GTNP

I'm learning a lot from this discussion and feel better able to discuss the problem with Subaru service reps. Thank you to all for your input. Just for your information, when I asked SAE to provide page references that showed the oil consumption standards claimed by Subaru they said: 'SAE has no standards for oil consumption. Every model of vehicle, as well as individual vehicle, will experience it’s own unique rate of oil consumption.' I have to wonder about the misinformation that is being handed out. All I want is to feel secure that I won't have to put 3.5 quarts in between oil changes, and that I won't have to carry a case of oil around. Replacing the rinds sounds like a good offer though there was no guarantee it would be succesful. With a short block, is the short block completely new, or is it an older rebuilt engine?

Thanks for the response. What is the difference between replacing the piston rings and putting in a short block? Is having the rings replaced 'better' for the car than having a new short block?

The oil consumtion test with the dealer finally shows 3.5 quarts over 4000 miles. The dealer says that this is on the high end of a normal range. Does anyone have any comments about that? Specifically, does anyone else top up with nearly a quart every 1000 miles? Remember, this has been going on for at least 8000 miles in a brand new 05 OBW. Subaru America has said it will allow for the piston rings to be replaced on warrenty. I don't know if this is enough. The service rep. couldn't offer any reason why replacing the piston rings would make any difference other than it seems to be standard procedure. Furthermore, Subaru could not provide a guarantee that replacing the rings would make any difference. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why replacing the piston rings would be the procedure for reducing excessive oil consumption?

Thanks for the support. I'm not yet sure if this makes a difference but we bought the car through a brokerage, not a dealer. It is still under warranty though so in a sense it is every dealer's problem.

Bought brand new in 2004, it now has 29000 on the clock. We started noticing the oil consumption at about 22000, a couple of weeks after we had a regular oil change and had driven 250 miles over the Continental Divide to visit family. (The bozos who did the change also neglected to fill up the coolant - the car was running unusually hot most of the way.) We tried to run a consumption test with the bozos who performed the 22000 mile oil channge but they were unmotivated. Now we're going through another large local dealer and getting more conclusive results.

The dealer is still shuffling papers. Usefully, the guy we've been working with was off last weekend and hadn't communicated the situation or the documents detailing the test so I couldn't get a hardcopy of the mileage and amounts consumed. I'll try and get them this week. Advice from friends ranges fromsell it off as a lemon, make a huge stink and talk to radio shows and the media, push for a rebuild. I'll see what the dealer can come up with. You can imagine it is already taking too much time and energy...

Thanks for the response. We've also sent a brief note to Subaru America asking them to help resolve the issue. Their response included a statement from the Society of Automotive Engineers that one quart per 1,000 miles is the maximum allowable oil consumption for new vehicles. Any new vehicle could range from zero to one quart of oil consumption and of course not all vehicles will be the same. Not sure if this is used as a defense or explanation of the oil consumption, and it doesn't coverr the fact that as of the last test 1.5 quarts was consumed over 1000 miles.

Hi I'm relatively new to this board but have enjoyed reading the supportive comments posted about what is basically a very good car. I hope you can provide some insights to my situation. My 05 OBW 2.5 consumes between 1-1.5 quarts of oil every 1000 miles. There are no obvious signs of leakage, and no plumes of smoke. The car is currently undergoing an oil consumption test where a local dealer tops up the oil and checks how much has 'disappeared' every 1000 miles. And every time he tops up with 1-1.5 quarts. The dealer says such consumption is not unusual in a Subaru. One other dealer also said the same thing and actually printed this out in the service receipt. However,other local Subaru dealers I've contacted have said that is BS. Further, no other car or truck I've dealt with consumes this much oil. There is no indication of such excessive consumption in the owners manual or warranty and maintenance booklet. Have I bought a lemon or is this some secret Subaru is not telling the world? I would appreciate any insights you guys can offer on this.