[JT@RC]

Or change oil yourself. I guarantee it’s less effort than the previous post.

 

[Bdkdave]

Or change oil yourself. I guarantee it’s less effort than the previous post.

You are correct!!! But not everyone is capable of doing it or would even be bothered! Some people are not just mechanically inclined in the very least. And that is ok! I am not a medical doctor also! So I go to one. But I am still my own advocate when I know things are not right! Anyone can mark a subaru filter they are easy. And anyone can drop a little dye in the oil. However you are correct! Change it yourself and you know for sure! Or at least ask to watch the oil and filter being removed from the car and watch the new oil and filter go in. Most people are too polite to demand that and do they get taken advantage of. If everyone demanded to watch it would become industry practice! Most dealerships send videos of the safety check to the customers in the waiting room as of Covid! It is now a standard practice with the company tablet. Why not do the same with the old filter and dropping the oil. I tell people always ask for your oil to be dispensed from bottles at the dealerships! And check the plastic seal by breaking it yourself and the foil protection as well. Once a few bottles go in you can leave. It is a shame! I estimate about half of all oil changes done have at least some deceptive practices done to the customer.

 

[ForesterBill]

The interesting thing about this case in particular with subaru was that when they investigated it. Most of the cars serviced at dealerships didn’t have any oil consumption problems! And the ones that did, subaru found out that those dealerships were using cheap bulk oil...So the findings were that all the Subarus that used subaru branded oil or indumetsu oil ( that is who makes subaru oil) did not appear to have any oil consumption issues! Even Mobil 1 full synthetic and other comparable premium oil products failed the subaru engine! This was a huge learning experience for everyone including subaru who spent millions trying to figure this out. And still there is no clear scientific answer...I have written about this on many forums over the years. It is well documented... As of this TSB a few years ago I never use anything except subaru branded or indumetsu oil and filters in any subaru.

I didn’t do the research! I just read it and studied the case and it’s findings. I recognize the technical service bulletin for what it is.

Can you post a link to the case study, documentation and/or TSB regarding these findings?

 

[Bdkdave]

Can you post a link to the case study, documentation and/or TSB regarding these findings?

 

[DockingPilot]

Dave likes exclamation points !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Vishnu]

Some may look at this response as a bit harsh, but it is spot on. A car is an expensive thing to just assume that it’s always okay. There is no low oil level light on this car, just a low oil pressure light that tells you you need to replace the motor.

My '14 did indeed have a low oil level sensor. That's how I learned it was one of the oil pumpers Subaru built. I got a new engine at over a one hundred thousand miles on the clock.

I read once that GM runs new engines dry w/o oil for so many minutes prior to installation. I was incredulous, but it was in a Car and Driver or Motortrend. Perhaps your mechanic drained the oil and forgot to refill it???

 

[DragonSubie7]

Dave likes exclamation points !

He's also been banned. thus improving the forum.
Thanks to whomever pulled that plug.

Back on topic -
The MY12 does not have a warning light for "low oil", only the red light low/no oil pressure which should have illuminated, but unfortunately by that time, damage was likely done.

I have a MY12 FB25 4EAT. Unless driven at high speeds/high loads/high heat for extended periods, it doesn't use oil.
Conversely, under those conditions it can drink like a fish, especially with 0-20.

While the OP's daughter might have had a lot of miles without oil use, several all day summer drives on a highway could have changed that.

The other thing I've found is to use a heavier weight oil in the summer. It made a dramatic difference for me.
YMMV.

 

[bman400]

IMHO, unless your vehicle does not have a dipstick for checking oil levels, I would not depend on any dash indicator of any kind......I used to own a 2011 VW Touareg TDI. NO dipstick, and surprisingly, it had a fairly adequate oil level indicator on the center console. It had a dipstick tube, just no dipstick.

Just saying, check the dipstick each time you fill-up.....SOP here and that's what I am teaching my 20 year old son as well.

 

[DragonSubie7]

IMHO, unless your vehicle does not have a dipstick for checking oil levels, I would not depend on any dash indicator of any kind......

Yep - Even the best electronics can fail, where dipsticks just don't - Ever.
The Subaru window washer fluid sensor comes to mind..

Just saying, check the dipstick each time you fill-up.....SOP here and that's what I am teaching my 20 year old son as well.

He'll probably ask you where to download the app for that...
It might help to tell him if the car runs out oil and he fries the engine, your warranty with him (and any dealer) is NADA except of course to Bdkdave who is no longer with us.. 😃

Oops - I hit (exceeded) my emoticon limits

 

[Natedog]

@OP, glad you learned your lesson on oil and are properly training family members, too many people assume and end up how your engine died.

Bdkdave had some good points but his demeanor was less than helpful, I may try Subaru brand engine oil next time just to see. I've come to rely on Castrol full synthetic, however my 2012 non-turbo may be using some oil especially when driven at 80mph with the current flow of traffic lol.

