Valvoline R&P Oil Burner Test Results

I was talking to a friend with a 2021 Outback. He mentioned his low oil light came on for the first time ever last week at 120k miles(1 quart low). So I asked for details and he has been doing 6k oci’s with Mobil 1 EP 0w20 since day one. He managed to go double my 60k before any oil consumption with the M1 EP for what it’s worth. I was both impressed and a little bummed to be honest.
 
I was talking to a friend with a 2021 Outback. He mentioned his low oil light came on for the first time ever last week at 120k miles(1 quart low). So I asked for details and he has been doing 6k oci’s with Mobil 1 EP 0w20 since day one. He managed to go double my 60k before any oil consumption with the M1 EP for what it’s worth. I was both impressed and a little bummed to be honest.
2.5 or 2.4?
 
I was talking to a friend with a 2021 Outback. He mentioned his low oil light came on for the first time ever last week at 120k miles(1 quart low). So I asked for details and he has been doing 6k oci’s with Mobil 1 EP 0w20 since day one. He managed to go double my 60k before any oil consumption with the M1 EP for what it’s worth. I was both impressed and a little bummed to be honest.

Low oil light, or low oil pressure light?
 
bit of an unusual horror story from some very good elder friends. Their 2018 FB25 outback lost all its oil from sudden consumption (it didnt consume any measurable amount previously and they did check it before any kind of trips) with 98k.
The oil level had been checked 1 month earlier. The car was on a mountain pass and the pressure light came on (apparently the low level light never came on when 1 quart low on this car). Car was driven over the pass with the pressure light on and to the next gas station. 5 quarts added. Drove 6 hours after that. Out of town they followed up with subaru dealer and dealer found lots of metal and noises. I think the consumption was pcv valve related which I replaced 10k earlier while doing other maintenance on it. It was a perfect trouble free car to them that was always full of oil when checked. I've never checked the low level sensor operation on the subarus as part of the oil change but perhaps now I will. I've never worked on a subaru with a faulty level sensor.
 
bit of an unusual horror story from some very good elder friends. Their 2018 FB25 outback lost all its oil from sudden consumption (it didnt consume any measurable amount previously and they did check it before any kind of trips) with 98k.
The oil level had been checked 1 month earlier. The car was on a mountain pass and the pressure light came on (apparently the low level light never came on when 1 quart low on this car). Car was driven over the pass with the pressure light on and to the next gas station. 5 quarts added. Drove 6 hours after that. Out of town they followed up with subaru dealer and dealer found lots of metal and noises. I think the consumption was pcv valve related which I replaced 10k earlier while doing other maintenance on it. It was a perfect trouble free car to them that was always full of oil when checked. I've never checked the low level sensor operation on the subarus as part of the oil change but perhaps now I will. I've never worked on a subaru with a faulty level sensor.
That stinks….
 
I was talking to a friend with a 2021 Outback. He mentioned his low oil light came on for the first time ever last week at 120k miles(1 quart low). So I asked for details and he has been doing 6k oci’s with Mobil 1 EP 0w20 since day one. He managed to go double my 60k before any oil consumption with the M1 EP for what it’s worth. I was both impressed and a little bummed to be honest.
I think now we need to find someone with this engine who doesn't burn oil at high mileage and ask what they did!

Edit: this is a decent example, but that engine isn't GDI, but I'm no pro on Subaru engines. Do you know if it has the long timing chain?
 
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I think now we need to find someone with this engine who doesn't burn oil at high mileage and ask what they did!

Edit: this is a decent example, but that engine isn't GDI, but I'm no pro on Subaru engines. Do you know if it has the long timing chain?
I take care of a few direct injection fb25 with over 150k and no significant consumption. All with m1 0w40 now on VRP and no varnish visible through fill hole. I take care of 1 with consumption 1 at per 6,000 and it had bulk 0w20 till 100k now 130k and significant varnish visible in oil fill, lessening with VRP but only 2nd oci
 
I take care of a few direct injection fb25 with over 150k and no significant consumption. All with m1 0w40 now on VRP and no varnish visible through fill hole. I take care of 1 with consumption 1 at per 6,000 and it had bulk 0w20 till 100k now 130k and significant varnish visible in oil fill, lessening with VRP but only 2nd oci
Interesting. Subaru calls for 0W-20 for that engine I think. I wonder if the higher viscosity in the 0W-40 helped retain the viscosity over the oil change interval and didn't let the timing chain shear it down. Thanks for the report.
 
Interesting. Subaru calls for 0W-20 for that engine I think. I wonder if the higher viscosity in the 0W-40 helped retain the viscosity over the oil change interval and didn't let the timing chain shear it down. Thanks for the report.
5w30 is allowed as an alternate. They also mention living in hotter climates with vague increased viscosity as required. Other have noticed Subaru corporate responding emails allowing 0w30.
 
Yes long timing chains.
Here's a thought on long chains...the active bending of a chain is when abrasive wear would be greatest. So, the longer the chain, the less often the links make their maximum bend. As long as the slack is adequately addressed, the longer the chain the less the wear on any given link joint.
 
A visual:
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