2011 Subaru Legacy 3,5 oil consumption

[Urshurak776]

Hi all,

I am having an issue with a friends car. She got a 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.5S from her parents. It has around 50,000 miles on it. I had posted about this before but I need help with a plan. Her parents did oil changes (conventional) but lots of short trips in winter in Pittsburgh. When she got the car to NC, the oil level light came on. I added oil, then changed the oil and filter a month later. I used Napa Full synthetic 5w30 which is what it calls for. 7 quarts. Well, 4500 miles later (mostly highway) the light came on again. It was a quart and a smidge low. Maybe go to a High Mileage oil? I really want to slow this consumption down.

 

[CT8]

What needs to be done is at each fill up the oil needs to be checked. Maybe a 10w30 or 5w-40 would help. You won't know until try the oil.

 

[Rand]

Its a 3.6 engine not 3.5

1 quart in 4500miles is quite normal on boxer engines... quite normal on many engines really.

Keep a quart of oil in a ziplock bag in the car and check every few gas fillups?

1qt/4500 is quite manageable.

Due to the design challenges of a horizontally opposed engine they tend to use oil..more than some other engines.. less than many.

Any use less than 1quart in 3000miles is in the acceptable range IMO.

You can also overfill it aprox 1/3 to 1/2qt to make it go 6000miles before needing to add.

 

[Urshurak776]

Yes, 3.6, thanks Rand. OK, good to know the skinny on this engine. She has a quart of oil in her trunk right now. I appreciate the quick responses. Thank you.

 

[crazyoildude]

For a Subaru thats not bad at all some of them are a lot worse... Use a high mileage oil in the brand of your choice. I think Mobil 1 High Mileage is still on sale at wal mart plus a $12.00 rebate. I used to use Pennzoil High Mileage and had good luck with it for years.

 

[QuietPortage]

My Forester burned more than that when it was new in 2013. No big deal.

Fill it with 5w-40 or 10w-40 High Mileage if you want. It won't hurt anything.

 

[901Memphis]

It's got a good low oil light, just add when it comes on

 

[hemitruck]

its a subaru thing.

 

[tomcat27]

Check the oil more often. That is not a high rate of consumption.

 

[Brybo86]

Originally Posted By: hemitruck
its a subaru thing.


Heheheh