@RDGrounds Welcome to the forum from DFW, TX. Please update your forum profile with details of the vehicle: https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/your-forum-public-profile-how-to-fill-this-out.824165/

Regarding the oil level sensor. It's considered NOT accurate. If you're 100% certain it's not the sensor, I would suggest just ignoring it, and make sure your daughter checks oil level at every fuel-up. My son drives our 2001 and there's no such light, so he's trained now to always check the oil level at each fill-up.

Thank you,
bman

 

Thank you for the feedback!

 

@RDGrounds welcome to the forum. Are you sure you are checking oil accurately? If you reset the light and it comes on in 2k miles, that is a realistic distance for an engine of this vintage to use a quart of oil and need a quart added. The 2011-14 FB engines were known to use oil, some at a horrible rate. 2k miles per quart is not bad so long as you don't run the engine low.

There are long threads at how to check oil, and experience with other cars does not always translate. Totally level surface, pull the stick, wipe it, reinsert, and then read level.

 

Yes, we are checking it correctly. Is there a reset on the 2014 Crosstrek for when you change the oil? I cannot find anything. Yea, I have seen they are good at consuming oil. Thank you!!

 

I have owned 2 x NON-Subaru vehicles that DO NOT have a dipstick. Neither have this so called reset when you change the oil. The vehicles were 2013 VW Jetta TDI and 2011 VW Touareg TDI, note that both vehicles had very accurate oil level sensors. They graphically displayed oil level vs just a dumb light. Both vehicles told you in Liters how much oil was in the engine. Both vehicles I vacuumed out the oil via the dipstick tube and then filled in what I removed, yes my vacuum pump has marking telling me what was vacuumed out. The 2011 VW Touareg TDI need 7L, so I always put in 7L and looked at the vacuum pump to confirm that's what I removed.

 

I have a '17 Forester and we have never seen a low oil level light come on. Why would there be a reset button if the oil is low? Filling up the oil should immerse the sensor and fix the low level light just like a low fuel light. If the light goes out when you change it (and fill it) and then it comes on in 2k miles, my logic says the car is using oil.

 

Sorry I mean a reset when you change your oil. Thank you!

 

My daughter has a 2014 Crosstrek

We're more than willing to help here but there is also a specific forum for Crosstreks:

Subaru Crosstrek and XV Forums

The world's largest online community of Subaru Crosstrek and XV owners, prospective owners, and enthusiasts. Join us!

www.subaruxvforum.com

 

If you are sure that the light always stays off for 2000+ miles after an oil change, that is strong evidence that the sensor is working correctly and you truly are using oil. Also, it is easy to mis-read Subaru dipsticks. Always wipe, always be on level ground.

 

Like @bman400 I own a VW product with no dipstick (2014 A5 2.0T) and its oil sensor has always been accurate and reliable. It can take some miles and minutes before it reacts to the big change of having an oil change or etc. But it always catches on automatically after that wait.

 

RDGrounds

It is very easy to misread a Subaru dipstick.
One side will appear to have more oil on it than the other, but the oil doesn't go all the way across the stick.
Ignore that side.
The other side with a lower level that does go all the way across is the oil level you want to read.

If you discover that the car is actually using oil, you may suggest to your daughter that she try a higher viscosity oil.

Many on this forum (including me) have discovered that a heavier weight oil stays in the crankcase when the "recommended" 0-20 weight oil tends to disappear...