2004 Subaru Forester XT Using Excessive Oil

that does sound suspicious....

If you drive car really aggressive, then maybe not - did car wear in properly?

Sounds like it didn't....

Why? Your piston rings haven't seated properly and changing the oil early may not have helped. Did you follow the break-in instructions at all?

Fred,

I appreciate the response. My owner's manual suggests varying the speed during the initial 1,000 miles which is what I did. The dealer suggested an Oil Change at 3,000 miles--again, what I did. Are there other break-in instructions that you are aware of that are not included in the 04 owner's manual?

Thanks. Oscar.

Oscar,

The dealer-suggested oil change doesn't follow the SOA Maintenance Schedule. Motor oil from the factory often contains additives to help with break-in.

That said, your oil is obviously going somewhere. However, SOA specs something on the order of 1 quart every 1000 miles as "normal." My '00 RS 2.5L went through a period after about

20K miles where it started using more oil than before. This, at 70K miles, has tapered off.

In short, Subes are known to use oil. Generally you'll have a hard time trying to convince your dealer it is not normal. It isn't, but they told me the clutch chatter I experience was "normal" a couple years ago.

Julian

Oscar wrote:

My 03 WRX used about 2/3 as much oil as you describe during break-in. Oil consumption declined steadily over the next ~5,000 miles. I change mine every 4-5,000 w/ Mobil 1, and now, at 22,000 miles, I usually add about a quart between changes, in one pint increments. If I drive gently, I use almost none. If I go out for a day of hard driving, where I'm on the boost at high RPM alot, I always find the level low at the end of the day.

Highway cruising at 75 mph on cruise control uses no oil now. Oil consumption in stop and go traffic seems totally dependant on my right foot.

Check it often.

Hope this helps. Steve

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One other point to make:

If you check the oil immediately after shutoff, much of the oil will not have drained back into the crankcase. I check mine after it's been sitting overnight. The difference can be almost a quart.

My '02 WRX doesn't consume oil and it didn't consume oil during break in. Did you check for leaks? Have the entire underside of the car examined with bright light. Have a friend follow you and check for puffs of smoke (light blue) as you lift the throttle, or coast down a hill. That indicates consumption. Yes, some manufacturers or dealers will say that a quart per 1500 miles is "normal". With today's assembly technology and tolerances that should not be the case! In any case, you should keep complaining under warranty and get your case recorded. If you can't get any satisfaction from them and don't live in a frigid climate, try using a higher viscosity oil i.e. a good 10W30 instead of the recommended 5W30. See if it helps. It won't hurt. A coworker of mine runs only 10W30 in his WRX. Best of luck.