Ask the Car People.SM


Subaru Forester Engine problems

439 messages,  Last post on Aug 25, 2012 at 2:58 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Engine, Wagon

Messages Page 43 of 44

#420 of 439 Re: subaru engine failure #4 HELP [ateixeira] by aatherton

Dec 19, 2011 (5:00 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 19, 2011 1:40 pm)
You have suspected bad gas, wrong oil, and bleach
I suspect things like usage, maintenance and quality of rebuilds.

#421 of 439 Re: subaru engine failure #4 HELP [blown_engine] by marianneo

Dec 19, 2011 (7:41 pm)

Replying to: blown_engine (Dec 12, 2011 8:32 pm)
I am on my 2nd blown head gasket and now the engine has blown I don't know what to do either.

#422 of 439 Re: Forester troubles [isaac17] by beanzz

Dec 23, 2011 (4:15 am)

Replying to: isaac17 (Dec 12, 2011 4:20 am)
I have a 2011 manual Turbo built in July that I've had for just over a week. It runs quite roughly, especially between about 2,000 RPM and 3,000 RPM. It's been back to Subaru a couple of times and they can't find the cause. They suspect the fuel the dealership originally put in the car.
 
I topped up the tank with 48 litres of 98 octane ( the best we get in Australia) and it's much worse now. I've agreed with Subaru to empty this tank and one more (both filled with Subaru's fuel additive) before bringing it back to them. If the cause is fuel then it should have cleared out by then.
 
I have my doubts.......

#423 of 439 Re: My 2003 Forester that backfires and doesn't start [xwesx] by phxmotor

Apr 25, 2012 (8:55 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Jul 13, 2010 10:26 am)
sorry this is 2 years too late...but...your problem is that you need your valves adjusted.
These are not hydraulic lifters...they are like the Honda Vtech valves... they MUST be adjusted once every 100k miles.
If you dont the exh valves will get too tight...and at 1st it will rn fine but not idle right.
Then it will get worse and worse.
ut; your not starting problem is easy...all you have is a bad connection to the battery. There are 4 places to check. Pos...neg...positive at the starter...and negative at where the cable conncts to the block and at the body. Since the positive at the battery includesa nut & bolt connector at the positive battery terminal...you must take it apart and clean it.
Thats it! Clean all 4 points on the battery cables...aand get the valves adjusted. And please please buy a cheap code reader. The nut cases who think they can live without one are truely nuts.
Oh...about batteries...2x a year you must add distilled water...at the same time clean the terminals...and the other end of each cable too.
This is basic stuff to keep your car running w/o having to get a mechanic or a shop into your life.
Basic stuff. Do it!

#424 of 439 Help!! Forrester going through oil rapidly? by mkunze

May 16, 2012 (11:17 am)

Please advise me. Bought a new 2011 Forrester 1 year ago. Had oil synthetic oil changed at 7000 miles - dealer recommended 5000 but car was not always available. Had minor fender bender (not my fault) at 15,000 miles, grill replaced. Drove for a few days while claim was under review. Started making a weird sound. Brought to dealer for fender bender work - dealer says sound was because engine had no oil in it. Saw NO oil spots ever underneath car. No oil light ever either - car only has 15,000 on it.
 
Dealer repaired fender bender damage and did an oil change and oil fill. Have gone 1700 miles on it, and it is down 1/2 quart of oil already. Car now has about 17,000 miles on it. Dealer says oil consumption is normal? This seem ridiculous - have never had a car go through oil at such low mileage. Please advise and help me.

#425 of 439 Re: Help!! Forrester going through oil rapidly? [mkunze] by aatherton

May 17, 2012 (4:18 am)

Replying to: mkunze (May 16, 2012 11:17 am)
So the first oil change was at 7,000 miles. Did you ever check the oil, and if so, how much oil did the engine use during those 7K miles?
 
And the second oil change was at 15,000 miles, when dealer found "no oil in it". Up to that point, did you ever check the oil, and if so, how much oil did the engine use during those 8K miles?
 
My Forester Owners manual says:
"... you should check the oil
level at least at every second fuel fill-up
time, and change the oil more frequently.
If the oil consumption rate seems
abnormally high after the break-in
period, for example more than 1 quart
per 1,200 miles... we recommend that you
contact your SUBARU dealer."
 
So your 1/2 quart in 1,700 miles is not abnormal. It is not ideal consumption, but that is because your oil checking and changing habits are not ideal. The engine may have been run so long on low levels of dirty oil that the rings and cylinders don't seal perfectly any more.
 
