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  • Andy Kauffman

Maintenance: Let's do a tuneup, shall we?

Updated: Sep 26

We took possession of the 1997 (KS3-3UM) Subaru Sambar Super Deluxe Classic pickup on January 18th, 2023. When we got it home, it had 31,661 km (19,661.5 mi) on the odometer. As of the end of August, 2024, it had 35,045 km (21,762.9 mi). That's 3,384 km (2,101.4 mi) in just over 19 months, or an average of roughly 178 km (140 mi) a month. Other than having to replace an alternator, the truck has run flawlessly. Starting in July, 2024, I decided that I wanted to drive my KS3 as much as possible. I started using it as my "daily driver," and on the weekends I will choose the truck first over even the 2019 or 2023 Subaru Crosstreks. (Yes, we're a wee bit of a Subaru family.) Since we adopted the vehicle, I've checked the oil, put air in the tires, and put gas in it. Bad Andy. We bought a vehicle with a completely unknown service history, and then... just started driving it? Every day? We have to stop the insanity. A vehicle is going to treat us right if we treat IT right, and that starts with proper, routine maintenance. There are maintenance intervals to track, and that makes my German side very, very happy. That means SPREADSHEETS! So there you are. You've got a fist-full of the appropriate money for your locale, and you want to do some maintenance! Here in the US, the Kei vehicles were never sold so, you're going to see a lot of this:

1997 -> Subaru -> Hey... where the hell is my KS3? We know there are parts out there (locally) that will fit it, but which ones? Enter Robert Krenicki's amazing Google Sheet. Robert picked up an earlier, supercharged Subaru Sambar, (5MT, because he's one of the cool kids) and put a ton of work into it. He also created what is basically the parts bible, the above Google Sheet. It's centered around his Supercharged Sambar, but has a ton of great info in there. In our case, it's going to help a lot when it comes to finding cross-referenced parts we can pick up at our local parts stores. What am I going to replace / refresh during my tuneup? I will list the name, the Subaru Part number (thank you, Robert), then cross-reference parts, and finally, a link to where I'm probably going to get it from.

Description

Subaru Part #

Cross-Reference

Link

Price

Notes

Air Filter

16546KA164


Fram/STP CA6867, NAPA 6227, PIAA PF58


$15.99


Oil Filter

15208KA012


Any filter for Subaru Justy such as WIX 51358 or STP/Fram 6607


7.99


Oil

None listed, but 10w30, 10w40, 15w40 are all acceptable


$43.49 ($27.16 for the change)

6 quarts (~5.6L). An oil change with filter will take about 3.5L

Spark Plugs (4)

22401KA210

NGK BKR5E-11

FinditParts

$11.16 (qty 4)

This particular one is the BKR5EKB11, but we're going to try it.

Spark plug wires (4 + 1 coil wire in my case)



$30.49

A universal 8mm V8 kit (+ coil wire) and you have two sets!

Spark Plug wire crimping tool



$24.99

Works with 8mm & 8.5mm wires

Distributor Cap for EN07C (Denso Type)

22162KA151

Trying to find one

$14.07


Rotor for Distributor above

22157KA020

Trying to find one

$8.27


Transmission / Gear Oil

K0322F0091

Redline 50304

23.99

Rear diff (KS3) is around 0.8L (roughly 0.85 quarts) DO NOT USE GL-5!!! GL-4 only because we have brass synchromesh gears.



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