Guys, I have the same problem as mentioned by the first user. The consumption is only getting worse. The first time it was 6 months after the service… (and 6 months before the next service). The second time, the engine oil light is on within 2 months of changing it.
I barely drive 15 miles to work
THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT!! Its definitely a design flaw.
Image, WHAT was only 6 months after service? Being down a quart? And how many miles were put on your vehicle in six months? And what is the year, make and model?
Let me suggest that you post a new thread. When two people are each discussing their problems in the same thread, things can get confusing. And give us all the information when you post the thread.
Some engines use quite a bit of oil, even when new, yet they don’t meet the criteria to qualify for replacement under warranty.
That is a fact
These engines can live a long and healthy life if the oil level is regularly checked and corrected.
That is also a fact.
Every manufacturer has engines which are more problematic.
That is also a fact.
The manufacturers are loath to admit they came out with a “bad” design
That is also a fact
Holy thread resuscitation Batman!
Nine months and counting!
It may be normal but I would not be a happy camper. Our Acura uses 0-20 and usually takes no oil between 5000 mile changes. The first 5000 it used half a quart.
“The second time, the engine oil light is on within 2 months of changing it.”
That would seem to imply that you are not manually checking the oil dipstick on a regular basis.
When oil is run low enough to activate the “low oil” light, engine damage may already have taken place. (Yes guys, newer Subarus have a low oil level light, in addition to a low oil pressure light.)
This is sort of like trying to lock the barn door after the horses have escaped, but you really need to be proactive, and do manual checks of the oil at least every couple of weeks, with the object of never letting the level fall more than 1/2 qt below the full mark.
Keep a record of how much oil you add every 1,000 miles, and discuss this with the dealership at your next service visit. Ask them to schedule an oil consumption test, as this is the only way for them to verify if this issue is eligible for a warranty claim.
Mixed threads or not, the entire line of cars should not be bashed for a bad design because it’s unknown how many problem children there are in the total number bred.
The latest one sounds bit disturbing due to comments about oil lights coming on 6 months after a service and on a car that possibly sees severe service driving.
There’s no excuse for allowing the oil level to get low enough to trigger either a low level or a no oil pressure lamp.
It could be that changing the oil every 6 months on a car that sees short hop driving is the root cause of any oil consumption problem rather than a design flaw.
My low oil light on on my Buick would come on when it was down 1 quart or at the add mark. Never came on until I had a leaky pan gasket, then it came on once a week which was handy.
I find this entire thread kind of funny. I have this car & have the same issue since day 1. A little oil burning is understandable but no car should burn a quart of oil every 1500 miles, espeically a brand new one that boasts about efficiency & being good for the environment… I’ve driven all sorts of cars new & used domestic & import & never had a car burn a quart even in 3,000 miles. Not to mention subaru boasts about 7,500 mile oil changes with their new synthetic oil. Even amongst different models. My friends have both a 2003 Impreza & a 2009 sti & never had this problem… my brother has a 2013 legacy & never had this problem. It is a problem with this specific engine. I can understand urging people to be pro-active but acting like a car SHOULD be burning a quart every 1500 is just ludicrous. It is a major design flaw & subaru doesn’t have a solution so they just keep kicking the can down the road & saying "check your oil every time you fill up & add a quart every 1500 miles. No new car should cost that much extra or take the much extra time to maintain… C’mon really 5 quarts added every oil change? that means the car uses 10 quarts every oil change… totally unacceptable
These oil posts can go on forever…I keep seeing the word “problem” throughout this thread yet there is no problem…using 0-20 “oil” I think a quart every 2000 miles is outstanding! cars are disposable consumer products.
Right on @caddyman almost all modern engines using ultra lightweight oil will consume some between changes. If spending $4 for a quart every 2000 miles is offensive to some people by all means throw some straight 40 weight oil in the engine and see how much better off you’ll be.
These can go on forever because you are wrong about 2000 miles a quart being outstanding, unless you mean it stands out in a bad way… Man if you think a quart every 2000 miles is outstanding then you are sorely mistaken… I suspect you for for subraru & are trying to maintain a positive image of your company lol… I have never had a car go through that much oil… 2009 wrx, 2013 legacy, 2007 accord, 88 civic, 87 mazda, 2001 mercury, 2001 escort, 2009 vw rabbit… not a single other car has ever required extra oil between changes at 3000 miles unless it had a major oil leak somewhere… so a quart ever 1500 to 2000 miles is totally unacceptable. A brand new car burning a quart of oil every 1500 miles? that means you are down 5 quarts on a 5 quart oil pan per oil change… A car should NOT be burning an entire oil change worth of oil between every oil change.