 

[JT@RC]

IMHO, unless your vehicle does not have a dipstick for checking oil levels, I would not depend on any dash indicator of any kind......I used to own a 2011 VW Touareg TDI. NO dipstick, and surprisingly, it had a fairly adequate oil level indicator on the center console. It had a dipstick tube, just no dipstick.

Just saying, check the dipstick each time you fill-up.....SOP here and that's what I am teaching my 20 year old son as well.

I had a Porsche 996 that has an oil meter on the dash to show the oil level—those Germans.

 

[DredheadV2.0]

Hey y'all, I have questions and need some sage guidance with a 2013 5MT, approx 110k miles.

Last July, had (amongst many other things) the cam carriers resealed when the Subaru service rep told me there was leaking. Also got center diff and AC worked on, and also an oil change.

In November, got the clutch rebuilt.

Last month, had the car towed to the mechanic, because after a few days of a developing clatter noise I checked the oil, none visible on the dipstick. It was due for an oil change that week anyway, so they did one (and comped it for some reason , didn't have to pay) and said bring it back after 1k miles so they can see if it's consuming oil. After 1200mi it was down 2.5q, yes there's consumption. And now my piston rings are f*****.

The service guy is trying to pass this off as "old car, things wear out" but I've owned older - including a 99 Fozzie that had 327k miles when I sold it - and kinda thought oil consumption was a gradually worsening issue, not zero to rebuild the motor in a few months.

I've been bringing it there since I bought the car in 2021. When they did the full inspection back in July (which is when they found leaky cam seals) I assume they would have told me about huge oil consumption, not just a l'il leak.

I had them do another quick check of the car in November when they did the clutch. No one said nuthin about oil consumption.

Today the service rep opens the conversation with "so what are your plans for this vehicle," a phrase which means "this car is done, time to hit the showroom floor buddy" and after a circular discussion that went nowhere he stood his ground they The Car Is Old, This Stuff Happens.

Am I wrong in assuming this stuff doesn't just happen? My plans for this car were to keep it as long as my last 5MT, the 99 with 327k miles. Am I wrong to wonder if maybe there was something they screwed up?

thanks for listening

 

[Theseus161]

What is the service history of this vehicle?
If the previous owner abused the car, didn’t do regular maintenance, that’s when things wear out. Unless your mechanic has a crystal ball, you may never know what happened before you purchased. Yes, oil consumption is a thing for ALL care brands but not every vehicle.

I don’t know exactly why but I do know that if you don’t maintain and pamper today’s cars, they will see problems. Religious oil changes is number one. Don’t use manufacturers recommended intervals. Do them before. Forget all that inspection. Replace.

AFA your mechanic keeping mum about OC, who knows. But it’s up to you to keep track of. I don’t mean to sound harsh.

 

[bman400]

@DredheadV2.0 Please update your forum profile to include this vehicle, your profile only list the 1998 Forester: Your forum "Public Profile" - how to fill this...

Thank you,
bman

 

[bman400]

The 2011-2014 Subaru Forester engines are known for oil consumption. Some have mentioned here that it's worse for those driving MT, due to owners doing engine braking which in turn increases pressure and pushing oil past the rings. Subaru did fix the issues with later versions of the engine.

 

[JT@RC]

every other fillup at the pump add quart of oil-- the other type of hybrid engine

 

[auntiesuebee]

<snip>
Am I wrong to wonder if maybe there was something they screwed up?
<snip

Yes you are.. They have not screwed anything up.

These years are known to have oil consumption issues. Sounds like you don't regularly check your oil and also sounds like you did not have an oil consumption test until last month. Prior to that test being completed no one knows if you actually have an oil consumption issue.

I would not plan on the current engine seeing 372k miles.

 

[ForesterBill]

These years are known to have oil consumption issues.

...especially those units with a MT.

There was a settlement agreement that resulted in the following TSB. Unfortunately time and mileage terms have expired for the OP.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10144873-9999.pdf

 

[551602]

Did the red oil light on the dash come on? Did the engine sound improve when you added oil? With luck, you didn't fatally damage the engine by running it with too little oil. If so, your best bet is to switch to 5w30 oil and check it every two weeks or second fill up on trips and top it off as needed. It's a minor inconvenience and will ensure a longer engine life. Mine has burned oil for the 3 and half years I have owned it ( also leaked oil) and it runs great.

 

[DragonSubie7]

The oil consumption issue on the early FB25's is pronounced with extended high speed travel / high engine loading and operation in high temperatures.
My FB25 can drink the recommended 0-20 like a fish when operated in these conditions.

After I switched to heavier weight oil, usage in 5K OCI is no longer measurable on the dipstick.
YMMV