20; Premium, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans uses 0W-20; Sport Limited uses 0W-20; Sport Premium, Automatic CVT Trans uses 0W-20; Sport Premium, Standard Trans uses 0W-20; WRX STi, 4D Sedan uses 5W-30; WRX STi, 4D Wagon uses 5W-30; WRX, 4D Sedan uses 5W-30; WRX, 4D Wagon uses 5W-30.
How much oil does a 2012 Subaru Impreza take?
Capacity depends on the engine: Base, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Base, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Limited, 4D Sedan holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Limited, 4D Wagon holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Premium, 4D Sedan, Automatic CVT Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Premium, 4D Sedan, Standard Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Premium, 4D Wagon, Automatic CVT Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Premium, 4D Wagon, Standard Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Sport Limited holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Sport Premium, Automatic CVT Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; Sport Premium, Standard Trans holds 5.3 quarts with filter; WRX STi, 4D Sedan holds 4.5 quarts with filter; WRX STi, 4D Wagon holds 4.5 quarts with filter; WRX, 4D Sedan holds 4.4 quarts with filter; WRX, 4D Wagon holds 4.4 quarts with filter.
Can I use synthetic oil in my 2012 Subaru Impreza?
Yes. 0W-20 is widely available as a full synthetic, and synthetic is safe (often recommended) for the 2012 Subaru Impreza. What matters most is matching the factory viscosity and specification, then changing the oil and filter on schedule.