('11+) 2012 break-in / oil consumption survey

[Commander Keen]

Here's some hard data for you guys:

-Drained factory fill and added 5.3 quarts of Mobil1 0w20.
-Drove 4683 miles, mostly hard commuting and some easy highway.
-No top-offs.
-Drained the Mobil1 fill through Fumoto valve and measured 4.6 quarts.

Consumption rate is one quart per:

4683/(5.3-4.6) = 6690 miles

Not bad.

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[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by Commander Keen

Here's some hard data for you guys:

-Drained factory fill and added 5.3 quarts of Mobil1 0w20.
-Drove 4683 miles, mostly hard commuting and some easy highway.
-No top-offs.
-Drained the Mobil1 fill through Fumoto valve and measured 4.6 quarts.

Consumption rate is one quart per:

4683/(5.3-4.6) = 6690 miles

Not bad.

Good data. And I wonder if it might be even better than you think. Your old oil filter must have trapped some of the old oil; I doubt it drained 100%.

[Commander Keen]

Good data. And I wonder if it might be even better than you think. Your old oil filter must have trapped some of the old oil; I doubt it drained 100%.

It did trap some, but I pierced the anti-drainback valve and recovered what I could. I also took a sample for analysis, so like you said, those numbers are conservative.

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by Commander Keen

Here's some hard data for you guys:

-Drained factory fill and added 5.3 quarts of Mobil1 0w20.
-Drove 4683 miles, mostly hard commuting and some easy highway.
-No top-offs.
-Drained the Mobil1 fill through Fumoto valve and measured 4.6 quarts.

Consumption rate is one quart per:

4683/(5.3-4.6) = 6690 miles

Not bad.

Similar to mine within a few ounces

[mckinnon99879]

Okay so there is a lot of us with this problem, is soa hearing us out? Is there anything being done about it?

[Commander Keen]

If you want SOA to care, give them some reliable data. Dipstick readings don't count for much.

I'm still trying to understand why people have a problem with Mobil1. I've seen zero data and the same rumors echoed over and over.

[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by Commander Keen

If you want SOA to care, give them some reliable data. Dipstick readings don't count for much.

I'm still trying to understand why people have a problem with Mobil1. I've seen zero data and the same rumors echoed over and over.

To me, the rumors started because a Subaru service writer who participates on this forum noticed a pattern with Mobil1. I know that's not very scientific, but it makes for an interesting theory when someone who works with Subarus every day notices a trend.

[mckinnon99879]

Its really a let down to see so many people throwing a fit, acting like we dont know wtf we are talking about... some of us are having oil consumption problems how hard is that to understand, we cant fake this ****... my impreza burns more oil than my 88 ford ranger, 69 ford torino and 79 bronco combined
... and thats a fact, thats no bull****... which is a true problem.. i have to top it off every 2k miles.. thats not a problem?

[79letour]

According to Grant and others at SOA, that's fine.
I need to point out that the same service writer mentioned above that says Mobil1 is a no-no agrued to me that "the spec for oil is 6 quarts". I had to have her look up how much oil goes into a 2012 Impreza. This is after taking part in the discussion here.
Sooo when it comes to patterns I've seen two distict ones-

A pattern of dismissiveness/denial/dishonesty at Subaru of America.

A pattern of dealers not REALLY knowing ANYTHING about these new oil-burning wonder "f-series" engines.

Its like one day out of nowhere the cars started showing up on boats, and the dealers went to selling them before they even had the proper factory training and support. The car was rushed and improperly brought to market.

[M45]

how the hell does a service person not know how many quarts of oil to put in? it's in the freakin' manual!!!

eta: I actually happened to ask the salesman the day I picked the car up how many qts it takes and he seemed to remember 5.1-5.3 quarts and he doesn't even do the service on the car.

[79letour]

What irritates me about it is this is that she, on the forum, really pushed for me to take it to them for the OC test. I was looking to get out of the car, and I was told that if they could document the consumption, they would see about giving me a good deal on a used car.
When I told her that the tech had told me he purposely overfilled my car, she got the service mgr. They looked up how much oil was called for. The tech was pissed off. He lowered the oil level from *an inch and a quarter over the full mark* to about 1/2" or 5/8" above the full mark.
The consumption test is supposed to have a dye added, mine doesn't, and calls for , I believe, an EVEN 5 quarts or at the most to the full line.
The fact that they didn't do a consumption test properly after all the communication we had, is just scary.

[jr0bb5]

I have a feeling that the only way Subaru is going to acknowlede a problem, is if/when peoples engines start failing or start burning over a quart per 1200 miles.

