Should I be concerned with coolant and oil level?

[B-R-Z]

My car now has 8100 miles on it and my coolant has been gradually getting lower. I recall it being a little above a quarter full between low and full and now its near low. Also, I burned about a half quart of oil in 3000 miles (since last change). I use Mobil1 0w20 and OEM oil filters.

Are these things normal? I used to have an S2000 and I burned about a quart between changes since it was near-new. I am more concerned with coolant but just want to see what others have experienced.

[m.wood0213]

I dont think so. I'd contact your dealer and double check. Ive never lost any oil in my BRZ and ive got 11k on mine.

[u/Josh]

Just curious, how did you break-in?

[B-R-Z]

Religiously, first change was at ~1200. Never tracked or anything, 95%+ of mileage is highway.

Edit: Just saw this thread and it looks like it's normal for some (for coolant) http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26482

[Young_makaveli]

With your oil level is very tricky

Even slightest incline will give you an inaccurate reading


Make sure your on a levelled surface and check

As for the coolant, I myself did not check it yet, will probably look tomorrow

[frslee]

My coolant stayed at low since I bought the car. I added some coolant (very little and it was up to mid line), and it stays like that since then. I guess the factory fills up to low level point.

[gzpermadi]

If I am not mistaken that is the overflow tank for coolant.
When the engine is hot the coolant will expand and will dump some to the overflow tank.
So if you check the level after you drive it should be between low and full.

[B-R-Z]

It is the overflow tank, but my point is that the "cold" overflow level keeps getting lower and lower since I bought the car and I'm trying to account for missing coolant. I think maybe there were air pockets from when it was filled at the factory and it had since burped the air out. I'll keep an eye on it though.

[AsianStyle]

I just took the car in for my 7500 oil change. My coolant sits below the low line cold and in between low and full when hot/warm. They couldn't find any leaks, so it must just be from evaporation/air bubbles. I'm personally thinking about buying some from Subaru, so it can sit on low when cold.

[Young_makaveli]

The more i read this thread the more I get paranoid that I have the same issue :p

Gotta check it when I wash my car sometime this week

Ps what is the best way to go about checking the coolant level? Hot or cold engine ?

[B-R-Z]

Cold

[powfrs]

On my brand new FRS the coolant level is also at the lowest point of the resevior. As far as the oil level goes, I'm at 3,500 miles and no drop of oil at all. Keep an eye on it tho!

[mav1178]

The coolant is not an issue at all. You can add some distilled water if you're paranoid about the level.

As for oil, are you measuring oil levels by dipstick/refilling, or when you're doing actual oil change? The dipstick is unreliable for gauging fluid level.

I got the Fumoto drain valve for this purpose, to figure out if there's any actual significant oil consumption between changes. I can always drain the car completely and refill with the same oil if I want to monitor oil consumption.

-alex

[B-R-Z]

Well yea that can be done too but even though the dip stick is not 100% accurate, you still get an idea of where it's at. Then at an oil change you can see the exact loss, if any.