If you drive a 2011-2014 Outback, Forester, XV Crosstrek crossover, Impreza or Legacy sedan and have noticed that your Subaru goes through more oil than it should, you might be able to get that problem taken care of free of charge.
Subaru has found unexpected wear on the oil control piston rings on some of these vehicles. If you’re driving one of the affected vehicles, your oil consumption will be higher than normal and it will consistently be higher than normal.There are issues in your driving environment and driving habits that can increase oil consumption temporarily, but if your car is affected by the piston rings issue, you'll find excessive oil consumption on a regular basis.
Some of the things that can cause higher oil consumption:
- A new car during the break in period may use more oil.
- Poor quality oil or the wrong kind of oil (it should be 0W-20)
- Engine braking (downshifting to slow the car)
- High speeds, heavy loads, frequent fast acceleration -- any heavier than normal use
- Extreme temperatures
- Driving very short distances so that the engine never reaches normal operating temperature
This conditions make your car use more oil, and that's okay -- it just needs more oil to keep it healthy when it's having to work extra hard.
It's when you need to add oil very frequently under normal driving conditions that you might suspect a problem with the piston rings.
If you are having this problem the fix is simple. If your vehicle is still under warranty we will replace the piston rings at no charge. Subaru doesn't believe that all vehicles of the models listed are having problems, so the decision will be made on a case by case basis.
If your Subaru is out of warranty the issue can still be fixed, but customers will have to pay for the vehicle’s repairs.
It’s always good practice to monitor your Subaru’s oil levels and usage. If you think that this piston ring problem is affecting the performance of your Subaru, bring it into Adventure Subaru today!
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