The 7 Things That Could Destroy Your Subaru And How To Keep Your Value From Sinking

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The value of your Subaru vehicle could drop if you do these seven things. Check out this report to see what to do and what not to do.

If you recently purchased a new Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, or other model, you want to keep the value as high as possible when you trade it in three to five years. There are some things you shouldn't do, or the value of a Subaru could drop. 

Some of this report comes from tips from Subaru insider Alex Prestigiacomo, who works at Bachman Subaru. There are red flags Subaru dealers look for when a car comes off lease or a customer wants to trade in their Subaru. 

Check out the video below for more information. I cover Subaru tips regularly, so check back often for my informative Subaru Reports. 

photo credit: Adventure Subaru

The 7 Things That Could Destroy Your Subaru

1. Be aware of your Subaru maintenance schedule.

Performing the regular maintenance items that Subaru recommends, like oil changes, is vital to keep your Subaru running correctly. The schedule can be found in the owner's manual or accessed from your touchscreen menu. From your touchscreen, go to Home, click on Car Info, and then on Maintenance. I wrote a lengthy report on the Maintenance and what oil is the best for your Subaru. 

2. Wash the road debris off your car regularly.

Your Subaru will hold its value by looking the best. It's essential to get road debris off the underside of your vehicle. In Colorado, where I live, they use Magnesium Chloride to melt snow and ice off the roads. The Mag Chloride and salt can damage your Subaru paint and other components beneath the car. Regular washes are vital to keep the value of your vehicle from dropping.

Also, if you park your car under a tree, leaves and tree sap can harm your paint. These should be cleaned off regularly.

photo credit: Adventure Subaru

3. Purchase the all-weather floor mats for your new Subaru. 

The cloth floor mats that come standard on your Subaru will not keep the floor pan from getting wet and damaged for constant wet shoes as you get in and out of your vehicle. It is an easy way to protect the floor of your new mode. Getting the all-weather matt for the rear cargo area is also essential, especially if a pet rides in the back. 

4. Do not use glass cleaner on your touchscreen display.

The ammonia in many glass cleaners will harm the touchscreen surface. Use a microfiber cloth and gently wipe off fingerprints and dust. If you need more, use a little bit of water. But no harsh cleaners. 

5. Don't overfill your gas tank.

When you fill-up your Subaru vehicle, do not overfill your gas tank. Many people like to put in more gas with an additional nozzle click. This can damage your vehicle. Another tip is to keep your tank from running to empty. Both can cause unnecessary wear on your Subaru's fuel pump and cause it to need to be replaced prematurely.

6. Be sure to use the proper fuel for your vehicle. 

I wrote a detailed explanation of what octane fuel best suits your Subaru. If you drive a Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, Impreza, or Legacy, your vehicle is designed to run on 87-octane or regular gasoline, and you don't need expensive premium fuel. If you own a Subaru performance car, it will require premium unleaded fuel.

7. Don't turn off your seat belt alarm.

Turning off the seat belt alarm system can harm and shut off your adaptive cruise control. The EyeSight driver assist is controlled by the cameras above the windshield. It can be expensive to reset the safety technology. 

I recently wrote a report on the best oil for your new Subaru Outback, Crosstrek, Forester, or other models. Watch it below, and it could prolong the life of your Subaru Boxer engine.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed these Subaru tips to keep the value of your Subaru from dropping the story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

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I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: Adventure Subaru