Subaru mechanic or experience on here?

[RayMunising]

Here's an ongoing poll of oil consumption experienced by 2011+ Forester owners:
Oil consumption poll - Subaru Forester Owners Forum

 

[tcartwri]

Coworker has a new Forester, and it has an intermittent oil consumption problem. He is currently bringing it to the dealer once a week so they can check the oil level. Of course it hasn't budged since he started doing this. The other issue is paint chips on the hood. Another known problem apparently. He counted something like fifty chips down to the primer and a few down to metal ( aluminum hood ).

 

[RayMunising]

Coworker has a new Forester, and it has an intermittent oil consumption problem. He is currently bringing it to the dealer once a week so they can check the oil level. Of course it hasn't budged since he started doing this. The other issue is paint chips on the hood. Another known problem apparently. He counted something like fifty chips down to the primer and a few down to metal ( aluminum hood ).

A clear bra is the answer to paint chips on the hood/front bumper of any car. I put one on my 2000 Honda Accord when it was new and it performed so well within a week of buying my Forester I installed one on it. Note though, it was a tough install on the Forester ... lots of curves. I used the 3M Ventureshield.

 

[tcartwri]

A clear bra is the answer to paint chips on the hood/front bumper of any car. I put one on my 2000 Honda Accord when it was new and it performed so well within a week of buying my Forester I installed one on it. Note though, it was a tough install on the Forester ... lots of curves. I used the 3M Ventureshield.

He would have to do the whole hood, it's not just the leading edge.

 

[Garandman]

VDC Outback and later 05 Outback XT were VTD, with something like 45% front / 55% rear default bias, rear LSD

I still have a 2006 Outback 3.0R with the VTD, which has a planetary center differential (unlike most Crossover AWD systems these days). It has an aluminum hood but does not suffer from the paint chip issue others mention. It will turn 175,000 miles today and I plan to keep it for a long time hence as it is such a good fit for my requirements: Labrador carrying, skiing, boat launching, car pool, all-weather fighter. We use Nokian Hakkapeliita R2 winter tires Andy switched to Nokian NTyres for rest-of year. Also switched to KYB struts.

Maintenance since new is tuneups, tires and brakes, exhaust, two rear hubs, a radiator, and we recently replaced all three O2 sensors. I might have replaced the front wheel bearings but I think the front axles are original: they usually only last about 150,000 miles.

Oil capacity of the 3.0R is 5.8 quarts. I've used synthetic since new at the 7,500 interval.

My WRX only has 82,000 miles. We've replaced the clutch, and the power steering and AC compressor failed, which is unusual. Has Koni shocks and 16" winter tires. I have the forged BBS alloy wheels for summer, which way 15 lbs and are hella strong.

 

[Garandman]

Here's an ongoing poll of oil consumption experienced by 2011+ Forester owners:
Oil consumption poll - Subaru Forester Owners Forum

Pretty interesting: about 16% with what can be called high consumption.

My WRX uses a little between fills @ 5,000 miles. I've used Mobil One but going to switch to Rotella T synthetic as that's what I use in everything else.

 

[tman1020]

We have a 2015 model outback. The outback and Legacy are Assembled in my home state Indiana with something like 50% domestic parts. This is one of the main reasons we purchased this car and so far have been very happy with our decision. We toured factory it is a amazing facility 0% landfill lots of American workers located in Lafayette Indiana. The Forster and Impreza are like 99% import but they are supposed to start building the Impreza here within the next couple of years. Currently I believe there is a 4 to 8 week wait on any new outback or legacy ordered. No problems here on oil consumption. I am very impressed with what Subaru is doing. My wife absolutely loves it. Try to get the legacy or outback if you can.

 

[SPIKER]

lots of talk about oil consumption, me I been a ford owner driver after owning just about everything else first. Found I can ALWAYS go oil change to oil change without adding a drop normally 7500 on full syn or 5K on std oil. On the last change I missed getting it done, it went 15,000 miles on full syn oil, was mid range on dip stick & pretty dirty (I do all my own oil changes) and always do filter with oil. I mark mileage on filter for quick ref as to when it was done (5 different cars/trucks SUVs in the family) that I keep track of & change oil in. Now my f150 300 6 DOES drip at rear of pan, it had rusted pan & I had it replaced at shade tree mechanic. It uses/drips about 3/4 quart on an oil change after 140K, my T-Bird 225+K rock steady no consumption or drips...

Couple co-workers like their WRX and Outback, & had friend in school w BRAT that we had a LOT of fun in but it broke down about 5 times per 1000 miles...

m

 

[jix]

I bought two used Subies (a 94) 8 yrs ago and a 97 6 yrs ago. Each had over 140000 kliks when purchased. Both were Outbacks, both had tranny issues (replaced both) with used trannies Both the used trannies lasted less than 10K..so I gave up. Now I dtive a 2013 Dodge journey with AWD (6Cyl). I like the dodge better. The CVT is a good tranny. I don't think they ever fail, in anything.

 

[davesl708]

As far as traction. The Subaru can start on an incline with only one tire getting traction. I have had this situation personally and have seen demos online of the car doing it. The others not so much.

As to tires I changed the factory tires to Continental Extreme Contact DWS. Great tire under all conditions and I got over 80k miles one the first set and working on the second. The car has 141k on it. Rain, snow, ice no problems.

2009 Legacy SE

 

[JRobyn]

Thanks for all the reports! Sounds like the Sube AWD is the very best and I'm satisfied now that the CVT and head gaskets won't be a problem. Now just gotta hear a little more experience about the oil issues and then decide between the 2.0L turbo and the 2.5 H4. I figure that Sube has the ins-and-outs of turbos pretty well figured out by now. The direct injection is a little concerning since some manuf have had issues with intake valve coking, so with my criteria the 2.5 sequential injection normally aspirated probably makes the most sense.

