I have a 95 Legacy wagon, 5 spd, AWD with 226,000 miles. I think it's finally starting to get broken in. Anyway, I've noticed that when I accelerate pretty hard, I'll hear a whistling sound. It's more pronounced starting around 4000 RPMs or so. If I just level off and hold it at any RPM, the whistling stops, and it starts back up again when I stomp on it. The belts don't appear to be loose, but they may be old. I bought the car in the summer of '03 with 175,000 and I had the timing belt replaced at 180,000, but other than that I've just replaced fluids.

 

Also, I tend to cruise at about 75 on the Interstate (almost all my driving is on the highway) and I seem to consume about 3/4 quart of oil every 3,000 miles. From what I've read on the board that's not too bad. However, when I crawl under it it seems like theres a fair amount of shiny gunk underneath the engine. Nothing drips onto the driveway, but I'm wondering if I'll need to have some work done next spring when I hit 240,000 miles. I currently run Castrol 20w50 high mileage oil. (When I bought it a mechanic suggested I run heavy stuff in it).

 

Thanks - Adam

Oil leaks are common. Oil pump seals leak a little oil...could be what you have. The cam seals leak a lot...most of your oil will come out.

 

 

That is from my experience.

At that mileage, your consumption is nothing to worry about. Just keep and eye on it. And the coolant level too!

 

Whistling sound is most likely a leak in the intake system. You should check all the pipework from the air filter box and up to the throttle body, but ultimately I would suspect the intake manifold gasket. Shouldn't be too hard to replace.

I would agree on the wind noise issue as being intake related. I also concur with the oil consumption and leak situation. If the car is running well otherwise, with all of those miles on it, it becomes the law of diminishing returns. A quart of oil between oil changes sounds a whole lot cheaper than replacing a whole pile of gaskets on a high mileage engine that has how many more miles left in it?

I had a whistling sound in my 94, was a dirty pcv valve, replaced it and all was well. The sound I heard was at idle or low rpm. Your problem is probably caused by something different but the valve is easy to check.