Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Ultimate Subaru Message Board

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Oil Usage on 3.6 l 6 cylinder

Featured Replies

We have a 2011 Outback, it is a great car our first. However, it seems to be burning oil. Possibly as much as a qt per 1,000 miles. Is this a shortcoming of the car. I've notice the manual says that 1200 mi/qt is acceptable, which also seems like a lot. The car has had the regular maintenance and has 32,000 miles. No towing or severe duty

Might be the type of oil. I have read lots on Mobil1 oil it burns in these newer ones.

 

Most people who use Mobil1 say the same.

 

What oil are you using, change it to something else,

Castrol, Valvoline, Rotella, etc.

 

something about mobil1 being TOO thin for the boxer design, pushes it past the rings on the bottom of the block. Normally, thin is better, cause it lubricates more places, but not on the boxer i guess.

Subaru "requires" synthetic motor oil on the newer Subaru models. The Subaru-branded synthetic motor oil is Idemitsu motor oil, a pretty great brand of motor oil (even used in some Mazda motorsport teams!).

 

Conventional motor oil is fine, but synthetic motor oil can only help you (longer OCI, more resilient, etc).

In the FIRST 1000 miles I could understand a new engine burning a quart of oil or more. But I would call that much oil consumption excessive for 32,000 miles.

Is this a recent problem or something that you have had to deal with since the car was brand new?

Have you spoken with your dealer about this?

Call your dealer and get it in ASAP. You could possibly have an engine issue and it needs to be looked at before it gets worse.

" I've notice the manual says that 1200 mi/qt is acceptable"

 

now, everyone on here, why would the dealer help him out, it is within limits according to documentation.

 

 

AGAIN, i ask what oil type, and to recommend changing to different oil brand and see ....

 

I am not saying this is right but a dealer isn't going to do squat..but changing brands of oil may be the best fix.

Could there be some PCV valve/hose problem?

 

Was any work done to the car before this began? Has maintenance been done by a dealer? Ever wrecked?

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Sign In Now

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.