IMHO, if peoples concerns about oil consumption start to get too numerous, they'll just quietly make a revision to the rings or whatever else may be causing the problem, and hope us oil burners eventually just get tired of complaing.

[Commander Keen]

Let's limit this thread to data and solutions. There's already a giant thread for complaining.

[79letour]

I don't see how the comments are irrelevant. More data has been discussed on here than at Soa.
And, we're all waiting on Subaru for solutions.
Subaru's unwillingness to step up is why folks are getting upset.
But I agree- if you're burning oil- PLEASE feel free to post away in the "Now its my oil light" thread. Its becoming a google giant!
I'm just glad others are starting to be alarmed that their new cars are using more oil than old crap-boxes from the 80's.

[Commander Keen]

They're not irrelevant, just redundant. If there is a solution (like using thicker oil), I don't want it drowned out in dozens of pages of complaints.

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by Commander Keen

They're not irrelevant, just redundant. If there is a solution (like using thicker oil), I don't want it drowned out in dozens of pages of complaints.

This!

[79letour]

I do see your point.
But being that Oil Consumption is in the title of the thread, and anyone who's dealing with consumption is going to be pretty irked by their car, commentary is inevitable.
I have left this thread alone, since I've already provided all info that I can. Although, I didn't update the info in this thread after my last dealer visit, which I should.
Since there's a good chance that I'm currently running (and burning) 0w30, I think the next logical oil to try would be 5w30. I *may* even say f-it, and get Mobil1 at that.

One thing I know- no one is as qualified to change your oil as YOU. No matter who you are.
My car never had any consumption issues until I let a dealer pour a ton of oil into my crankcase.
Of course, others are burning even more than I, and may have never been overfilled.
When everything was still *good* with me and SOA, I asked them some very specific and scientific questions. They never responded. Then I was blacklisted. I've seen my service file, and the folks at soa are just lousy, aweful, good-for-nothing people who get paid to answer phones. They haven't a clue about these engines or the cars they're in. And they straight up lied to me on several occasions.
With all that said- I will report the results when I do get the 5w30 in and get a thousand miles down the road.

[Spectre23]

So I just picked up my 2013 STi. It has 40 miles on it now. When I start it, it puts out a smelly burned oil cloud that fills my garage. And when I turn it off, it smoulders for a few minutes. It's like someone dumped a quart of oil in my exhaust.

[79letour]

Sounds like a valve seal to me. Definitely take it back to the dealer and have them park it overnight in their shop. That way the smoke won't be "imaginary" and they can get to fixing it.

[Spectre23]

I figured I would give it a few days. So far today it has not done it. Just smells like burning plastic on the driver's side outside the car is all now. Hopefully it is over

[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by Spectre23

So I just picked up my 2013 STi. It has 40 miles on it now. When I start it, it puts out a smelly burned oil cloud that fills my garage. And when I turn it off, it smoulders for a few minutes. It's like someone dumped a quart of oil in my exhaust.

I think it's just new-car chemicals from the factory burning off the hot manifold/exhaust portions of your car. Shouldn't last long.

[pkL]

I had some plasticy smell initially when my car was brand new, it's part of the new car smell.

[PoorB]

2013 Bought last month.
Broken in on the hard side of Subaru suggested, over 4k a couple of times etc. but did not hammer it at any time. No OC during city or around the city driving through the first 950 miles, checked several times.
New FF was about 1/8 -1/4 over the top notch on the dip stick.
Took an hour plus drive one way last week, (so about 2.5 -3 hrs total) and did not use cruise. Went down from the 1/8-1/4 over to 1/8th under the top notch on dip stick.
Did the same drive distance and time over the weekend, dropped another 1/8th.
Have about 1500 miles total so far so still considered breakin loss by SOA. I don't know if I have a problem yet or not. I have to put about 400 miles on the road this weekend so I guess I will find out where I stand on Monday. I have checked my oil both when cold and warm. I get the same readings. Car is parked in the same spot in my level garage.
On a side note, dumped my front manual trans oil. It was black. I put in Extra S and it has been clear so far but only have a few hundred miles on since the change. The front was darker than the rear.
So, though I am concerned there is nothing I can do right now but document and hope that these are just break in issues that will settle down after the car is a bit older.

[79letour]

Just get it documented if it continues to consume oil.
May just be break-in related. Best of luck.
If it continues to use oil, please drop a post in the "now its my oil light!!!" Thread. Or, feel free to post anyhow.
Good luck man!

[Chris793]

I just picked up my new 13 impreza sport yesterday. Looked at the dipstick when the car was cold and it looked like the oil level was about 1/8th above the lower dot, or minimum line. The car has 150 miles on it, did it come under filled from the factory?