^^^ ESPECIALLY when subaru reccomends oil changes every 7500 miles & also agree’s that it should not be burning that much oil… Only problem is they have yet to offer a real solution… they tried even adding 5w 30 to mine & the same problem still persisted… So what you are saying about 0w20 is invalid too.
& the thread CAN go on forever because it is obviously a major design flaw which many are experiencing lol
" I suspect you for for subraru (sic) & are trying to maintain a positive image of your companyl"
As they used to say in Western movies, “You’re new around here stranger”.
In reality, Caddyman is a very experienced mechanic, and is simultaneously not a fan of Subarus. However, he does speak the truth regarding this issue.
I can tell you that I have a close friend with a very well-maintained 2008 Rav-4, and the very thin
5w-20 oil that Toyota specifies for this engine burns away at a rate of 1 qt per 2k miles. Typically, I add 2 qts to his crankcase between oil changes.
And, speaking of oil changes, the interval specified by a vehicle manufacturer has absolutely nothing to do with oil consumption rates. Instead, it is based on testing that equates engine wear and sludging with oil change intervals.
No matter what the oil change interval that is specified by a mfr, any car owner who does not check his oil (and replenish, as necessary) at least every few weeks is just asking for trouble. A specified oil change interval of 7,500 miles should never be interpreted as, “you don’t need to add oil for 7,500 miles”.
How are the compression rings lubricated if a small amount of oil is not allowed to slip past the oil rings?? Cars have dip-sticks and oil-fill caps so owners can check the oil level and add oil as necessary… This is a normal part of basic automotive maintenance, it’s not a “problem”…
Some engines burn more oil than others, that’s a fact of automotive life. That does not mean engines that burn a modest amount of oil have a design defect. It just means that particular engine burns a little oil…If checking your oil level and adding as necessary is just too much for you to bear, well then , buy a Nissan leaf and escape dip-sticks and Motor Oil forever…
C’mon, I’m obviously new around here??? Get off your high horse LOL… You keep talking to everyone who does not agree with you like they are idiots but you are wrong… I never said you don’t need to add oil for 7,500 miles (which no one should have to add 5 quarts between changes) & that is what 1500 miles a quart equals that is ridiculous & unacceptable. That literally equates to ALL the oil in the car between changes… not just a portion of it… Even my Subaru dealer said this is not the way it should be… my car is in with them for the 8th time in a year & a half & they are dumbfounded… You have one friend with a Rav 4 & that sets the standard for everything esle? Give me a break… You are letting Subaru off way too easy here… this is a terrible design & should not operate this way.
Even the owners manual states a quart of oil consumption per 1200 miles is normal during break in, but there shouldn’t be any oil consumption after break in except “extreme conditions”
“If the oil consumption rate seems
abnormally high after the break-in
period, for example more than 1 quart
per 1,200 miles or 1 liter per 2,000
kilometers, contact your SUBARU dealer.”
^^^ I do not drive my car in extreme conditions, the last two months of spring have been quite mild here in Chicago. My commute is only 12 miles round trip each day & have only put 14,000 miles on it in a year & a half. Tell me again how all my expectations that I should be getting more than 1500 miles a quart are incorrect…
LOL “too much to bear”??? The manufacturer set these expectations upon the sale & also within the owners manual & I have had easily 8 other vehicles in my life where adding oil in between changes was UN-necessary… You have to be kidding me with that comment… A little oil yes understood but more than a quart every 1500 miles is hardly a “little oil.” My situation actually has been getting worse over time a quart is lasting less time with each oil change… EVEN with the HIGHER weight oil.
Also ironic to note that half the people here are saying driving it harder will increase oil consumption but the other half are saying if you don’t break it in hard enough that will increase oil consumption… Is that really a solution??? LOL what a joke… drive it really aggressively when it’s new to break it in & then drive it more reserved once it’s broken in?
@Tim Nice
"Even the owners manual states a quart of oil consumption per 1200 miles is normal during break in, but there shouldn’t be any oil consumption after break in except “extreme conditions”
“If the oil consumption rate seems
abnormally high after the break-in
period, for example more than 1 quart
per 1,200 miles or 1 liter per 2,000
kilometers, contact your SUBARU dealer.”
Assuming you posted the manual verbatim, then you may want to slow down and read it again more thoroughly.
Re-read the statement you posted from the manual- it says; abnormally high AFTER break in for example MORE THAN 1 quart per 1200 miles is concerning.
They are acknowledging it may consume up to 1 qt/1200 miles as normal AFTER break in. Anything above that is considered abnormally high.