3.6r using oil

[ob2011]

Originally Posted by mpnret

2013 comes with synthetic and is required every oil change. Check your owners manual.

My understanding is that's only true with the 2.5l engine.

[1 Lucky Texan]

from cars101 - FWIW;

Oil-
2.5L models- 0w-20 synthetic oil is required.
3.6L models- 5w-30, regular oil is ok, synthetic is recommended

[mpnret]

Originally Posted by ob2011

My understanding is that's only true with the 2.5l engine.

Woops, I forgot some people still buy those dinosaurs.

[str8up]

I experienced the same thing as 8pack and agree.Low oil level on new Subaru

[MetroWestMA]

Fellow Subaru owners -- Oil discussions are like religious discussions on the motorcycle boards that I frequent. They are never solved, are always ongoing, and often spawn a few good threads.

I have a 2011 2.5 OB and can offer these thoughts:

1) I have 3 motorcycles -- a 2005 Victory Hammer (air - oil cooled), a 1994 Honda Dual Sport (air cooled), and a 1998 Harley EG classic (air cooled). The Victory burns 0 oil. The Harley seems to burn little, and the Honda burns a predictable amount.

2) No car I have ever bought since I graduated from college (1989) has burned a significant amount of oil, or so much so that I needed to add oil between changes. I even retired a Mazda 626 Turbo at 213K miles and gave it to my cleaning guy and it didn't burn oil.

3) Using synthetic vs. regular oils won't make a difference in oil consumption. The big advantage with synthetics is that you can stretch out your oil change interval and be more green and friendly to te environment. For my motorcycles I just change them once a year and forget about it (they are all out of warranty).

4) Things get more complicated if your vehicle is in warranty and you cannot use the extended oil change intervals allowed by synthetics.

I have no knowledge of what Subaru says, but in general, an engine that consumes more that 1Q in < 3K miles doesn't seem right to me -- just my opinion. And I would only change the oil every 5-7.5K and can promise my wife would never check the oil in between.

Regards,

MetroWestMA

[8pack]

Originally Posted by mpnret

2013 comes with synthetic and is required every oil change. Check your owners manual.

Double check your owners manual.....the 2.5 specs out with Synthetic - 0-w20, the 3.6 with Dino oil, 5-w30..............Synthetic is optional on the 3.6. Comes from the factory with dino...

I switched to synthetic. Dealer said it was "unnecessary". They are probably right but every car I have had for the last 20 years has run full synthetic (all turbos) and never had a turbo fail or any sludging or other oil related problems...

[gdt5]

I have a 2011 Outback with the 3.6R. I bought in June with 12,000 miles. I got the engine oil light after about 4000 miles after the original purchase. I assumed the non Subaru dealer I bought it at had a low level to start with so just added oil. My next oil change was at the Subaru dealership. Now between oil changes the oil light went on again. I had to add a liter (quart) to top it up. I had synthetic used at the dealership. I will be going in shortly for another oil change but I am convinced and concerned it IS using oil also. I expect the dealer to play games with me but will see. Love the car but am very concerned with this issue. I do not know the history of why it was sold with so few miles or who owned it.

[jacklehman]

gdt5:
I called Subaru and they told me that I should be happy that my car is operating normally. They won't do anything unless it burns 1 quart in 1,200 miles. I would assume I would be laying smoke screens before that ever happens.

The engine has a 60K warranty, so I am going to wait mine out until 50K miles or so and then sell it. I prefer to keep my cars to well over 100K, but not one that uses oil like this.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by jacklehman

gdt5:
I called Subaru and they told me that I should be happy that my car is operating normally. They won't do anything unless it burns 1 quart in 1,200 miles. I would assume I would be laying smoke screens before that ever happens.

The engine has a 60K warranty, so I am going to wait mine out until 50K miles or so and then sell it. I prefer to keep my cars to well over 100K, but not one that uses oil like this.

I don't think you will see visible oil smoke at 1200mi/qt.
Some years back, I drove a '78 camaro that consumed 1qt every 100 miles through leaky valve guide seals. No visible smoke but it did foul spark plugs.

[MTBrikk]

I'm having same issues with my 12 3.6R. Low level oil indicator would light up after 1500 miles and I would do at least 2 top off before next service. BTW, I have the maintenance plan and Subaru said its normal