I bought a 2012, 2.0L base model Impreza this past April. The car checked out great in pretty much every way, when I took it for two test drives and when I took it for an independent inspection. I was even able to contact the past owners and ask them questions about the car.

 

About a month after bringing the car home the low oil light came on. As the car is still under warranty I took it to the dealership where they said they could do an oil consumption test on it. I'm in Canada so unfortunately they don't seen to honour the same warranty procedure as they do in the US since the class action lawsuit was settled. I had to pay for the oil change. Fast forward two and a half months and the oil light has come back on. Between the oil change and the light coming on I've driven 7297km (4534 US miles). Is this considered excessive oil consumption?

 

The dealer said when the light came back on to bring it into the dealership....which is 50km (31 US miles) away. Should I do this given the low oil indicator? The dipstick doesn't look too bad...about 2/3 of the way down between the high and low oil indicators. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks!!

Not to SOA.. 1qt in 1,200 miles is what they consider high oil consumption. Your car has the shortblock/ oil consumption covered to 100k miles anyway.

Being in Canada it lists "Major Component Limited Warranty (60 month/100,000 km) - This warranty continues to cover major components to 60 months or 100,000 km."

Unfortunately to my knowledge not to 100K miles, only 100k KM.

SOA because of the oil consumption class action lawsuits were forced to extend a warranty out to the shortblock for oil consumption to 100k miles for the effected vehicles.

 

100k KM would be 60k miles and that's the regular 60/60 powertrain warranty that Subaru uses. So that makes sense but that does not include the extension for oil consumption..

I bought a 2012, 2.0L base model Impreza this past April. The car checked out great in pretty much every way, when I took it for two test drives and when I took it for an independent inspection. I was even able to contact the past owners and ask them questions about the car.

 

About a month after bringing the car home the low oil light came on. As the car is still under warranty I took it to the dealership where they said they could do an oil consumption test on it. I'm in Canada so unfortunately they don't seen to honour the same warranty procedure as they do in the US since the class action lawsuit was settled. I had to pay for the oil change. Fast forward two and a half months and the oil light has come back on. Between the oil change and the light coming on I've driven 7297km (4534 US miles). Is this considered excessive oil consumption?

 

The dealer said when the light came back on to bring it into the dealership....which is 50km (31 US miles) away. Should I do this given the low oil indicator? The dipstick doesn't look too bad...about 2/3 of the way down between the high and low oil indicators. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks!!

1) Do you not check  your oil regularly? All newer cars can/do use oil (and sometimes coolant).  At any rate, you need to get into the habit of checking your oil.

2) That engine only holds a little over 4 qts. of oil.  You are down by about 3 qts.  DO NOT DRIVE IT without adding more oil.  In fact, I wouldn't drive it at all. Have it towed to the dealer.  You probably already have bearing damage.

3) Knowing it had run low at least once before, why would you drive over 4500 miles without checking it?

 

What kind of oil are you using? Dino, part synthetic, full synthetic?  Even with full syn, I never let my car go over 5,000 miles at the very most without an oil change.  Subaru's "7500 between changes" is BS. 

 

Sorry, but the oil usage on this generation of Subarus is well documented. 

 

Good luck with the dealer.

 

Emily

Actually the oil pan in that car holds just over 5 quarts, and the light comes on at 1qt low. So that's perfectly fine

checking fluids on a regular basis, and adding if needed is a basic part of car ownership. As is checking tire pressures and wear.