Oil consumption? Please chime in

[OnTheFence]

I'm hoping that this is an "engine is still new" thing because the lack of references to oil consumption in this section of the forum has me a little concerned (I found only this one). I just completed a ~300 mile trip, almost exclusively consisting of highway driving, and had to add 250ml (.25 quarts) of oil to bring the measurement back up to top dot. I checked my oil before departing, so I know it where it was before hand (top dot), and, additionally, the oil was changed 4 days ago.

Was:
<-- top of dipstick ==0|===========0== bottom -->

300 miles later:
<-- top of dipstick ==0====|=======0== bottom -->

Details:

• 5,380 miles
• 0W-20
• Broken in, religiously, according to manual
• First oil change at 5,000 miles/7.5-8 months
• No modifications
• within a few hundred RPM--but never over--redline on occasion

[Clipdat]

Mine consumed a good amount on the factory fill. I changed it at 4k with Eneos 0w-20 and my consumption seems to have gone down.

I attribute the consumption to my soft never go above 4k break in. Should've just had fun with it instead of babying it the first 1k.

[forwallblakmail]

I was told by the head mechanic at the dealer that you have to wait up to four hours for all the old in the engine to return to the pan. "Due to the complexity of this new engine"

Verbatim. Whether or not he's full of shit or not is yet to be determined. But this is the first of 4 Subaru's I've had that doesn't consume oil.

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by forwallblakmail

I was told by the head mechanic at the dealer that you have to wait up to four hours for all the old in the engine to return to the pan. "Due to the complexity of this new engine"

Verbatim. Whether or not he's full of shit or not is yet to be determined. But this is the first of 4 Subaru's I've had that doesn't consume oil.

It seems like a long time, given the watery nature of this oil and especially since the oil I added registered on the dipstick in the amount of time it took me to put the bottle down and check. Also, I first checked after the long trip the next morning after the car was parked over night (on a slight incline--I checked again and added on a flat surface.) With that said, I'll check this morning before heading out on another ~ 2 hr trip and update my post when I've arrived at my destination.

[Gords_zenith]

Is your car MT or AT? Also, it may be worth while to try a more moderate style break in(or continuation of one) like described on this forum. This may help seat the rings a little more thus helping to increase cylinder pressure and reduce consumption. IMO the "by manual way" is way to conservative, but I understand why they did it( brakes, clutch, and assembly lubes need to be either bedded or burned off) before hard driving occurs.

[Khazzy]

I just completed a 560 mile trip and my oil levels are still normal and this is checking after letting the car sit for a day and half. I am on vacation not driving haha. But in all honesty still good levels of oil.

Edit, sitting at 6800 miles ish, first change at 1k, next at 4k, then one after I return home tomorrow 560 miles later.

[Rayme]

This is my first car that doesn't burn / leak oil. over 12 000 KM on it.

I find this engine's dipstick quite shitty to read...make sure you read your oil with the car parked at the same place everytime. I also find it quite easier to remove the dip stick for about 10-15 min. so the oil drain down the tube and then check the oil. Much more accurate.

[BMWDavid]

I'm at 11,500 miles now. Did first oil change at 5,000 miles. I know...but after 40 years of car ownership I finally got away from all the "got to change the oil after 1,000 miles" mantra.

Anyway at 5,000 miles oil level was right at the full mark. Did the second change at 10,000 miles (5,000 on the oil, 0W-20 Amsoil SS) and still at full mark.

Running Eneos 0W-20 Sustina now. My break-in was simple, just stayed below 5,000 the first 500 miles but used the engine fully. Then stayed below 6,000 from 500-1000 miles.

I run the car hard after its fully warmed up. Heck all my cars over the past 40 years have been great on oil consumption.

Even my wife's 2002 PT Cruiser with 130,000 miles uses 1/3 quart in 10,000 miles (OCI on that car).

[Rayme]

Originally Posted by Marchy

super shitty to read, one side is has oil higher up than the other, it smears up the dipstick.

Yes this too. Read the side with the lowest mark.

[Weeber]

Originally Posted by Marchy

i have 0 oil consumed now over 8500 miles and 2 oil changes. I took a step up break in period approach.

What is a step up break in?

[DJCarbine]

Originally Posted by forwallblakmail

I was told by the head mechanic at the dealer that you have to wait up to four hours for all the old in the engine to return to the pan. "Due to the complexity of this new engine"

Verbatim. Whether or not he's full of shit or not is yet to be determined. But this is the first of 4 Subaru's I've had that doesn't consume oil.

Happened to me. Did an oil change and filled the car, ran it, and then topped off to full.

After sitting overnight, I registered a good 8-9mm above the max fill line(where I filled to).

Seems like the oil needs time to drain back after a shutoff. i waited about 5 minutes too when I checked after the oil change.... seems to take longer to get all the oil back into the pan.

[Sportsguy83]

This is what my Catch Can "catched" after 2.5K turbo miles

[FirestormFRS]

If you spend a lot of time idling/low rpm you're gonna burn a lot more oil through the PCV system. 0w-20 slings around pretty good at temp and gets sucked out when in constant vacuum.

[Jidonsu]

I've autocrossed the car and change the oil about every 6k miles or so, and I get zero oil consumption. Way better than my stupid '08 Accord V6. That thing drinks oil.