We bought a used car with 20K miles that had a similar oil change history to yours. Until we sold it at 75K, it burned a 1 quart every 3,000 miles, and the remaining oil was black. My Forester was bought new, given oil changes every 3,750 miles, burns no oil, and the oil stays clean looking.
 
The oil must be checked now and then because oil consumption is as high as 1 quart per 1,2000 miles is considered normal. If not checked often, the oil will be used up long before a 7- or 8,000-mile change.

#426 of 439 Re: Help!! Forrester going through oil rapidly? [aatherton] by mkunze

May 17, 2012 (7:27 am)

Replying to: aatherton (May 17, 2012 4:18 am)
Thanks for responding.
 
 First, I was told and that synthetic oil does not have to be changed as often as regular type oil. I was told at the dealership to change it at around 5000mi, and then after every 8000 mi. Synthetic oil changes are almost 3 times more expensive and supposed to last longer. My getting to it at 7000 mi isn't THAT far beyond the specification. However, I did not notice if it was low nor was it noted on the receipt when it was changed at 7000 mi.
 
The next oil change around 15000mi is not beyond what I was told about the changes recommended for synthetic oil. I cannot understand why it would have used up 6 quarts of oil in 8000 miles (distance travelled between the 2 oil changes)
 
I have NEVER had to add oil to any other car between oil changes (get one every 5000 mi religiously) and none of them ever burned oil before 100,000 mi. (with the exception of a 1971 Pinto).
 
Could it possibly be related to synthetic oil? The car came with synthetic... can I switch to regular without hurting the engine?
 
Do Subaru's burn more oil than standard American cars (this is my first Subaru) ?

#427 of 439 Re: Help!! Forrester going through oil rapidly? [mkunze] by rsholland

May 17, 2012 (8:41 am)

Replying to: mkunze (May 17, 2012 7:27 am)
I would stay with Subaru's recommendations about using synthetic oil. The engine was designed to use that type of oil. Besides, if you switch to conventional oil, you could void your warranty.
 
We've owned 5 Subarus, including 2 turbocharged WRXs; also have a Forester with over 140K. None of them had an oil consumption problem.
 
Bob

#428 of 439 Re: Help!! Forrester going through oil rapidly? [rsholland] by aatherton

May 17, 2012 (1:07 pm)

Replying to: rsholland (May 17, 2012 8:41 am)
Changing to conventional oil will not void the warranty. The Owners Manual only says:
"Synthetic oil of the grade and viscosity
noted in chapter 12 is the required
engine oil for optimum engine performance.
Conventional oil may be used if
synthetic oil is unavailable."
 
But aside from cost, there is no advantage to changing to conventional oil. And conventional may not cost much less than synthetic because it reduces gas mileage and must be changed more often. In addition, long term use of conventional oil in the FB engine that is designed for synthetic oil may eventually cause excessive wear to certain areas where the FB engine differs from the older engine.

#429 of 439 Re: Help!! Forrester going through oil rapidly? [mkunze] by aatherton

May 17, 2012 (1:36 pm)

Replying to: mkunze (May 17, 2012 7:27 am)
"... The next oil change around 15000mi is not beyond what I was told about the changes recommended for synthetic oil. I cannot understand why it would have used up 6 quarts of oil in 8000 miles (distance travelled between the 2 oil changes) ..."
 
Subaru's recommended interval is 7,500 miles in normal driving, or 3,750 miles in severe duty which includes stop and go driving.
 
I don't think your engine used 6 quarts between the first oil change at 7,000 miles and the second oil change at 15,000 miles. You quoted the dealer as saying your engine was making the strange sound because it "had no oil in it." That was a manner of speaking. The engine only holds 5 quarts, and must have about 1 quart left to run on, so it actually used 4 quarts, or 1/2 quart per 2,000 miles. That is not so bad.
 
The fact that your engine has run another 1,700 miles since then, and has consumed only another 1/2 quart in those miles, means that not much has changed since it almost ran out of oil.
 
The oil should be checked often enough to estimate how fast the level is dropping on the dipstick, and topped up before it drops below the dipstick. Once the level has dropped below the dipstick, there is no telling how much is left.
 
Some people have not checked the oil until it is below the dipstick, and then read the lack of a level on the clean stick to mean that there is still plenty of clean oil.

Messages Page 43 of 44

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement