For my first turbocharged car, I used a turbo timer. Since then, I've had 4 other turbocharged cars. My practice is just to take it easy for the last few miles before shutdown and that's that, - no waiting, but like you, it's not as if I'm running full boost in the miles leading up to my last few miles. I've never had a problem with any of my engines, but I'm also very good on maintaining oil changes etc. In normal driving, I don't think we need to wait for a cool down period. I do look at my oil temperatures, and although I haven't done it this way, I could wait for oil temps to go below 200 before shutdown.

 

I do look at my oil temperatures, and although I haven't done it this way, I could wait for oil temps to go below 200 before shutdown.

Thats what I've been doing so far..... Great minds think alike. ;-)

 

The Subaru Ascent uses a water cooled turbo in their version of the 2.4, as I assume all modern Subaru turbo engines do, but just to be sure I found this:

Turbocharger & Components for 2019 Subaru Ascent | Suburban Auto Parts

www.suburbanautoparts.com

Strangely, the Ascent's oil pan uses a different oil plug diameter than the Outback. That I find very odd, but oh well. I bought the wrong size fumoto valve because of it.

 

I’ve actually wondered about this along with the start stop system. If you’ve been goosing it and then the start stop system engages, what happens? I also wonder if a turbo timer is the answer to defeating the system....

 

I’ve actually wondered about this along with the start stop system. If you’ve been goosing it and then the start stop system engages, what happens? I also wonder if a turbo timer is the answer to defeating the system....

Knowing that the turbo is water cooled puts my mind to rest a little. The coolant will keep the bearings well under the coking point of oil in the bearings, and coking is the main reason for cooling down a turbo.

 

There is only one time proven, 100% reliabile, absolutely certain technique you can employ to avoid suffering a turbo failure on a Subaru.

Don't buy a Subaru with a turbo.

 

But that takes all the fun out of things.

 

It doesn't seem that there is an official statement from Subaru about the need for cooling down the XT/turbo model. Searched manuals for our new 2022 Outback XT. This is my 4th turbo. All previous, Volvo V70, VW Passat and Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel have required a cool down period. VW and Volvo have been turbo problem free . Sold Volvo at 165K, still have VW also at 165K. Jeep with only 40K. No problems. Religious 4-5K synthetic oil changes, 0W40 for all and cooling down have contributed to this I think. I will set up oil temp gauge on our 2022 Outback XT as soon as i figure out how to do it. Will cool down to near or below 200 deg. Our current and previous turbos may have been oil cooled. Outback may be water cooled. Much to learn about this complicated vehicle and apparently our other turbos.

 

My Passat had the EA888 engine. Never worried about the turbo as the engineers had fitted the engine with a secondary water pump to cool the turbo after shutdown. As needed, of course.

 

There is an oil temp gauge built in to your Gen 6 Outback, and I have bumped viscosity in my oil to a resource conserving SP/GF6 5w-30 for summer weather.

Our turbos are water cooled, and while I'm not sure when they started being water cooled but definitely after 2002.

In normal everyday driving you don't need to do a special cool-down but if you want to be extra cautious you can drive gently for the last few miles and shut the car off when the oil temp drops below 200F. The oil temps seem to rise and fall pretty quickly in these cars.

 

Given that I still have my manual typewriter from college I was very pleased that I just added the widgets oil and water temps to the display.

 

It case it's not clear, the kind of water cooling that Subaru turbochargers use, allows coolant to continue to circulate even when the engine is off, without using an actively powered pump.

The beauty of the system is that there's no danger of a water pump failure. It can be called a thermo-siphon effect.

Water Cooling For Your Turbo

Water-cooling improves mechanical durability and lengthens the turbocharger’s life. Garrett GTX and G Series ball bearing turbos are designed to be cooled

www.garrettmotion.com

 

Remember, these cars were "designed" to use the auto start/stop function to shut the engine off a bazillion times a day.

 

Just curious how often everyone changes their oil in the gen 6 turbo Outback. I accumulate miles (km) pretty quickly traditionally on all my vehicles I’ve just gone with basically every 6 months regardless of the mileage but with the turbo I’m just not sure if that’s sufficient. My driving is mainly highway and I don’t push the engine hard once up to highway speed I set the cruise to 100-110 kph (62-68 mph ) and usually don’t touch the accelerator again. It’s a 2022 xt but I only bought it in June last year and it already had 80,000 km on it (about 50k miles) so I assume the previous owner did mostly highway as well. It now has 102,000 (just over 63,000 miles) Anyway I’m rambling on, just want to know what everyone thinks of oil change intervals in the turbos

 

If you're doing more that 6k miles in less than 6 months, change it @ 6k miles. If not, stick with every 6 months (twice a year.) Sounds like you're gentle on the powertrain so severe service interval shouldn't be needed. Don't fret over it, just follow what Subaru specs.

 

There was a crosstrek owner who drove medical stuff around the country and ran his crosstrek to a million miles. He did 6k oil changes during the warranty but If he stuck with them exactly he'd be changing every 1-1/2 weeks. So he did used oil analysis several times to figure out what made sense for his car, which didn't have a turbo nor was it direct injection.

Well, I am officially out of the powertrain warranty now. In just under 4 month's I have past the 60k mark and still no issues. I have stayed with the 6k oil change interval until my last oil change. Since I'm obviously concerned with operating costs, oil change intervals are of interest. The last oil change I switched to Mobil extended service oil and filter then pushed it to 8k and sent a sample for analysis. The results were excellent and the recommendation is that next oil change be done at 10k miles. At that point I will send another sample. I'll post the results when I get them.
Now, keep in mind that I am currently adding 4k miles a week to this engine so being able to add an extra week or two between changes is significant both time wise and financially. For a 'normal' driver (I never claimed to be one), the difference of one or two oil changes a year really shouldn't be an issue.

While this thread may show many issues and repairs, keep in mind that even though this car is not that old, you need to consider all of the factors. Factors such as mileage, dust, road salt, heat, cold and vibration. Most drivers will not come across most of these issues for as long as they own their car. My Crosstrek runs 16 hours a night, 5 nights a week, 52 weeks a year (what vacation?). That's approximately 200,000 miles every 12 months! In the coming months and years you will see more frequent postings about issues and repairs. These are not meant as negative comments on the Crosstrek, rather they are comments to show what to expect. I hope that these future postings will help when you have a strange noise or vibration and will help to educate you whether you are a backyard mechanic or just to be more informed when your mechanic gives you a bill.
I consider all of the issues I have had so far normal wear and tear for the most part. Anything out of the ordinary would be computer issues, engine, transmission and differential. I have been very pleased with the Crosstrek as a whole and hope it will give me many more years of reliable service.

Long term testing

I really don't like the idea of using the term 'Long term testing' but noting the mileage I rack up in such a short amount of time it kinda fits. After 9 weeks and 36,000 miles, my warranty has officially expired. To date I have had no issues what so ever. I was concerned about the reviews that...

www.clubcrosstrek.com

 

I would not try and do the CVT fluid change on your own.. leave that one to someone who truly knows how to do it. Other than that, I'm with ya, do what you can on your own.

Congrats on the new ride!

 

Yes, many people are scaring me about it but they want between $550 and $650 and that’s just a change that’s not even a flush! Then there’s the differential. It doesn’t look like that hard a job as long as I dint screw up the holes and get the temperature right. That’s why I’m doing so much research about it. I am still looking for other options though. Some other shop that will guarantee their work it something