- Jay

 

[Rford]

We bought a new 2015 Outback a year ago--smaller engine, no GPS, leather, sunroof. We love it. We looked at every other option before buying the Outback. My wife has a bad neck. No other vehicle was as comfortable or rode as nice. Also, she wanted light exterior color, not white, and a light tan interior. Very few companies had that color/ interior options. Now, we were limited to looking at SUV-type/crossovers in the $30k+- range. We've put 30,000 miles on it without an issue. We still talk about how much we like it and and are happy we didn't buy a Toyota, Honda, Mazda, GM, Kia, etc., etc., all of which we test drove and researched. Plus Subaru had 0% financing for 4 years so it was an easy buy--our first brand new car ever.

I researched the head gasket issue and that's been resolved. I learned of the oil consumption issue and was initially pissed because I assumed it applied to my 2015. But upon further review it appears it is a limited problem and does not affect the 2015s. I talked to my dealer here in KC and was told that they were aware of the issue but had not seen a single case/claim of excess consumption and they believed it was limited to a load of vehicles delivered on the east coast. We'll see. The problem is bad oil ring quality and was a production issue. The company is standing behind its engines and replacing the rings, which is the right thing to do, but I understand how it would be a concern. Nobody wants a new engine torn down. Ours doesn't use a drop of oil between 7500 mile changes and the reports I read said this is a problem out of the box if its going to occur.

We'd buy another and I'd buy a use Brat (or whatever they are called) if I ran across one.

 

[Garandman]

Thanks for all the reports! Sounds like the Sube AWD is the very best and I'm satisfied now that the CVT and head gaskets won't be a problem. Now just gotta hear a little more experience about the oil issues and then decide between the 2.0L turbo and the 2.5 H4. I figure that Sube has the ins-and-outs of turbos pretty well figured out by now. The direct injection is a little concerning since some manuf have had issues with intake valve coking, so with my criteria the 2.5 sequential injection normally aspirated probably makes the most sense.

- Jay

The turbocharged cars require Premium fuel. Unless you were at altitude or higher performance the NA version is cheaper to buy and operate.

Toyota has a stake in Subaru and I believe Direct Injection is one of the areas of technology transfer. The Subaru sports car also sold as a Scion has the chassis designed by Subaru and then it was handed over to Toyota for styling.

 

[Garandman]

Outback 3.0R, this weekend. Still runs like a top.

 

[MacLawn]

Yeah, but they put the gas tank filler on the wrong side.:thumbdown:

 

[Garandman]

Yeah, but they put the gas tank filler on the wrong side.:thumbdown:

Not if you go to Costco. Most cars have fillers on the left so the lines are huge (since regular was $1.89). Cars with fillers on the right might wait a car or two.

Most German cars also have fillers on the right, supposedly to make emergency refueling safer. Most American cars are on the left (for convenience, you have to walk a whole five extra steps), and other Japanese cars usually have them on the left as the US market prefers it. At home they drive on the right.

 

[09SubaTrupa]

First post here. I've owned three Subarus over the years, all Imprezas, and have loved each one. If they would make a truck, I wouldn't buy anything but Subaru.

 

[JRobyn]

We will be pulling the trigger on a new Forester 2.5i Touring Edition on Friday as long as the weather cooperates. Our dealer is having the exact one we want transferred in from another dealer. I am convinced that the head gasket issues are resolved as of several years ago, and the oil consumption issues were evidently due to a short-lived bad batch of oil control rings, so we are looking forward to a LONG life. Hated to go all the way up to the heavily-optioned Touring model, but that was the only way to get the dual-zone HVAC, which we both really wanted. They also gradually wore me down and convinced me that the EyeSight option was a really worthwhile safety feature.

Thanks for all the very useful input!

- Jay

p.s. I forgot to add two things; 1) the dealer wasn't real interested in taking in the OEM tires to trade up to something better, so I've got a deal worked out with a local tire tire shop to bring it in as soon as I get it and give me a decent take-off price for the OEMs in trade for some Michelin Premier A/S tires. It hurts to only get about $60ea for almost brand-new takeoffs, but I really don't want to hassle with selling them myself. 2) the dealer was really awesome (Kelly Subaru, Chattanooga, TN) with letting us take a VERY extended (200mi+) test drive in one of their demos. This gave us a chance to work out the CVT up the LONG steep grades that we have to cover on each TN-GA trip. No rubber-bandiness at all; very smooth and reassuring. Really almost just like a 6 speed automatic. And I intentionally stopped halfway up the steepest part of our loose-gravel road, and started off from there. No slippage or wheelspin AT ALL. Very impressive. And we now wonder how we have ever managed to survive without HEATED SEATS! Ahhhhhhh!

 

[davesl708]

Yeah, but they put the gas tank filler on the wrong side.:thumbdown:

I agree whole heartedly.

I use about 1qt ever 2500 miles.
My biggest complaint is the cheap fabric used in the seats of my 09 Legacy. Wore out in 3yrs. My 03 Trailblazer(200k) and 04 Suburban (141k) still have fabric that looks new.

 

[JRobyn]

I agree whole heartedly.

I use about 1qt ever 2500 miles.
My biggest complaint is the cheap fabric used in the seats of my 09 Legacy. Wore out in 3yrs. My 03 Trailblazer(200k) and 04 Suburban (141k) still have fabric that looks new.

We try to use Costco for fuel whenever possible, so it will only take a LITTLE getting used to. And the Touring has leather so hopefully it will hold up OK:confused3:. I've seen so-so reports on both on the ForesterOwners.org website.

- Jay