2022 Subaru Factory fill with 15k miles

[Nuclear_42]

Helped perform an oil change for a good friend of mines. A 2022 Crosstrek 2.5L without turbo. It still had its factory fill oil with 15k miles roughly 3-4 years old. Car was purchased in 2021. I totally forgot to check the dipstick before draining. Out of 4.5 Quarts capacity. I’m guessing it was about a quart low due to the drain pan not filling up as much as my Subaru Outback 2.5 I maintain. Oil was dark and sooty with typical DI fuel dilution. However no chunks or glitter. The factory roki filter looked OK at a glance without tearing it apart. Looking down the oil cap port into the timing chain area it was super clean with zero coking or amber hue. However I did notice a little bit of hairline size varnish building up on some of the crevices. Ran the engine for a few minutes for final top off and the dip stick oil was dark already. Used M1 EP 0w-20 from my stash with a Purolator Boss filter. Im guessing the triple action + forumula will help clean out any carbon soot left behind. Maybe I’ll recommend restore and protect next time just in case. If the Idemitsu oil is still the factory fill @ Subaru factory all I can say is WOW. It really held up. Car is driven in brutal northern midwestern winters. Lesson learned but sometimes life can get in the way and stuff happens. Thankfully looks like the engine wasn’t damaged.

 

[irollo]

That'd be an intrresting UOA.

 

[Urshurak776]

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

I shared before about my neighbors Nissan Frontier. Factory fill at 20K and he towed a trailer with lawn equipment......

Asked me to help him change it. He bought a filter and oil from Wal-Mart (Supertech.). Of course, it takes 6 quarts, so I gave him a quart of whatever I had. Oil was black as tar.

I finally got him settled on 7-8K changes, but told.him I would do it at 5. I also told him.the transmission should have maintenance since he tows.

We moved about 2 years after that. Ran into him last year at a store and he still had the truck. 7 years old roughly.

 

[Nuclear_42]

That'd be an intrresting UOA.

I was temped but probably was going to have a lot of break in material it would of been hard to judge the oil’s performance.

 

[Nuclear_42]

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

I shared before about my neighbors Nissan Frontier. Factory fill at 20K and he towed a trailer with lawn equipment......

Asked me to help him change it. He bought a filter and oil from Wal-Mart (Supertech.). Of course, it takes 6 quarts, so I gave him a quart of whatever I had. Oil was black as tar.

I finally got him settled on 7-8K changes, but told.him I would do it at 5. I also told him.the transmission should have maintenance since he tows.

We moved about 2 years after that. Ran into him last year at a store and he still had the truck. 7 years old roughly.

Although we all have our debates on oil brands/ weights. Just shows with stories like these how far oil has come compared to 20-30+ years ago.

 

[Jetronic]

Although we all have our debates on oil brands/ weights. Just shows with stories like these how far oil has come compared to 20-30+ years ago.

My 1992 car already had a 12k miles change interval.

 

[demarpaint]

Wow, time to hide. I wouldn't want to buy a used car from him.

 

[cptbarkey]

Subaru has produced the ugliest UOAs here for some time with half that mileage. Oh dear.

 

[Trav]

Wow, time to hide. I wouldn't want to buy a used car from him.

I wouldn't buy that car at a fire sale price. Subaru specs 3K for severe service and 6K max for long trip engines, oil and filters are dirt cheap, engines are $$$$

 

[demarpaint]

I wouldn't buy that car at a fire sale price. Subaru specs 3K for severe service and 6K max for long trip engines, oil and filters are dirt cheap, engines are $$$$

Same here buddy!! I don't care how good the oil might have been, and I doubt the FF was anything great to begin with!

 

[TiGeo]

I'm sure it will go on to live a normal happy existence.

 

[bilibako2]

I wonder I service total of 5 subaru changing their oil at least twice a year but to me oil is cheap engine not.Plus to check those fluids and belt,leaks etc while hood up.

 

[Rand]

Wow, time to hide. I wouldn't want to buy a used car from him.

DI engine too.

 

[Lubener]

Not good but with good maintenance practices from here on , I wouldn't be surprised if that engine still made it to 200k.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Are you certain it was not changed? Let's hope he doesn't have an engine whoopsie with that OCI record.


How does the engine sound? The 2.5L FB is quite rackety even when in good order

 

[TomYoung]

Helped perform an oil change for a good friend of mines. A 2022 Crosstrek 2.5L without turbo. It still had its factory fill oil with 15k miles roughly 3-4 years old. Car was purchased in 2021. I totally forgot to check the dipstick before draining. Out of 4.5 Quarts capacity. I’m guessing it was about a quart low due to the drain pan not filling up as much as my Subaru Outback 2.5 I maintain. Oil was dark and sooty with typical DI fuel dilution. However no chunks or glitter. The factory roki filter looked OK at a glance without tearing it apart. Looking down the oil cap port into the timing chain area it was super clean with zero coking or amber hue. However I did notice a little bit of hairline size varnish building up on some of the crevices. Ran the engine for a few minutes for final top off and the dip stick oil was dark already. Used M1 EP 0w-20 from my stash with a Purolator Boss filter. Im guessing the triple action + forumula will help clean out any carbon soot left behind. Maybe I’ll recommend restore and protect next time just in case. If the Idemitsu oil is still the factory fill @ Subaru factory all I can say is WOW. It really held up. Car is driven in brutal northern midwestern winters. Lesson learned but sometimes life can get in the way and stuff happens. Thankfully looks like the engine wasn’t damaged.


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What lesson is learned? I am hating that this car was driven so long on the factory fill.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I'm just wondering how those full sized leaves survived being pumped through the motor and filter.

Sons friend picked up a new Forester late last year. I told him to follow whatever the extreme maintenance is not just the MM. He does do a lot more highway drives to work. This is same family that needed a new Hemi in their Ram 1500 due to lifter/roller. Maybe he'll listen.

 

[rijndael]

I'm just wondering how those full sized leaves survived being pumped through the motor and filter.

Those are just silicone blobs from a Motorcraft filter.

 

[Nuclear_42]

Are you certain it was not changed? Let's hope he doesn't have an engine whoopsie with that OCI record.


How does the engine sound? The 2.5L FB is quite rackety even when in good order

I asked several times with the same answer. Never serviced. Engine drain plug had it’s original black paint with zero scuffing. The oil filter took large channel locks, several tries to loosen up. Pretty common on all new cars due the filter gasket being installed dry at the factory. Judging by the engine bay full of leaves and thick dust coating. I can assure you 120% it’s never been looked at.

 

[Nuclear_42]

What lesson is learned? I am hating that this car was driven so long on the factory fill.

I know it’s cringe running oil that long. My friend helped me out and I showed him step by step how to perform the oil change. He’ll probably do the next one himself. However I don’t mind lending a hand again if needed. Maybe I’ll do an oil sample on it in the near future. As unexpectedly decent the oil came out. I still explained the severity of the situation and how repeating this OCI again could possibly cause an engine failure.