--- title: "2012-2013 Subaru Forester Transmission Fluid & Coolant" description: "Which transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester takes, with capacities and the specifications each one has to meet. Transmission: 2.5X/2.5i: Lineartronic CVT (TR580) with Subaru CVTF-HT; total system ~10-12 qt, drain-and-fill typically returns ~5-6 qt. 2.5XT: conventional 4-speed automatic (4EAT) or 5-speed manual with Subaru ATF/manual gear oil.. Coolant: Subaru Long Life Coolant (green, pre-mixed). First change at 11 years / 137,500 mi, then every 6 years / 75,000 mi if never topped off with non-Subaru coolant.." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/fluids" updated: "2026-08-21" --- # 2012-2013 Subaru Forester Fluid Types and Capacities Which transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester takes, with capacities and the specifications each one has to meet. Transmission: 2.5X/2.5i: Lineartronic CVT (TR580) with Subaru CVTF-HT; total system ~10-12 qt, drain-and-fill typically returns ~5-6 qt. 2.5XT: conventional 4-speed automatic (4EAT) or 5-speed manual with Subaru ATF/manual gear oil.. Coolant: Subaru Long Life Coolant (green, pre-mixed). First change at 11 years / 137,500 mi, then every 6 years / 75,000 mi if never topped off with non-Subaru coolant.. ## 2012-2013 Subaru Forester fluid guide (Check your manual) | System | Fluid type & capacity | | --- | --- | | Coolant | Subaru Long Life Coolant (green, pre-mixed). First change at 11 years / 137,500 mi, then every 6 years / 75,000 mi if never topped off with non-Subaru coolant. | | Transmission | 2.5X/2.5i: Lineartronic CVT (TR580) with Subaru CVTF-HT; total system ~10-12 qt, drain-and-fill typically returns ~5-6 qt. 2.5XT: conventional 4-speed automatic (4EAT) or 5-speed manual with Subaru ATF/manual gear oil. | | Brake fluid | DOT 3 brake fluid | | Power steering | Electric power steering on most trims by this generation | Note: Plain washer fluid; no special spec ## Which Subaru Forester model years does this cover? These fluids specifications apply to every Subaru Forester built from 2012 through 2013, the SH (3rd generation), compact crossover suv. Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2012 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012) - [2013 Forester](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2013) ## What changed during the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2012 | 2.5X Touring trim added above 2.5X Limited with HID headlights, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and silver roof rails; 2.5XT models gain a larger rear spoiler | | 2012-2013 | Facelift years of the SH generation; non-turbo trims run the newer FB25 while the 2.5XT retains the EJ25 turbo through the end of production in 2013 | | 2013 | Minor changes only: Sky Blue dropped from the exterior color palette, replaced by Marine Blue and Deep Cherry Pearl | ## 2012-2013 Subaru Forester fluids: common questions ### What transmission fluid does a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester take? 2.5X/2.5i: Lineartronic CVT (TR580) with Subaru CVTF-HT; total system ~10-12 qt, drain-and-fill typically returns ~5-6 qt. 2.5XT: conventional 4-speed automatic (4EAT) or 5-speed manual with Subaru ATF/manual gear oil.. Transmission fluid specifications are not interchangeable. Friction modifiers differ between them, and the wrong fluid causes shudder long before it causes failure. ### What coolant does a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester use? Subaru Long Life Coolant (green, pre-mixed). First change at 11 years / 137,500 mi, then every 6 years / 75,000 mi if never topped off with non-Subaru coolant.. ### What brake fluid does a 2012-2013 Subaru Forester take? DOT 3 brake fluid. ## Sources - [Wikipedia, Subaru Forester generations (SH)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2013 Forester 2.5L FB25BC oil spec/capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2013/subaru/forester/2-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-fb25bc-2/) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2010 Forester 2.5L EJ255 turbo oil spec/capacity](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2010/subaru/forester/2-5l-4-cyl-engine-code-ej255-e-turbo/) - [Subaru Forester Owners Forum, oil type & filter for 2013 2.5XT (5W-30, 4.4 qt per owner's manual)](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/oil-type-filter-for-2013-2-5xt.133018/) - [sportsubarusouth.com, Subaru Forester oil type by model year (2011-2013 SH)](https://www.sportsubarusouth.com/subaru-research/subaru-forester-oil-type/) - [KBB, 2010 Subaru Forester specs (2.5XT: 224 hp / 226 lb-ft)](https://www.kbb.com/subaru/forester/2010/) - [Edmunds, 2013 Subaru Forester review (2.5XT specs, 4-speed automatic)](https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/forester/2013/review/) - [tirecalculatorhub.com, Subaru Forester OEM tire size guide by year](https://tirecalculatorhub.com/guides/subaru-tire-calculator) - [Conley Subaru, Forester lug nut torque by model year](https://www.conleysubaru.com/subaru-research/subaru-forester-lug-nut-torque/) - [Class Law Group, Subaru oil consumption class action settlement summary](https://www.classlawgroup.com/subaru-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit) - [subaruforester.org, 2011-14 Forester oil consumption class action lawsuit thread](https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2011-14-forester-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit-merged-thread.360817/) - [subaruofdayton.com, Subaru EJ25 head gasket history explainer](https://www.subaruofdayton.com/blog/head-gaskets-horizons-and-hope-the-truth-about-older-subaru-models) ## Other Subaru Forester generations - [2025-2026 Subaru Forester fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2025-2026/fluids) - [2019-2024 Subaru Forester fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2019-2024/fluids) - [2014-2018 Subaru Forester fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2014-2018/fluids) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/fluids). ## More for the 2012-2013 Subaru Forester - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/brakes) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/common-problems) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/subaru/forester/2012-2013/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.