Well I did my 1st oil change on the STI this weekend. To my suprise, the oil drain plug is magnetic. There was probably an eighth of an inch of what looked like gray "mud" attached to it. :eek: I did the change at 2000 miles. I usually change it out at 1000 miles, but thought Subaru says normal change 1st. time so I'll push it a little. So much for the filter catching it all! Then I started thinking about what ferrous metals would be wearing (banking on the premis that Subaru didn't leave any shavings in my engine) during those first 2000miles. Crank, Valves/Guides, Rods? RP

It has to do with the stop sale on 08's and 09's. The magnetic plug was part of the procedure to visually check for bits of high wear. I guess they decided to go with them from the factory now.

From scoobymods.com:

Turbo Engine Stop Sale checking Procedure
On April 7, 2008 we informed you of a stop sale order on 2008 Impreza, STi and Legacy vehicles and 2009 Forester vehicles equipped with 2.5L Turbo Engines and produced with the beginning chassis number/production dates and later as shown below:

Model Body Type Chassis Number Production Date
Forester Wagon 701045 or later 2008/01/08 or later
Legacy 2.5GT-LTD 222825 or later 2008/02/04 or later
2.5GT-B 222958 or later
OBK 2.5XT-LTD 353835 or later 2008/02/01 or later
Impreza Sedan 523363 or later 2008/01/08 or later
Wagon 825183 or later

We took this action as a “Customer First” preventive action as we had confirmed, in other markets, that there was a small possibility of an “Engine Knocking Noise” caused by a contamination in the area of the connecting rod big end journal at very low mileage/time in service.

The action was successful in preventing the potential of failures for our customers.

Subaru has defined a screening process that you must perform to all of the affected vehicles in your inventory before delivery to a customer or putting in demonstrator service.

The screening process consists of several steps to inspect the condition of the engine oil to determine if the engine is not affected by the contamination, is already damaged, or has a potential for damage. ...

-Dennis

O.K. so I have "magnetic sludge" on my drain plug. Don't worry, call Subaru, torch the car, raffel it off, wait until the next oil change? I guess I'm concerned because my dealer never did the "reflash" while it was in their inventory. I found out about it here then called by dealers service dept. and they said, HUH? I told her to run my vin # and she said, guess we never reflashed it. Would you like to set up a date to have that done? RP